Sig Ruman
Acting
Biography
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.
Filmography
Acting (108)
1972
Hollywood: The Dream Factoryas Self (archive footage)
7.2
1966
Way... Way Outas Russian Delegate
5.9
1966
The Fortune Cookieas Professor Winterhalter
7.2
1966
The Last of the Secret Agents?as Prof. Werner von Koenig
4.3
1964
36 Hoursas German Guard
7.1
1964
Robin and the 7 Hoodsas Hammacher (uncredited)
6.2
1961
One, Two, Threeas Count von Droste Schattenburg (voice) (uncredited)
7.5
1961
The Errand Boyas Baron Elston Carteblanche
6.2
1960
Around the World with Nellie Blyas Tug Captain
10.0
1957
The Wings of Eaglesas Manager
6.3
1955
Spy Chasersas King Rinko
7.5
1955
Many Rivers to Crossas Spectacle Man
6.5
1955
Carolina Cannonballas Stefan
6.0
1954
3 Ring Circusas Fritz Schlitz
5.6
1954
White Christmasas Landlord (uncredited)
7.2
1954
Living It Upas Dr. Emile Egelhofer
6.5
1954
The Glenn Miller Storyas W. Kranz
7.0
5.3
1953
Houdinias Schultz
6.6
1953
Stalag 17as Johann Schulz
7.7
1952
Ma and Pa Kettle on Vacationas Cyrus Kraft
7.1
1952
The World in His Armsas General Ivan Vorashilov
6.6
1952
O. Henry's Full Houseas Menkie (segment "The Gift of the Magi") (uncredited)
6.9
1951
On the Rivieraas Gapeaux
6.1
1950
Father Is a Bacheloras Jericho Schlosser
7.4
1949
Border Incidentas Hugo Wolfgang Ulrich
6.9
1948
The Emperor Waltzas Dr. Zwieback
6.3
1948
Give My Regards to Broadwayas Arthur Dinkel
7.5
1948
If You Knew Susieas Count Alexis
7.3
1947
Mother Wore Tightsas Papa
5.7
1946
Faithful in My Fashionas Professor Boris Riminoffsky
7.0
1946
Night and Dayas Wilowski
6.0
1946
A Night in Casablancaas Count Pfefferman / Heinrich Stubel
6.8
1945
The Dolly Sistersas Ignatz Tsimmis
5.7
1945
She Went to the Racesas Dr. Gurke
6.0
1945
Men in Her Diaryas Mme. Irene
9.0
1945
A Royal Scandalas General Ronsky
6.9
1944
House of Frankensteinas Burgomeister Hussman
6.1
1944
Summer Stormas Kuzma
5.7
1944
The Hitler Gangas General von Hindenburg
6.3
1944
It Happened Tomorrowas Mr. Beckstein
6.8
1943
The Song of Bernadetteas Louis Bouriette
7.1
1943
Government Girlas Ambassador
5.7
1943
Sweet Rosie O'Gradyas Joe Flugelman
6.5
1943
They Came to Blow Up Americaas Dr. Herman Holger
6.8
1943
Tarzan Triumphsas Sergeant
6.2
1942
China Girlas Jarubi
5.4
1942
Desperate Journeyas Preuss
6.1
1942
Berlin Correspondentas Dr. Dietrich
6.0
1942
Enemy Agents Meet Ellery Queenas Heinrich, Spy Leader
6.5
1942
Crossroadsas Dr. Alex Dubroc
5.9
1942
To Be or Not to Beas Col. Ehrhardt
7.8
1942
Remember Pearl Harboras Dirk Van Hoorten
7.0
1941
Breakdowns of 1941as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
7.0
1941
This Woman Is Mineas John Jacob Astor
4.5
1941
World Premiereas Franz von Bushmaster
6.0
1941
Shining Victoryas Professor Herman Von Reiter
6.1
1941
Love Crazyas Dr. Wuthering
6.8
1941
The Wagons Roll at Nightas Hoffman the Great
6.5
1941
That Uncertain Feelingas Kafka (as Sig Rumann)
6.6
1941
The Man Who Lost Himselfas Dr. Simms (as Sig Rumann)
5.4
1941
So Ends Our Nightas Ammers
6.3
1940
Victoryas Mr. Schomberg
9.0
1940
Comrade Xas Emil Von Hofer
6.1
1940
Bitter Sweetas Herr Schlick
6.0
1940
Four Sonsas Newmann
7.0
1940
I Was an Adventuressas Herr Protz
6.5
1940
Outside the Three-Mile Limitas Van Cleve
5.7
1940
Dr. Ehrlich's Magic Bulletas Dr. Hans Wolfert
6.5
1939
Remember?as Dr. Schmidt
6.0
1939
Ninotchkaas Comrade Iranoff
7.5
1939
Only Angels Have Wingsas Dutchy
7.3
1939
Confessions of a Nazi Spyas Krogman
6.1
1939
Never Say Dieas Poppa Ingleborg
7.3
1939
Honoluluas Psychiatrist
6.5
1938
The Great Waltzas Wertheimer
5.9
1938
Suezas Sergeant Pellerin
5.5
1938
Girls on Probationas Roger Heath
6.2
1938
I'll Give a Millionas Anatole Primerose
6.1
1938
Paradise for Threeas Mr. Bold
7.4
1938
The Saint in New Yorkas Hutch Rellin
6.5
1937
Thank You, Mr. Motoas Colonel Tchernov
6.2
1937
Nothing Sacredas Dr. Emil Eggelhoffer
6.3
1937
Heidias Police Captain
7.0
1937
Lancer Spyas Lt. Col. Gottfried Hollen
6.0
1937
Thin Iceas Prime Minister
6.8
1937
Love Under Fireas General Montero
5.3
1937
Think Fast, Mr. Motoas Nicolas Marloff
6.2
1937
A Day at the Racesas Dr. Leopold X. Steinberg
7.1
1937
This Is My Affairas Gus
7.3
1937
The Great Hospital Mysteryas Dr. Taggert
5.5
1937
Midnight Taxias John B. Rudd
6.2
1937
Maytimeas Fanchon (as Sig Rumann)
6.8
1937
Seventh Heavenas Durand (as Sig Rumann)
6.4
1937
On the Avenueas Herr Hanfstangel
7.2
1936
The Bold Caballeroas Commandante Sebastian Golle
6.0
1936
The Princess Comes Acrossas Steindorf
6.2
1935
East of Javaas Hans Muller
7.5
1935
A Night at the Operaas Gottlieb
7.4
1935
The Farmer Takes a Wifeas Blacksmith
6.2
1935
Spring Tonicas Matt Conklin
6.5
1935
The Wedding Nightas Mr. Jan Novak
5.9
1935
Under Pressureas Doctor
5.2
1934
Marie Galanteas Brogard
4.9
1934
Servants' Entranceas Hans Hansen (as Siegfried Rumann)
8.0
1934
The World Moves Onas Baron von Gerhardt (as Siegfried Rumann)
5.9
1929
Die Königslogeas Bailiff
10.0
1929
Lucky Boyas Bridge player (Unbilled)
5.3