Name
John Banner
Known For
Acting
Birthday
1910-01-28
Deathday
1973-01-28 (63 years old)
Place of Birth
Stanislau, Galicia, Austria-Hungary [now Ivano-Frankivsk, Ukraine]
Biography
John Banner (Height: 6 feet 1 inch [1.85 meters]), born Johann Banner (January 28, 1910-January 28, 1973), was an Austrian-American actor who achieved lasting fame for his portrayal of the bumbling German Sergeant Hans Schultz in the beloved sitcom Hogan's Heroes (1965-1971).
Banner was born in Vienna, Austria-Hungary (now Ukraine). He studied acting at the prestigious Reinhardt Seminar and began his career on the Viennese stage. In 1938, with the rise of the Nazis, Banner, a Jew, fled Austria for the United States.
After arriving in America, Banner struggled to find work in his chosen profession. He took on odd jobs to make ends meet while continuing to pursue his passion for acting. Eventually, he began landing small roles in Hollywood films, often playing stereotypical Germans.
In 1965, Banner landed the role of Sergeant Schultz in the CBS sitcom Hogan's Heroes. The show was set in a German prisoner-of-war camp during World War II and followed the exploits of a group of American officers led by Colonel Robert Hogan (Bob Crane). Banner's portrayal of Schultz, the guard who was always "seeing nothing" and "hearing nothing" while the prisoners tunneled out of the camp or conducted other escapades, was a comedic highlight of the show.
Banner's comedic timing and delivery of the catchphrases "I see nothing!" and "I know nothing!" endeared him to audiences around the world. He remained with the show for its entire six-season run, becoming synonymous with the role of Sergeant Schultz.
After Hogan's Heroes ended in 1971, Banner continued to act, appearing in guest roles on various television shows. He also returned to the stage, performing in a number of productions.
In 1973, Banner died of a heart attack while visiting Vienna. He was 63 years old.
Known For
6.74
The lives of three young men, a German and two Americans, during WWII....
7.5
In Cold War-era West Berlin, American Coca-Cola executive C.R. 'Mac' MacNamara is tasked w...
6.3
Benson is a Casanova who tricks women into having sex with him before leaving them. He is ...
7.1
When the head of a large manufacturing firm dies suddenly from a stroke, his vice-presiden...
7.491
Ruth is one of two Moabite women who marry the sons of Elimelech and Naomi. When Elimelech...
6.056
Having fled to Mexico from the U.S. many years ago for killing his father's murderer, Mart...
6.4
In present-day U.S., Dr. Michael Parker, a prominent surgeon, unexpectedly runs into his G...
6.496
Fortune hunter Allan Quatermain teams up with a resourceful woman to help her find her mis...
7.123
Somewhere in Europe, in a city occupied by the Nazis, a gentle school teacher finds himsel...
- 1948 My Girl Tisa as Otto
- 1959 The Wonderful Country as Ben Sterner
- 1941 It Started with Eve as Party Guest (uncredited)
- 1943 The Fallen Sparrow as Anton
- 1960 The Story of Ruth as King Of Moab
- 1964 36 Hours as Ernst
- 1951 Go for Broke! as German Officer (uncredited)
- 1962 Hitler as Gregor Strasser
- 1964 Bedtime Story as Burgermeister (uncredited)
- 1942 Seven Miles from Alcatraz as Fritz
- 1956 Never Say Goodbye as Oskar
- 1961 20,000 Eyes as Kurt Novak
- 1948 The Argyle Secrets as Winter
- 2016 The Last Laugh as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
- 1954 With This Ring
- 1940 Spring Parade as Cymbalist (uncredited)
- 1959 The Blue Angel as Principal Harter
- 1943 They Came to Blow Up America as Gestapo Agent
- 1958 The Beast of Budapest as Dr. Kovach
- 1953 The Juggler as Emile Halevy
- 1968 The Wicked Dreams of Paula Schultz as Weber
- 1954 The Gypsy Moon as Bavarro
- 1943 The Moon Is Down as Lt. Prackle (uncredited)
- 1942 Once Upon a Honeymoon as Von Kleinoch (uncredited)
