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This is Fresh Air. I'm Tanya Mosley. Werner Herzog is a writer and director known for his unique approach to storytelling

that often delves into the extremes, extreme personalities, predicaments, and places. Aguirre, the

wrath of God, follows a mad conquistador in the 16th century as he navigates the treacherous

Amazon jungle. Then there's Fitzcaroldo,

where Herzog tells the story of a European man living in Peru who becomes obsessed with bringing

opera to the Amazon. To achieve his dream, he faces an incredible challenge, getting a steamship

over a mountain to reach a river. It's a wild premise, and it's made

even more intense by the performances of Klaus Kinski, who plays a madman in both films.

Herzog has remarked that Kinski is not just acting. He was an actual madman in real life.

Kinski also starred in Herzog's haunting version of Nospheratu and appeared

in the documentary Grizzly Man, which tells the tragic story of a man who lived among grizzly bears

in Alaska, believing he was protecting them, until one day a bear eats him. Herzog's own life

has been shaped by extremes, too. Born in Munich

during World War II, his mother rescued him as a baby from his crib, which was covered in shattered

glass and debris after Allied bombs devastated nearby homes. His mother fled to a remote part of

Bavaria for safety, where she raised him and his brother in poverty.

Throughout his life, Herzog has endured numerous injuries, ski jumping, and while making films.

His cast and crew have faced their share of challenges, too.

Those who may not be familiar with Herzog's films often recognize him for his sinister roles and popular

shows like Jack Reacher, The Mandalorian, and even The Simpsons. Today, Herzog divides his time

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