Off-screen, Kinski often appeared as a wild-eyed, sex-crazed maniac. He chronicled his exploits in an autobiography—Kinski: All I Need Is Love or Kinski Uncut, which, according to Werner Herzog’s My Best Fiend, a documentary about the pair’s experiences working together, was largely fabricated to generate sales. (A libel suit from Marlene Dietrich due to Kinski depicting her as a lesbian resulted in the book being withdrawn from circulation until her death). Throughout the memoir we witness encounters with young actresses, hookers, chambermaids and, in two memorable scenes, Alberto Moravia‘s wife and Idi Amin‘s daughter. He was married three times and had (according to his autobiography) at least five children, three of whom he regarded as such: two daughters (Nastassja Kinski and Pola Kinski), and a son (Nikolai Kinski), all of them actors. His brother Arne lives in Berlin, still bitter about the way Klaus portrayed him in his autobiography. He alienated his family with claims of incest with his sister and his mother.

Image via The Devil’s Honey