- 1950 Guilty of Treason as Dr. Szandor Deste
- 1951 Callaway Went Thataway as Headwaiter at Mocambo's (uncredited)
- 1948 To the Victor as Jacques Lestrac
- 1961 One, Two, Three as Krause / Haberdasher (voice) (uncredited)
- 1963 The Yellow Canary as Sam Skolman
- 1958 The Young Lions as German Town Mayor (uncredited)
- 1959 The Peter Tchaikovsky Story as Office Supervisor
- 1954 Crash of Moons as Bavarro
- 1943 This Land Is Mine as German Sergeant
- 1964 Kisses for My President as Vasiliovich Alexminitch (uncredited)
- 1950 King Solomon's Mines as Austin - Safari Client (uncredited)
- 1964 The Lucille Ball Comedy Hour as Guard
- 1941 Pacific Blackout
- 1970 Togetherness as Hipolitas
- 1961 Operation Eichmann as Rudolf Hoff
- 1946 Nocturne as Charles Shawn (uncredited)
- 1968 Star Spangled Salesman as Self
- 1965 Bing Crosby Color Christmas Show as Self/Sgt. Schultz
- 1942 Desperate Journey
- 1956 The Dream as Prefect of Police
- 1954 Executive Suite as Henri - Stork Club Maître D' (uncredited)
- 1957 One Coat of White as Vegaro
- 1961 Mister Ed ( 1 episode )
- 1963 Kraft Suspense Theatre ( 1 episode ) as Martin Rutke
- 1962 The Lucy Show ( 1 episode ) as Sergeant Schultz
- 1971 Alias Smith and Jones ( 1 episode )
- 1965 Hogan's Heroes ( 168 episodes ) as Hans Schultz
- 1957 Perry Mason ( 1 episode ) as A. Tobler
- 1964 The Rogues ( 1 episode ) as Steiner
- 1951 Hallmark Hall of Fame ( 1 episode )
- 1955 Alfred Hitchcock Presents ( 1 episode ) as Train Conductor
- 1960 Outlaws ( 1 episode )
- 1962 The Virginian ( 1 episode ) as Gus Schultz
- 1971 The Chicago Teddy Bears ( 13 episodes )
- 1960 Thriller ( 1 episode ) as Prof. Martin Vander Hoven
- 1951 Schlitz Playhouse of Stars ( 1 episode ) as Morris Odvarka
- 1959 One Step Beyond ( 1 episode ) as Dr. Molhaus
- 1952 Adventures of Superman ( 1 episode ) as Bronsky
- 1958 The Donna Reed Show ( 1 episode )
- 1953 Private Secretary ( 1 episode )
- 1955 Matinee Theater ( 2 episodes )
- 1955 Navy Log ( 1 episode )
- 1964 The Baileys of Balboa ( 4 episodes )
- 1954 The Whistler ( 1 episode )
- 1952 Cavalcade of America ( 1 episode )
- 1962 General Electric True ( 1 episode )
- 1956 Telephone Time ( 1 episode )
- 1959 The DuPont Show with June Allyson ( 1 episode ) as Mr. Popper
- 1960 The Roaring 20's ( 1 episode )
- 1956 The Man Called X ( 1 episode )
- 1953 Letter to Loretta ( 1 episode ) as Hans
- 1959 The Third Man ( 1 episode )
- 1958 77 Sunset Strip ( 1 episode ) as Carl Neuman
- 1958 Behind Closed Doors ( 1 episode ) as Prosecutor Hoxa
- 1959 The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis ( 1 episode )
- 1954 Public Defender ( 1 episode ) as Mr. Lambert
- 1955 Sheena: Queen of the Jungle ( 1 episode ) as Brunner
- 1962 The Virginian ( 1 episode ) as August the Head Waiter
- 1952 Four Star Playhouse ( 1 episode ) as Koert
- 1964 The Man from U.N.C.L.E. ( 1 episode ) as Dr. Foster
- 1956 The Gale Storm Show ( 1 episode ) as Hans Schlosser
- 1964 Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea ( 1 episode ) as Russian Chairman
- 1959 The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis ( 1 episode ) as Chief
- 1961 Hazel ( 1 episode ) as Mr. Mueller
- 1962 The Alfred Hitchcock Hour ( 1 episode ) as Dutch Customs Man
- 1954 Studio 57 ( 1 episode )
- 1963 Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre ( 1 episode ) as General Zimring
- 1964 The Young Marrieds ( 1 episode ) as Dimitri Kilarin #1
- 1951 The Red Skelton Show ( 1 episode ) as Sgt. Schultz
- 1961 Alcoa Premiere ( 1 episode ) as Kaspar Kraus
- 1968 The Doris Day Show ( 1 episode ) as Bruno
- 1964 The Cara Williams Show ( 1 episode ) as Zinzer
- 1959 The Untouchables ( 1 episode ) as Franz Koenig
- 1970 The Partridge Family ( 1 episode ) as Max Ledbetter
- 1954 Father Knows Best ( 1 episode ) as Artist
