Sig Ruman

Acting • 124 Credits

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.

🎭 Acting Roles (30)

Ranked by Prestige & Popularity
To Be or Not to Be

To Be or Not to Be

1942 ⭐ 3.9
as Col. Ehrhardt
Stalag 17

Stalag 17

1953 ⭐ 3.8
as Johann Schulz
White Christmas

White Christmas

1954 ⭐ 3.6
as Landlord (uncredited)
A Night at the Opera

A Night at the Opera

1935 ⭐ 3.7
as Gottlieb
The Addams Family

The Addams Family

1964 ⭐ 4.0
as Eric Von Bissell
Ninotchka

Ninotchka

1939 ⭐ 3.8
as Comrade Iranoff
One, Two, Three

One, Two, Three

1961 ⭐ 3.7
as Count von Droste Schattenburg (voice) (uncredited)
The Fortune Cookie

The Fortune Cookie

1966 ⭐ 3.6
as Professor Winterhalter
Only Angels Have Wings

Only Angels Have Wings

1939 ⭐ 3.6
as Dutchy
A Day at the Races

A Day at the Races

1937 ⭐ 3.6
as Dr. Leopold X. Steinberg
House of Frankenstein

House of Frankenstein

1944 ⭐ 3.0
as Burgomeister Hussman
The Glenn Miller Story

The Glenn Miller Story

1954 ⭐ 3.5
as W. Kranz
A Night in Casablanca

A Night in Casablanca

1946 ⭐ 3.4
as Count Pfefferman / Heinrich Stubel
The Song of Bernadette

The Song of Bernadette

1943 ⭐ 3.5
as Louis Bouriette
Heidi

Heidi

1937 ⭐ 3.5
as Police Captain
Nothing Sacred

Nothing Sacred

1937 ⭐ 3.1
as Dr. Emil Eggelhoffer
Houdini

Houdini

1953 ⭐ 3.3
as Schultz
36 Hours

36 Hours

1964 ⭐ 3.5
as German Guard
Robin and the 7 Hoods

Robin and the 7 Hoods

1964 ⭐ 3.1
as Hammacher (uncredited)
The Man from U.N.C.L.E.

The Man from U.N.C.L.E.

1964 ⭐ 3.6
as Conductor Schultz
The Wings of Eagles

The Wings of Eagles

1957 ⭐ 3.1
as Manager
It Happened Tomorrow

It Happened Tomorrow

1944 ⭐ 3.4
as Mr. Beckstein
Tarzan Triumphs

Tarzan Triumphs

1943 ⭐ 3.1
as Sergeant
The Errand Boy

The Errand Boy

1961 ⭐ 3.1
as Baron Elston Carteblanche
That Uncertain Feeling

That Uncertain Feeling

1941 ⭐ 3.3
as Kafka (as Sig Rumann)
The World in His Arms

The World in His Arms

1952 ⭐ 3.3
as General Ivan Vorashilov
O. Henry's Full House

O. Henry's Full House

1952 ⭐ 3.5
as Menkie (segment "The Gift of the Magi") (uncredited)
Border Incident

Border Incident

1949 ⭐ 3.5
as Hugo Wolfgang Ulrich
Maverick

Maverick

1957 ⭐ 3.5
as Capt. Steeger
Petticoat Junction

Petticoat Junction

1963 ⭐ 3.0
as Professor Lieberschmit