Sig Ruman
Oct 10, 1884 - Feb 14, 1967 (82 years old) in Hamburg, Germany
Sig Ruman was a German-American actor known for his portrayals of pompous and often stereotypical Teutonic officials or villains. Ruman made his film debut in Lucky Boy (1929).
He became a favorite of the Marx Brothers, appearing in A Night at the Opera, A Day at the Races, and A Night in Casablanca. His German accent and large stature kept him busy during World War II, playing sinister Nazi characters in a series of wartime thrillers.
During this period, he also appeared in several films by director Ernst Lubitsch including Ninotchka and To Be or Not to Be. Ruman continued playing over-the-top German characters later in his career for Billy Wilder in The Emperor Waltz, Stalag 17, and The Fortune Cookie.
Known For
Petticoat Junction
Professor Lieberschmit
The Addams Family
Eric Von Bissell
Daniel Boone
Van Coot
One Step Beyond
Franz Schuldorf
A Night at the Opera
Gottlieb
White Christmas
Landlord (uncredited)
They Came to Blow Up America
Dr. Herman Holger
Credits
-
Self (archive footage)★ 6 -
Way... Way Out 1966Russian Delegate★ 5.7 -
The Fortune Cookie 1966Professor Winterhalter★ 7.2 -
Prof. Werner von Koenig★ 3.3 -
Doom of Dracula 1966The Burgomaster (archive footage)★ NR -
Hank 1965★ 3.5 -
36 Hours 1964German Guard★ 7 -
Daniel Boone 1964Van Coot★ 7 -
Conductor Schultz★ 7.1 -
The Addams Family 1964Eric Von Bissell★ 8 -
Hammacher (uncredited)★ 6.1 -
The Danny Kaye Show 1963Self★ 6.3 -
Petticoat Junction 1963Professor Lieberschmit★ 5.7 -
One, Two, Three 1961Count von Droste Schattenburg (voice) (uncredited)★ 7.5 -
The Errand Boy 1961Baron Elston Carteblanche★ 6.1 -
Pete and Gladys 1960★ 6 -
Tug Captain★ NR -
★ 6 -
Johnny Staccato 1959★ 5 -
One Step Beyond 1959Franz Schuldorf★ 5.6 -
Lawman 1958★ 5.6 -
Maverick 1957★ 6.9 -
The Wings of Eagles 1957Manager★ 6.2 -
Self★ 6 -
Spy Chasers 1955King Rinko★ 7 -
Many Rivers to Cross 1955Spectacle Man★ 6.2 -
Carolina Cannonball 1955Stefan★ NR -
3 Ring Circus 1954Fritz Schlitz★ 5.5 -
White Christmas 1954Landlord (uncredited)★ 7.2 -
Living It Up 1954Dr. Emile Egelhofer★ 6.4 -
W. Kranz★ 6.9 -
The Girl on The Roof 1953★ 4.4 -
Houdini 1953Schultz★ 6.5 -
Stalag 17 1953Sgt. Johann Sebastian Schulz★ 7.7 -
Dr. Haegendorff★ 6.4 -
Private Secretary 1953★ 5 -
Cyrus Kraft★ 7.2 -
General Ivan Vorashilov★ 6.5 -
Menkie (segment "The Gift of the Magi") (uncredited)★ 6.7 -
On the Riviera 1951Gapeaux★ 5.9 -
Father Is a Bachelor 1950Jericho Schlosser★ 7.4 -
Border Incident 1949Hugo Wolfgang Ulrich★ 6.9 -
The Emperor Waltz 1948Dr. Zwieback★ 6 -
Arthur Dinkel★ 7 -
If You Knew Susie 1948Count Alexis★ 7.5 -
Mother Wore Tights 1947Papa★ 5.3 -
Professor Boris Riminoffsky★ 6.3 -
Night and Day 1946Wilowski★ 5.9 -
Count Pfefferman / Heinrich Stubel★ 6.8 -
