Klaus Maria Brandauer (born in 1943) is a renowned Austrian actor, celebrated for his intense international film career.

He achieved global fame with his starring role in István Szabó's *Mephisto* (1981), which won the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film. His fruitful collaboration with Szabó continued with *Colonel Redl* (1985) and *Hanussen* (1988), forming a thematic trilogy that explores ambitious individuals in turbulent historical contexts.

Brandauer also gained international recognition for roles in Hollywood productions such as the antagonist in *Out of Africa* (1985), which earned him a Golden Globe nomination, and the villain Maximilian Largo in *Never Say Never Again* (1983) alongside Sean Connery.

He is known for his ability to embody complex characters, often ambiguous and morally compromised, possessing great charisma but also a latent uneasiness. His acting style is characterized by psychological intensity and emotional depth.