Howard Caine - Actor Profile

Howard Caine

Acting
Freshness: Jan 20, 2026
16Total Films
8.0 Highest Rated
Born: Jan 2, 1928
Birth Place: Nashville, Tennessee, U.S.

About Howard Caine

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Howard Caine (January 2, 1928 – December 28, 1993), was a popular character actor, probably best known as Gestapo agent Major Wolfgang Hochstetter in the television series Hogan's Heroes. At the age of 13 Howard Cohen moved with his family from his hometown of Nashville, Tennessee to New York City, where he began studying acting. Learning to erase his Southern accent, he went on to became a master of 32 foreign and American dialects. After serving in World War II- he joined the United States Navy fighting the Japanese in the Pacific theater - Caine continued his studies at The School of Drama, Columbia University, where he graduated summa cum laude. He appeared on Broadway in Wonderful Town, Inherit the Wind, Lunatics and Lovers and Tiger at the Gates. He succeeded Ray Walston as "Mr. Applegate" in the original production of Damn Yankees. He was featured in such films as From the Terrace (1960), Pay or Die (1960), Judgment at Nuremberg (1961), Brushfire (1962), The Man from the Diner's Club (1963), Pressure Point (1962) and Alvarez Kelly (1966). He co-starred with Godfrey Cambridge and Estelle Parsons in Watermelon Man (1970). He was a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Science. He acted in more than 750 live and filmed television programs, including the 1961 episode "The Vials" of the western series Two Faces West. He may be best-remembered as Major Hochstetter on Hogan's Heroes (1965). He was featured as "Everett Scovill", a thinly disguised portrait of Charles Manson's attorney Irving Kanarek, on Helter Skelter (1976). A native of Tennessee, Caine had always been fascinated with the Appalachian five-string banjo, and began mastering it in the mid-'60s. From the summer of 1970 until his death in 1993, he had taken trophies at 29 prominent banjo and fiddle contests in the Southland for both Best Traditional Banjo and Traditional Singing. He was also a popular folk singer and appeared at a number of prominent folk clubs and folk festivals. Description above from the Wikipedia article Howard Caine, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia. ​

Career Statistics & Market Influence

Analyzing the cinematic journey of Howard Caine reveals a career defined by diverse artistic exploration. With a total of 16 major appearances, the actor has established a significant footprint in global cinema.

Genre Dominance: Drama

The majority of Howard Caine's filmography leans towards the Drama genre. Audience data suggests that viewers respond most favorably to this persona, though their versatility has allowed for successful crossovers into other categories.

The "Box Office" Signature

With a 50% Success Ratio (movies rated above 6.5), Howard Caine remains a reliable draw for studios. Their peak performance was recorded in Judgment at Nuremberg, which continues to be the benchmark for their career rating-wise.

Best Howard Caine Movies Ranked

Must-watch hits from Howard Caine's career based on audience ratings.

Complete Filmography & Success Status

Tracking the career evolution and box office verdicts of Howard Caine.

YearMovieCharacterSuccessMore
1982 Forced Vengeance Milt Diamond Flop Similar →
1980 Marilyn: The Untold Story Billy Wilder Hit Similar →
1976 Helter Skelter Everett Scoville Hit Similar →
1972 1776 Lewis Morris (NY) Hit Similar →
1970 Watermelon Man Mr. Townsend Average Similar →
1967 Get Smart: A Man Called Smart Bediyoskin / Dr. Smith Flop Similar →
1966 The Doomsday Flight L.A. Dispatcher Average Similar →
1966 Alvarez Kelly McIntyre Average Similar →
1963 The Man from the Diners' Club Claude Bassanio Flop Similar →
1962 Pressure Point Tavern Owner Hit Similar →
1962 Brushfire Vlad Flop Similar →
1961 Judgment at Nuremberg Hugo Wallner Super Hit Similar →
1960 Pay or Die! Enrico Caruso Hit Similar →
1960 From the Terrace Creighton Duffy Hit Similar →
1960 Captain Brassbound's Conversion Cadi of Kintafi Flop Similar →
1953 Marty The Bartender Super Hit Similar →

Howard Caine - Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best movie of Howard Caine?

According to audience ratings, the best movie starring Howard Caine is "Judgment at Nuremberg" with a rating of 8.0/10.

How many movies has Howard Caine acted in?

Howard Caine has been featured in at least 16 major films throughout their career.

What are some other popular movies by Howard Caine?

Other notable films include "Marty", "Pay or Die!", and "Helter Skelter".