1939Winner
Best Performance
Ninotchka
Sig Ruman
Actor
Hamburg, Germany
October 10, 1884
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.
Photo
Representative Works
Awards and Honors
Critical Favorites
1942Winner
Best Performance
To Be or Not to Be
1954Nominee
Best Performance
White Christmas
Career Highlights
1964Highlight
Best Performance
Robin and the 7 Hoods
1961Highlight
Best Performance
One, Two, Three
Video
Ninotchka
To Be or Not to Be
White Christmas