10 Actors And Directors Who Absolutely Hated Each Other

Films: Aguirre, the Wrath of God; Fitzcarraldo

Klaus Kinski was one of the most notoriously volatile actors in the history of Hollywood. He was prone to tantrums, bouts of aggression, and outright tyrannical defiance. Never was this more apparent than in his work with Werner Herzog.

While filming Aguirre, Herzog would infuriate Kinski on purpose, so that he would burn through his rage and mellow out by the time Herzog was ready to shoot the scene. Kinski apparently got irritated at the sound coming from a hut where some of the cast and crew were playing cards, so instead of asking them to be quiet (you know, like a normal person), Kinski fired a gun at the hut, blowing off part of an extra's finger. He threatened to quit and leave set when Herzog wouldn't fire a crew member, prompting Herzog to pull out a gun and threaten to murder Kinski (before killing himself, of course).

While filming Fitzcarraldo, Kinski sparred with Herzog and other crew members, once berating production manager Walter Saxer over the quality of the food. One of the film's extras - a Peruvian tribal chief - honestly and earnestly offered to kill Kinski for Herzog.

Herzog declined (but only because he needed Kinski alive to finish filming).