Werner Herzog Bio: Age, Height, Children, Net Worth, Films, Documentaries, Career, Wife, Parents

Werner Herzog is a German filmmaker, author, and actor who has long been revered for his hypnotic visions of human obsession, nature’s indifference, and the thin line between ecstasy and madness.

He burst onto the scene in the 1960s with Signs of Life and Aguirre, the Wrath of God, and went on to craft masterpieces like Fitzcarraldo, Grizzly Man, and Into the Inferno, while directing operas, writing books, and narrating documentaries with his unmistakable baritone.

Herzog’s relentless fusion of poetic realism and extreme storytelling has earned him the Golden Lion, multiple Cannes prizes, and a mythic status in world cinema.

Profile

• Full Name: Werner H. Stipetić
• Stage Name: Werner Herzog
• Born: September 5, 1942
• Age: 83 years old
• Birthplace: Munich, Germany
• Nationality: German
• Occupation: Filmmaker, Actor, Opera Director, Author
• Height: 1.83m
• Parents: Dietrich Herzog and Elisabeth Stipetić
• Siblings: Till Stipetić, Lucki Stipetić, Sigrid Herzog
• Spouse: Martje Grohmann (m. 1967–1985), Christine Maria Ebenberger (m. 1987–1997), Elena Pisetski (m. 1999)
• Children: Rudolph Herzog, Hanna Mattes, Simon Herzog
• Relationship: Married
• Net Worth: $20 million

Early Life and Education

Werner H. Stipetić was born on September 5, 1942, in Munich, to Dietrich Herzog, and Elisabeth Stipetić, who separated early; he took his father’s surname as a teenager. He grew up with older brother Till, half-brother Lucki, and sister Sigrid, spending childhood years in remote Bavaria after Allied bombings.

Herzog studied history, literature, and music in Munich and briefly attended Duquesne University in Pittsburgh on a Fulbright scholarship. He is of German ethnicity and keeps his religion private.

Career

Werner Herzog launched his filmmaking at 19, founding Werner Herzog Filmproduktion with savings from steel-mill work. His debut Herakles (1962) merged documentary and fiction, followed by Signs of Life (1968), which won the German Film Award.

He gained cult status with Even Dwarfs Started Small (1970) and Aguirre, the Wrath of God (1972), starring Klaus Kinski in a feverish conquest tale shot in the Peruvian jungle, establishing his signature blend of grandiose ambition and raw peril.

Herzog reached global acclaim with The Enigma of Kaspar Hauser (1974), Heart of Glass (1976) under hypnosis, and Nosferatu the Vampyre (1979). He dragged a steamship over a mountain for Fitzcarraldo (1982), winning Best Director at Cannes.

Documentaries like Lessons of Darkness (1992) and Grizzly Man (2005) earned Oscar nominations, while Bad Lieutenant (2009) and Queen of the Desert (2015) showed Hollywood range. He directed operas, narrated films, and published memoirs, cementing his legend.

Werner Herzog continues releasing documentaries like Fireball (2020) and The Fire Within (2022), directs theater and opera, and teaches masterclasses. His narration graces trailers and audiobooks, while restored classics reach new audiences.

Herzog’s uncompromising vision and philosophical depth keep him a towering influence in cinema and beyond.

Social Media

• Instagram Handle: Unknown
• Facebook Handle: Unknown
• Twitter Handle: Unknown

Personal Life

Werner Herzog has married three times: Martje Grohmann (1967–1985), Christine Maria Ebenberger (1987–1997), and photographer Elena Pisetski since 1999. He has three children: filmmaker Rudolph Herzog, artist Hanna Mattes, and Simon Herzog.

Herzog lives between Los Angeles and Munich, avoids the spotlight, and famously walked from Munich to Paris to visit a dying friend.

Filmography

• Signs of Life (1968)
• Aguirre, the Wrath of God (1972)
• The Enigma of Kaspar Hauser (1974)
• Fitzcarraldo (1982)
• Nosferatu the Vampyre (1979)
• Lessons of Darkness (1992)
• Grizzly Man (2005)
• Into the Inferno (2016)
• Fireball (2020)

Net Worth

Werner Herzog has an estimated net worth of $20 million. He earns through directing features and documentaries, international distribution, opera stagings, book sales, and voice work. Royalties from restored classics and festival honors sustain his finances.