Sig Ruman
Acting • Born 1884-10-10 – Died 1967-02-14
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
125 credits
The Last of the Secret Agents?
Movie • 1966
Prof. Werner von Koenig
To Be or Not to Be
Movie • 1942
Col. Ehrhardt
Stalag 17
Movie • 1953
Sgt. Johann Sebastian Schulz
House of Frankenstein
Movie • 1944
Burgomeister Hussman
Ninotchka
Movie • 1939
Comrade Iranoff
It Happened Tomorrow
Movie • 1944
Mr. Beckstein
The Great Waltz
Movie • 1938
Wertheimer
Love Crazy
Movie • 1941
Dr. Wuthering
The Princess Comes Across
Movie • 1936
Steindorf
A Day at the Races
Movie • 1937
Dr. Leopold X. Steinberg
Comrade X
Movie • 1940
Emil Von Hofer
A Night in Casablanca
Movie • 1946
Count Pfefferman / Heinrich Stubel
Border Incident
Movie • 1949
Hugo Wolfgang Ulrich
Outside the Three-Mile Limit
Movie • 1940
Van Cleve
Crossroads
Movie • 1942
Dr. Alex Dubroc
Houdini
Movie • 1953
Schultz
Nothing Sacred
Movie • 1937
Dr. Emil Eggelhoffer
That Uncertain Feeling
Movie • 1941
Kafka (as Sig Rumann)
Only Angels Have Wings
Movie • 1939
Dutchy
36 Hours
Movie • 1964
German Guard
A Night at the Opera
Movie • 1935
Gottlieb
Thin Ice
Movie • 1937
Prime Minister
3 Ring Circus
Movie • 1954
Fritz Schlitz
The Wings of Eagles
Movie • 1957
Manager
The Glenn Miller Story
Movie • 1954
W. Kranz
The Saint in New York
Movie • 1938
Hutch Rellin
Enemy Agents Meet Ellery Queen
Movie • 1942
Heinrich, Spy Leader
Summer Storm
Movie • 1944
Kuzma
Many Rivers to Cross
Movie • 1955
Spectacle Man
China Girl
Movie • 1942
Jarubi
Government Girl
Movie • 1943
Ambassador
Tarzan Triumphs
Movie • 1943
Sergeant
The World in His Arms
Movie • 1952
General Ivan Vorashilov
The Wagons Roll at Night
Movie • 1941
Hoffman the Great
Think Fast, Mr. Moto
Movie • 1937
Nicolas Marloff
Thank You, Mr. Moto
Movie • 1937
Colonel Tchernov
Dr. Ehrlich's Magic Bullet
Movie • 1940
Dr. Hans Wolfert
Mother Wore Tights
Movie • 1947
Papa
Hollywood: The Dream Factory
Movie • 1972
Self (archive footage)
Lancer Spy
Movie • 1937
Lt. Col. Gottfried Hollen
Four Sons
Movie • 1940
Newmann
Never Say Die
Movie • 1939
Poppa Ingleborg
Carolina Cannonball
Movie • 1955
Stefan
The Farmer Takes a Wife
Movie • 1935
Blacksmith
Girls on Probation
Movie • 1938
Roger Heath
Spy Chasers
Movie • 1955
King Rinko
The Bold Caballero
Movie • 1936
Commandante Sebastian Golle
Remember?
