A very handsome, strapping German character player, Kaufmann fell into film work because of the prolific and gifted neophyte film and theater director Rainer Werner Fassbinder. Born to a Bavarian mother and an African-American GI stationed in Germany after WWII, Kaufmann was not a trained actor and entered cinema when Fassbinder fell madly in love with him. Although Kaufmann never knew his father or learned English, he was often cast in roles iconically suggesting "American-ness", combined with a certain exoticism which Fassbinder used as part of his ongoing critique of German and
Earliest acting appearances include a role as 'Gunther' in Rainer Werner Fassbinder's "Gods of the Plague"
1970
Played a rare leading role (the title role) in Fassbinder's "Whity"
1970
Was supposed to play a leading role in Fassbinder's "The American Soldier", but plans fell through when their affair did; Kaufmann did perform a song written by Peer Raben in the film, "So Much Tenderness"
1972
First role in a film not directed by Fassbinder, "Ludwig--Requiem for a Virgin King", directed by Hans-Jurgen Syberberg; also marked Kaufmann's last film for a number of years
1978
Returned to film acting with a role in Fassbinder's "The Marriage of Maria Braun"
