Sig Ruman
Born
October 10, 1884
Died
February 14, 1967 (82 years old)
Known For
Acting
Place of Birth
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
Hollywood: The Dream Factory
Self (archive footage)
1972
Way... Way Out
Russian Delegate
1966
The Fortune Cookie
Professor Winterhalter
1966
The Last of the Secret Agents?
Prof. Werner von Koenig
1966
Doom of Dracula
The Burgomaster (archive footage)
1966
Hank
(1 episode)
1965
36 Hours
German Guard
1964
Daniel Boone
Van Coot · (1 episode)
1964
The Addams Family
Eric Von Bissell · (1 episode)
1964
Robin and the 7 Hoods
Hammacher (uncredited)
1964
The Danny Kaye Show
Self · (1 episode)
1963
Petticoat Junction
Professor Lieberschmit · (1 episode)
1963
One, Two, Three
Count von Droste Schattenburg (voice) (uncredited)
1961
The Errand Boy
Baron Elston Carteblanche
1961
Pete and Gladys
(2 episodes)
1960
The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis
(1 episode)
1959
Johnny Staccato
(1 episode)
1959
One Step Beyond
Franz Schuldorf · (1 episode)
1959
Lawman
(2 episodes)
1958
Maverick
(4 episodes)
1957
Maverick
Capt. Steeger · (1 episode)
1957
The Wings of Eagles
Manager
1957
The Dinah Shore Chevy Show
Self · (1 episode)
1956
Spy Chasers
King Rinko
1955
Many Rivers to Cross
Spectacle Man
1955
Carolina Cannonball
Stefan
1955
3 Ring Circus
Fritz Schlitz
1954
White Christmas
Landlord (uncredited)
1954
Living It Up
Dr. Emile Egelhofer
1954
The Glenn Miller Story
W. Kranz
1954
The Girl on The Roof
1953
Houdini
Schultz
1953
Stalag 17
Sgt. Johann Sebastian Schulz
1953
General Electric Theater
Dr. Haegendorff · (1 episode)
1953
Private Secretary
(1 episode)
1953
Ma and Pa Kettle on Vacation
Cyrus Kraft
1952
The World in His Arms
General Ivan Vorashilov
1952
O. Henry's Full House
Menkie (segment "The Gift of the Magi") (uncredited)
1952
On the Riviera
Gapeaux
1951
Father Is a Bachelor
Jericho Schlosser
1950
Border Incident
Hugo Wolfgang Ulrich
1949
The Emperor Waltz
Dr. Zwieback
1948
Give My Regards to Broadway
Arthur Dinkel
1948
If You Knew Susie
Count Alexis
1948
Mother Wore Tights
Papa
1947
Faithful in My Fashion
Professor Boris Riminoffsky
1946
Night and Day
Wilowski
1946
A Night in Casablanca
Count Pfefferman / Heinrich Stubel
1946
The Dolly Sisters
Ignatz Tsimmis
1945
She Went to the Races
Dr. Gurke
1945
Men in Her Diary
Mme. Irene
1945
A Royal Scandal
General Ronsky
1945
House of Frankenstein
Burgomeister Hussman
1944
Summer Storm
Kuzma
1944
The Hitler Gang
General von Hindenburg
1944
It Happened Tomorrow
Mr. Beckstein
1944
The Song of Bernadette
Louis Bouriette
1943
Government Girl
Ambassador
1943
Sweet Rosie O'Grady
Joe Flugelman
1943
They Came to Blow Up America
Dr. Herman Holger
1943
Tarzan Triumphs
Sergeant
1943
China Girl
Jarubi
1942
Desperate Journey
Preuss
1942
Berlin Correspondent
Dr. Dietrich
1942
Enemy Agents Meet Ellery Queen
Heinrich, Spy Leader
1942
Crossroads
Dr. Alex Dubroc
1942
To Be or Not to Be
Col. Ehrhardt
1942
Remember Pearl Harbor
Dirk Van Hoorten
1942
Breakdowns of 1941
Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
1941
This Woman Is Mine
John Jacob Astor
1941
World Premiere
Franz von Bushmaster
1941
Shining Victory
Professor Herman Von Reiter
1941
Love Crazy
Dr. Wuthering
1941
The Wagons Roll at Night
Hoffman the Great
1941
That Uncertain Feeling
Kafka (as Sig Rumann)
1941
The Man Who Lost Himself
Dr. Simms (as Sig Rumann)
1941
So Ends Our Night
Ammers
1941
Victory
Mr. Schomberg
1940
Comrade X
Emil Von Hofer
1940
Bitter Sweet
Herr Schlick
1940
Four Sons
Newmann
1940
I Was an Adventuress
Herr Protz
1940
Outside the Three-Mile Limit
Van Cleve
1940
Dr. Ehrlich's Magic Bullet
Dr. Hans Wolfert
1940
Remember?
Dr. Schmidt
1939
Ninotchka
Comrade Iranoff
1939
Only Angels Have Wings
Dutchy
1939
Confessions of a Nazi Spy
Krogman
1939
Never Say Die
Poppa Ingleborg
1939
Honolulu
Psychiatrist
1939
The Great Waltz
Wertheimer
1938
Suez
Sergeant Pellerin
1938
Girls on Probation
Roger Heath
1938
I'll Give a Million
Anatole Primerose
1938
Paradise for Three
Mr. Bold
1938
The Saint in New York
Hutch Rellin
1938
Thank You, Mr. Moto
Colonel Tchernov
1937
Nothing Sacred
Dr. Emil Eggelhoffer
1937
Heidi
Police Captain
1937
Lancer Spy
Lt. Col. Gottfried Hollen
1937
Thin Ice
Prime Minister
1937
Love Under Fire
General Montero
1937
Think Fast, Mr. Moto
Nicolas Marloff
1937
A Day at the Races
Dr. Leopold X. Steinberg
1937
This Is My Affair
Gus
1937
The Great Hospital Mystery
Dr. Taggert
1937
Midnight Taxi
John B. Rudd
1937
Maytime
Fanchon (as Sig Rumann)
1937
Seventh Heaven
Durand (as Sig Rumann)
1937
On the Avenue
Herr Hanfstangel
1937
The Bold Caballero
Commandante Sebastian Golle
1936
The Princess Comes Across
Steindorf
1936
East of Java
Hans Muller
1935
A Night at the Opera
Gottlieb
1935
The Farmer Takes a Wife
Blacksmith
1935
Spring Tonic
Matt Conklin
1935
The Wedding Night
Mr. Jan Novak
1935
Under Pressure
Doctor
1935
Marie Galante
Brogard
1934
Servants' Entrance
Hans Hansen (as Siegfried Rumann)
1934
The World Moves On
Baron von Gerhardt (as Siegfried Rumann)
1934
Die Königsloge
Bailiff
1929
Lucky Boy
Bridge player (Unbilled)
1929