Movie • 1939
Dr. Schmidt
Desperate Journey
Movie • 1942
Preuss
Give My Regards to Broadway
Movie • 1948
Arthur Dinkel
Paradise for Three
Movie • 1938
Mr. Bold
Shining Victory
Movie • 1941
Professor Herman Von Reiter
Honolulu
Movie • 1939
Psychiatrist
Bitter Sweet
Movie • 1940
Herr Schlick
She Went to the Races
Movie • 1945
Dr. Gurke
Suez
Movie • 1938
Sergeant Pellerin
They Came to Blow Up America
Movie • 1943
Dr. Herman Holger
The Girl on The Roof
Movie • 1953
The Emperor Waltz
Movie • 1948
Dr. Zwieback
The Wedding Night
Movie • 1935
Mr. Jan Novak
I'll Give a Million
Movie • 1938
Anatole Primerose
I Was an Adventuress
Movie • 1940
Herr Protz
Under Pressure
Movie • 1935
Doctor
Midnight Taxi
Movie • 1937
John B. Rudd
The Hitler Gang
Movie • 1944
General von Hindenburg
Faithful in My Fashion
Movie • 1946
Professor Boris Riminoffsky
The Great Hospital Mystery
Movie • 1937
Dr. Taggert
On the Avenue
Movie • 1937
Herr Hanfstangel
The Song of Bernadette
Movie • 1943
Louis Bouriette
Berlin Correspondent
Movie • 1942
Dr. Dietrich
Confessions of a Nazi Spy
Movie • 1939
Krogman
O. Henry's Full House
Movie • 1952
Menkie (segment "The Gift of the Magi") (uncredited)
Remember Pearl Harbor
Movie • 1942
Dirk Van Hoorten
Victory
Movie • 1940
Mr. Schomberg
One, Two, Three
Movie • 1961
Count von Droste Schattenburg (voice) (uncredited)
The World Moves On
Movie • 1934
Baron von Gerhardt (as Siegfried Rumann)
Father Is a Bachelor
Movie • 1950
Jericho Schlosser
Love Under Fire
Movie • 1937
General Montero
This Is My Affair
Movie • 1937
Gus
Living It Up
Movie • 1954
Dr. Emile Egelhofer
Breakdowns of 1941
Movie • 1941
Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
If You Knew Susie
Movie • 1948
Count Alexis
Marie Galante
Movie • 1934
Brogard
The Dolly Sisters
Movie • 1945
Ignatz Tsimmis
Ma and Pa Kettle on Vacation
Movie • 1952
Cyrus Kraft
This Woman Is Mine
Movie • 1941
John Jacob Astor
Way... Way Out
Movie • 1966
Russian Delegate
Sweet Rosie O'Grady
Movie • 1943
Joe Flugelman
So Ends Our Night
Movie • 1941
Ammers
The Man Who Lost Himself
Movie • 1941
Dr. Simms (as Sig Rumann)
Heidi
Movie • 1937
Police Captain
Die Königsloge
Movie • 1929
Bailiff
Maytime
Movie • 1937
Fanchon (as Sig Rumann)
The Fortune Cookie
Movie • 1966
Professor Winterhalter
On the Riviera
Movie • 1951
Gapeaux
Seventh Heaven
Movie • 1937
Durand (as Sig Rumann)
Men in Her Diary
Movie • 1945
Mme. Irene
The Errand Boy
Movie • 1961
Baron Elston Carteblanche
White Christmas
Movie • 1954
Landlord (uncredited)
A Royal Scandal
Movie • 1945
General Ronsky
East of Java
Movie • 1935
Hans Muller
Doom of Dracula
Movie • 1966
The Burgomaster (archive footage)
Night and Day
Movie • 1946
Wilowski
Robin and the 7 Hoods
Movie • 1964
Hammacher (uncredited)
World Premiere
Movie • 1941
Franz von Bushmaster
Spring Tonic
Movie • 1935
Matt Conklin
Servants' Entrance
Movie • 1934
Hans Hansen (as Siegfried Rumann)
Lucky Boy
Movie • 1929
Bridge player (Unbilled)
Around the World with Nellie Bly
Movie • 1960
Tug Captain
Maverick
TV • 1957
Petticoat Junction
TV • 1963
Professor Lieberschmit
General Electric Theater
TV • 1953
Dr. Haegendorff
Johnny Staccato
TV • 1959
Daniel Boone
TV • 1964
Van Coot
One Step Beyond
TV • 1959
Franz Schuldorf
Pete and Gladys
TV • 1960
Private Secretary
TV • 1953
The Dinah Shore Chevy Show
TV • 1956
Self
Lawman
TV • 1958
The Addams Family
TV • 1964
Eric Von Bissell
Hank
TV • 1965
The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis
TV • 1959
Himelmayer
Maverick
TV • 1957
Capt. Steeger
The Danny Kaye Show
TV • 1963
Self
The Man from U.N.C.L.E.
TV • 1964
Conductor Schultz