The Dolly Sisters 1945Ignatz Tsimmis★ 5.2 -
Dr. Gurke★ 5.5 -
Men in Her Diary 1945Mme. Irene★ NR -
A Royal Scandal 1945General Ronsky★ 6.9 -
Burgomeister Hussman★ 6 -
Summer Storm 1944Kuzma★ 5.3 -
The Hitler Gang 1944General von Hindenburg★ 6 -
It Happened Tomorrow 1944Mr. Beckstein★ 6.7 -
Louis Bouriette★ 7 -
Government Girl 1943Ambassador★ 5.2 -
Sweet Rosie O'Grady 1943Joe Flugelman★ 6 -
Dr. Herman Holger★ 6.2 -
Tarzan Triumphs 1943Sergeant★ 6.1 -
China Girl 1942Jarubi★ 5.3 -
Desperate Journey 1942Preuss★ 6 -
Berlin Correspondent 1942Dr. Dietrich★ 5.9 -
Heinrich, Spy Leader★ 5.5 -
Crossroads 1942Dr. Alex Dubroc★ 5.8 -
To Be or Not to Be 1942Col. Ehrhardt★ 7.8 -
Dirk Van Hoorten★ 6 -
Breakdowns of 1941 1941Self (archive footage) (uncredited)★ 7 -
This Woman Is Mine 1941John Jacob Astor★ 4 -
World Premiere 1941Franz von Bushmaster★ 5 -
Shining Victory 1941Professor Herman Von Reiter★ 5.9 -
Love Crazy 1941Dr. Wuthering★ 6.7 -
Hoffman the Great★ 6.5 -
Kafka (as Sig Rumann)★ 6.6 -
Dr. Simms (as Sig Rumann)★ 4.3 -
So Ends Our Night 1941Ammers★ 6.2 -
Victory 1940Mr. Schomberg★ NR -
Comrade X 1940Emil Von Hofer★ 6 -
Bitter Sweet 1940Herr Schlick★ 5.8 -
Four Sons 1940Newmann★ 7 -
I Was an Adventuress 1940Herr Protz★ 6.3 -
Van Cleve★ 4 -
Dr. Hans Wolfert★ 6.4 -
Remember? 1939Dr. Schmidt★ 5.8 -
Ninotchka 1939Comrade Iranoff★ 7.5 -
Dutchy★ 7.3 -
Krogman★ 6 -
Never Say Die 1939Poppa Ingleborg★ 6.8 -
Honolulu 1939Psychiatrist★ 6.1 -
The Great Waltz 1938Wertheimer★ 5.4 -
Suez 1938Sergeant Pellerin★ 5.2 -
Girls on Probation 1938Roger Heath★ 5.9 -
I'll Give a Million 1938Anatole Primerose★ 5.7 -
Paradise for Three 1938Mr. Bold★ 6.8 -
Hutch Rellin★ 6.4 -
Thank You, Mr. Moto 1937Colonel Tchernov★ 6.1 -
Nothing Sacred 1937Dr. Emil Eggelhoffer★ 6.3 -
Heidi 1937Police Captain★ 6.8 -
Lancer Spy 1937Lt. Col. Gottfried Hollen★ 5.3 -
Thin Ice 1937Prime Minister★ 6.6 -
Love Under Fire 1937General Montero★ 4.7 -
Think Fast, Mr. Moto 1937Nicolas Marloff★ 6.1 -
A Day at the Races 1937Dr. Leopold X. Steinberg★ 7.1 -
This Is My Affair 1937Gus★ 7.3 -
Dr. Taggert★ 4 -
Midnight Taxi 1937John B. Rudd★ 5 -
Maytime 1937Fanchon (as Sig Rumann)★ 6.5 -
Seventh Heaven 1937Durand (as Sig Rumann)★ 6.3 -
On the Avenue 1937Herr Hanfstangel★ 6.7 -
The Bold Caballero 1936Commandante Sebastian Golle★ 5.7 -
Steindorf★ 6.1 -
East of Java 1935Hans Muller★ 6 -
A Night at the Opera 1935Gottlieb★ 7.4 -
Blacksmith★ 6.1 -
Spring Tonic 1935Matt Conklin★ 5.3 -
The Wedding Night 1935Mr. Jan Novak★ 5.8 -
Under Pressure 1935Doctor★ 4.6 -
Marie Galante 1934Brogard★ 4.6 -
Servants' Entrance 1934Hans Hansen (as Siegfried Rumann)★ NR -
The World Moves On 1934Baron von Gerhardt (as Siegfried Rumann)★ 5.6 -
Die Königsloge 1929Bailiff★ NR -
Lucky Boy 1929Bridge player (Unbilled)★ 4.7