Herzog was born in 1942 in Munich. When he was only a few weeks old, he, along with his mother and brother, fled the Allied bombing raids and relocated to a rural village in the mountains of Bavaria. There, with no running water or consistent electricity, his meager childhood would instill in him a sense of urgency to procure a better future.

Herzog admits he has always felt a burning desire to describe people’s journeys and that stories come to him “with great vehemence.” He adds, “I see a film, an entire film in front of me as if I were sitting in a projection room and I saw a movie.” Herzog, who famously refuses special effects onset, makes films that are intense, fevered accounts of normal turned abnormal. His personal experiences can also be pretty wild. In 1976, he risked his life traveling to the Caribbean archipelago of Guadeloupe to film an impending volcanic eruption. In 2006, he was shot with an air rifle during an interview on an open road outside of Los Angeles (he soon resumed the interview). That same year, he also rescued actor Joaquin Phoenix in the immediate aftermath of a car accident.

Herzog credits his mother for showing him tremendous courage and grit when the family had little to nothing to call their own. He also expressed his admiration for the German film critic and historian Lotte Eisner. In fact, he once walked from Munich to Paris (over 500 miles) during winter to visit her when she was ailing. And for over 20 years now, he has been happily married to his wife, Lena. “When I saw her, I was stunned,” he said about meeting her for the first time.

Completely self-taught, Herzog never went to film school. Using rudimentary 35 mm film, he created his first piece of cinema, “Herakles,” at age 19 in 1962. This film compellingly portrays the quest for human glory as well as the dichotomy of great physical strength and a fragile state of mind. “Herakles” is accompanied by a simple jazz saxophone that is both haunting and soothing.

In high school, Herzog worked nights as a welder in a steel factory. He also made movies on the side, honing a talent that would later change the film industry. In addition to all his work behind the camera, Herzog has played deeply evil villains as an actor. Despite these villainous roles, his wife describes him as “a fluffy husband.”

Herzog says he doesn’t think his films are particularly innovative, but he agrees he is able to show something different that resonates with viewers. His work can stir complex emotions, ones that many viewers may never have felt before. In interviews, he is a larger-than-life figure with a deep voice, distinct German accent and even-keeled delivery.

A unique storyteller, Herzog is famous for pushing his actors physically and mentally to the limit and placing his cast and crew into challenging situations that mirror the plot of the film. He also encourages improvisation on set instead of strictly following a rigid script. He has even been known to discard a detailed outline of the story while filming.

Herzog says he has never had an easy film to make. He has witnessed his movie sets destroyed and actors rage at him, but it’s all ultimately for the sake of making a compelling film.

In 1979, Herzog stunned and fascinated the world by eating his shoe. One might immediately think this was a publicity stunt, but he was actually showing his allegiance to fellow filmmaker and dear friend, Errol Morris, to whom he had promised he would eat his shoe if Errol finished making his first feature-length documentary, “Gates of Heaven.” Herzog proved his commitment to his friend and, in turn, the act of shoe eating became a symbol of support for independent films around the world.

on The Carlos Watson Show!

Herzog has written, produced and directed over 60 documentaries and feature films in his prolific career. His work often provides a raw, fascinating account of unknown worlds, where people seek to do the near-impossible. In 2007, he disappeared to Antarctica to film the documentary, “Encounters at the End of the World.” With a minimal crew, he boldly filmed the grueling account of scientists who risk their lives to study the desolate landscape of the frozen continent.

Herzog has profound respect for the United States, stating that “America has always had the astonishing capability to get itself out of crises.” He believes the U.S. is heading towards accountability and that more social progress is on the horizon. Having lived in Los Angeles for over two decades now, he is well aware that many people view LA as glitzy and shallow. However, he views it as a city of profound culture and substance.

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