John Banner

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John Banner (January 28, 1910–January 28, 1973) was a Jewish Austrian actor. Ironically, he is best known for his role as a German soldier, the comedic Sgt. Schultz on the television situation comedy Hogan's Heroes.

Banner was born in in Vienna, Austria. Because of his Jewish heritage, he was transported to a concentration camp before being released out of occupied Germany. Fortunately for him, Banner's time in the concentration camp was during the early stages of Nazi rule, when Jewish extermination policies were not yet fully implemented.

Before Banner came to acting, he studied law for two semesters. His feature film credits include over 40 films and over 70 television appearances, including Mr. Ed, The Partridge Family, The Lucy Show, and Perry Mason. He had a small role in a color episode of Adventures of Superman, playing a somewhat hapless character that to some extent anticipated his Sgt. Schultz characterization.

Banner died of an abdominal hemorrhage on his 63rd birthday in Vienna. He was buried at the cemetery in Mauer in Liesing, the 23rd Bezirk of Vienna. His grave can be found under Gruppe 57 Reihe 2 Nummer 26.