John Banner (born Johann Banner, 28 January 1910 â€" 28 January 1973)
was an Austrian-born American film and television actor. He is best
known for his role as Sergeant Schultz in the situation comedy Hogan's
Heroes (1965â€"1971). Schultz, constantly encountering evidence that
the inmates of his stalag were planning mayhem, frequently feigned
ignorance with the catchphrase, "I see nothing! I hear nothing! I know
nothing!" (or, more commonly as the series went on, "I know nothing,
nothing!").Banner was born to Jewish parents in Stanislau,
Austria-Hungary (now Ivano-Frankivsk, Ukraine). He studied for a law
degree at the University of Vienna, but decided instead to become an
actor. In 1938, when he was performing with an acting troupe in
Switzerland, Adolf Hitler annexed Austria to Nazi Germany. Banner
emigrated to the United States, where he rapidly learned English.In
1942, he enlisted in the United States Army Air Forces, underwent
basic training in Atlantic City and became a supply sergeant. He even
posed for a recruiting poster (before he became portly). He served
until 1945.According to fellow Hogan's Heroes actor Robert Clary,
"John lost a lot of his family" to the Holocaust.
was an Austrian-born American film and television actor. He is best
known for his role as Sergeant Schultz in the situation comedy Hogan's
Heroes (1965â€"1971). Schultz, constantly encountering evidence that
the inmates of his stalag were planning mayhem, frequently feigned
ignorance with the catchphrase, "I see nothing! I hear nothing! I know
nothing!" (or, more commonly as the series went on, "I know nothing,
nothing!").Banner was born to Jewish parents in Stanislau,
Austria-Hungary (now Ivano-Frankivsk, Ukraine). He studied for a law
degree at the University of Vienna, but decided instead to become an
actor. In 1938, when he was performing with an acting troupe in
Switzerland, Adolf Hitler annexed Austria to Nazi Germany. Banner
emigrated to the United States, where he rapidly learned English.In
1942, he enlisted in the United States Army Air Forces, underwent
basic training in Atlantic City and became a supply sergeant. He even
posed for a recruiting poster (before he became portly). He served
until 1945.According to fellow Hogan's Heroes actor Robert Clary,
"John lost a lot of his family" to the Holocaust.
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