John Banner
Acting • Born 1910-01-28 – Died 1973-01-28
Biography
John Banner (Height: 6 feet 1 inch [1.85 meters]), born Johann Banner (January 28, 1910-January 28, 1973), was an Austrian-American actor who achieved lasting fame for his portrayal of the bumbling German Sergeant Hans Schultz in the beloved sitcom Hogan's Heroes (1965-1971). Banner was born in Vienna, Austria-Hungary (now Ukraine). He studied acting at the prestigious Reinhardt Seminar and began his career on the Viennese stage. In 1938, with the rise of the Nazis, Banner, a Jew, fled Austria for the United States. After arriving in America, Banner struggled to find work in his chosen profession. He took on odd jobs to make ends meet while continuing to pursue his passion for acting. Eventually, he began landing small roles in Hollywood films, often playing stereotypical Germans. In 1965, Banner landed the role of Sergeant Schultz in the CBS sitcom Hogan's Heroes. The show was set in a German prisoner-of-war camp during World War II and followed the exploits of a group of American officers led by Colonel Robert Hogan (Bob Crane). Banner's portrayal of Schultz, the guard who was always "seeing nothing" and "hearing nothing" while the prisoners tunneled out of the camp or conducted other escapades, was a comedic highlight of the show. Banner's comedic timing and delivery of the catchphrases "I see nothing!" and "I know nothing!" endeared him to audiences around the world. He remained with the show for its entire six-season run, becoming synonymous with the role of Sergeant Schultz. After Hogan's Heroes ended in 1971, Banner continued to act, appearing in guest roles on various television shows. He also returned to the stage, performing in a number of productions. In 1973, Banner died of a heart attack while visiting Vienna. He was 63 years old.
Filmography
98 credits
My Girl Tisa
Movie • 1948
Otto
The Wonderful Country
Movie • 1959
Ben Sterner
It Started with Eve
Movie • 1941
Party Guest (uncredited)
The Fallen Sparrow
Movie • 1943
Anton
The Story of Ruth
Movie • 1960
King Of Moab
36 Hours
Movie • 1964
Ernst
Go for Broke!
Movie • 1951
German Officer
Hitler
Movie • 1962
Gregor Strasser
Bedtime Story
Movie • 1964
Burgermeister (uncredited)
Seven Miles from Alcatraz
Movie • 1942
Fritz
Never Say Goodbye
Movie • 1956
Oskar
The Argyle Secrets
Movie • 1948
Winter
20,000 Eyes
Movie • 1961
Kurt Novak
The Last Laugh
Movie • 2016
Self
With This Ring
Movie • 1954
Spring Parade
Movie • 1940
Cymbalist (uncredited)
The Blue Angel
Movie • 1959
Principal Harter
They Came to Blow Up America
Movie • 1943
Gestapo Agent
The Beast of Budapest
Movie • 1958
Dr. Kovach
The Juggler
Movie • 1953
Emile Halevy
The Wicked Dreams of Paula Schultz
Movie • 1968
Weber
The Gypsy Moon
Movie • 1954
Bavarro
The Moon Is Down
Movie • 1943
Lt. Prackle (uncredited)
Once Upon a Honeymoon
Movie • 1942
Von Kleinoch (uncredited)
Guilty of Treason
Movie • 1950
Dr. Szandor Deste
Callaway Went Thataway
Movie • 1951
Headwaiter at Mocambo's (uncredited)
To the Victor
Movie • 1948
Jacques Lestrac
One, Two, Three
Movie • 1961
Krause / Haberdasher (voice) (uncredited)
The Yellow Canary
Movie • 1963
Sam Skolman
The Young Lions
Movie • 1958
German Town Mayor (uncredited)
The Peter Tchaikovsky Story
Movie • 1959
Office Supervisor
Crash of Moons
Movie • 1954
Bavarro
This Land Is Mine
Movie • 1943
German Sergeant
Kisses for My President
Movie • 1964
Vasiliovich Alexminitch (uncredited)
King Solomon's Mines
Movie • 1950
Austin - Safari Client (uncredited)
The Lucille Ball Comedy Hour
Movie • 1964
Guard
Pacific Blackout
Movie • 1941
Togetherness
Movie • 1970
Hipolitas
Operation Eichmann
Movie • 1961
Rudolf Hoff
Nocturne
Movie • 1946
Charles Shawn (uncredited)
Star Spangled Salesman
Movie • 1968
Self
Bing Crosby Color Christmas Show
Movie • 1965
Self/Sgt. Schultz
Desperate Journey
Movie • 1942
The Dream
Movie • 1956
Prefect of Police
Executive Suite
Movie • 1954
Henri - Stork Club Maître D' (uncredited)
One Coat of White
Movie • 1957
Vegaro
Mister Ed
TV • 1961
Kraft Suspense Theatre
TV • 1963
Martin Rutke
The Lucy Show
TV • 1962
Sergeant Schultz
Alias Smith and Jones
TV • 1971
Hogan's Heroes
TV • 1965
Hans Schultz
Perry Mason
TV • 1957
A. Tobler
The Rogues
TV • 1964
Steiner
Hallmark Hall of Fame
TV • 1951
Alfred Hitchcock Presents
TV • 1955
Train Conductor
Outlaws
TV • 1960
The Virginian
TV • 1962
Gus Schultz
The Chicago Teddy Bears
TV • 1971
Thriller
TV • 1960
Prof. Martin Vander Hoven
Schlitz Playhouse of Stars
TV • 1951
Morris Odvarka
One Step Beyond
TV • 1959
Dr. Molhaus
Adventures of Superman
TV • 1952
Bronsky
The Donna Reed Show
TV • 1958
Private Secretary
TV • 1953
Matinee Theater
TV • 1955
Navy Log
TV • 1955
The Baileys of Balboa
TV • 1964
The Whistler
TV • 1954
Cavalcade of America
TV • 1952
General Electric True
TV • 1962
Telephone Time
TV • 1956
The DuPont Show with June Allyson
TV • 1959
Mr. Popper
The Roaring 20's
TV • 1960
The Man Called X
TV • 1956
Letter to Loretta
TV • 1953
Hans
The Third Man
TV • 1959
77 Sunset Strip
TV • 1958
Carl Neuman
Behind Closed Doors
TV • 1958
Prosecutor Hoxa
The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis
TV • 1959
Public Defender
TV • 1954
Mr. Lambert
Sheena: Queen of the Jungle
TV • 1955
Brunner
The Virginian
TV • 1962
August the Head Waiter
Four Star Playhouse
TV • 1952
Koert
The Man from U.N.C.L.E.
TV • 1964
Dr. Foster
The Gale Storm Show
TV • 1956
Hans Schlosser
Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea
TV • 1964
Russian Chairman
The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis
TV • 1959
Chief
Hazel
TV • 1961
Mr. Mueller
The Alfred Hitchcock Hour
TV • 1962
Dutch Customs Man
Studio 57
TV • 1954
Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre
TV • 1963
General Zimring
The Young Marrieds
TV • 1964
Dimitri Kilarin #1
The Red Skelton Show
TV • 1951
Sgt. Schultz
Alcoa Premiere
TV • 1961
Kaspar Kraus
The Doris Day Show
TV • 1968
Bruno
The Cara Williams Show
TV • 1964
Zinzer
The Untouchables
TV • 1959
Franz Koenig
The Partridge Family
TV • 1970
Max Ledbetter