Henry Kissinger.

Heinz Alfred Kissinger

Henry Kissinger — Academic

Born 27 May 1923 Fürth, Germany

Died 29 Nov 2023 Kent, USA

Citizenship Germany

Would Be 103 yr If Living

17 min read

Reading time

3,293

Words

May 11, 2026

Published

87

Film credits

22

Books

31

Awards

TL;DR

Henry Kissinger fled Nazi Germany in 1938, later earned a PhD from Harvard, and as Secretary of State from 1973 to 1977 won the Nobel Peace Prize for negotiating a Vietnam War ceasefire. His shuttle diplomacy in the Middle East and Realpolitik approach defined his tenure. He also served as National Security Advisor under Presidents Nixon and Ford. Kissinger died at age 100 on November 29, 2023 in Kent, Connecticut.

Identity & family.

KIN · 5

Names, aliases, and relatives of Henry Kissinger — birth name, kin, and personal ties.

Birth Name Heinz Alfred Kissinger

Aliases Dr. Henry A. Kissinger, Dr. Henry Kissinger, Dr. Kissinger, Henry A. Kissinger, Secretary of State Henry Kissinger

Parents: Paula Stern Louis Kissinger
Spouses: Nancy Kissinger Ann Fleisher
Siblings: Walter Kissinger

At a glance.

STATS

Henry Kissinger by the numbers — life, work, and family.

100 Years lived

87 Film credits

22 Books

31 Awards

2 Marriages

Who was Henry Kissinger?

BIOGRAPHY

Henry Kissinger — early life, career, personal life, and legacy.

Early life

Born Heinz Alfred Kissinger on May 27, 1923 in Fürth, Bavaria, Germany, he grew up in a Jewish family facing harassment from Hitler Youth gangs. In 1938, as persecution intensified under Adolf Hitler, he emigrated to the United States with his parents Paula Stern and Louis Kissinger. The family settled in New York City, where Kissinger attended George Washington Educational Campus while working in a factory to support them. He later switched to night school and enrolled at City College of New York to study accounting, but his studies were interrupted in 1943 when he was drafted into the U.S. Army.

Career

After serving in the Army until 1946, Kissinger remained in Europe as a lecturer at the European Command Intelligence School in Oberammergau. He returned to Harvard University in 1947, earning his master’s degree in 1952 and his PhD in 1954. From 1952 to 1969, he directed the Harvard International Seminar, building connections with foreign officials. He advised Presidents John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson on the National Security Council and disarmament issues before President Richard Nixon appointed him National Security Advisor in 1969. That same year, he contributed to the SALT negotiations with the Soviet Union, leading to the 1972 treaty signing. Kissinger also secretly prepared the ground for Nixon’s rapprochement with China. In 1973, he negotiated a ceasefire with Le Duc Tho, earning the Nobel Peace Prize, and was promoted to Secretary of State. He continued under President Gerald Ford until 1977, conducting shuttle diplomacy that produced the 1974 troop disengagement agreement between Israel and Egypt. After leaving office, he founded Kissinger Associates in 1982 and remained a voice on foreign policy through publications like his 2001 book Does America Need a Foreign Policy?

Personal life

Kissinger married Ann Fleisher on February 6, 1949; they divorced in 1964. He then married Nancy Kissinger on March 30, 1974, staying with her until his death. The couple had two children, Elizabeth and David. A close friend of former West German Chancellor Helmut Schmidt, Kissinger was a lifelong fan of his hometown soccer club SpVgg Greuther Fürth, attending a home game in 2012 when they were promoted to the Bundesliga. In the 1970s, he became an unlikely sex symbol and dated Barbara Howar. He was an honorary member of the Harlem Globetrotters and played tennis with Jimmy Connors at producer Robert Evans’ estate.

Legacy

Kissinger’s legacy is tied to his Realpolitik approach, which prioritized pragmatic geopolitical goals over moral considerations. Credited with opening relations with China in 1972, negotiating SALT I, and mediating the 1974 Israeli-Egyptian troop disengagement, he also faced criticism for turning a blind eye to war crimes committed by US allies in Vietnam and East Timor. In 1973, the Nobel Peace Prize committee awarded him the prize, though it was one of the most controversial in history. He received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1977, the Charlemagne Prize in 1987, and many other honors. In China, he was immensely beloved; after his death, China News Service praised his sharp vision. He is most remembered for his shuttle diplomacy and his role in ending US involvement in Vietnam.

Filmography.

FILMS · 87

The complete filmography of Henry Kissinger — every film, TV show, and documentary credit, ranked by popularity.

TV

The Daily Show

1996
TV

The Colbert Report

2005
TV

Dynasty

1981
TV

American Experience

1988
TV

Vivement Dimanche

1998
TV

Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child

1995
TV

Apostrophes

1975
TV

The Vietnam War

2017
TV

The Dean Martin Celebrity Roasts

1973
TV

Brother's Keeper

1998
TV

Today

1952
TV

The Seventies

2015
TV

Zeugen Des Jahrhunderts

1979
Movie

Murder in Monaco

2025

Showing 14 of 87 View all 87 films

Awards & honors.

AWARDS · 31

Every award, honor, and recognition received by Henry Kissinger — Grammys, hall-of-fame inductions, civic honors, lifetime achievements.

Bronze Star Medal
Guggenheim Fellowship
Nobel Peace Prize
Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic
Presidential Medal of Freedom
Charlemagne Prize
Eric M. Warburg Award
Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire
National Book Award
Bavarian Order of Merit
Order of Tomáš Garrigue Masaryk, 1st class
Order of Merit of Baden-Württemberg
Wateler Peace Prize
Ewald von Kleist award
Golden Plate Award
Medal of Liberty
Francis Boyer Award
Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George
Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland
Grand Cross 1st class of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany
Time Person of the Year
honorary doctor of the Peking University
honorary doctor of Waseda University
Franz Josef Strauss Award
Financial Times Person of the Year
Bavarian Maximilian Order for Science and Art
Great Immigrants Award
Presidential Medal of Distinction
Ellis Island Medal of Honor
Knights of Rizal
Global Citizen Awards

Bibliography.

BOOKS · 22

Henry Kissinger's bibliography — every authored, edited, and co-written book, ranked by edition count.

Amazon

World Restored Europe After Napoleon

by Henry Kissinger
Amazon

Nuclear Weapons and Foreign Policy

by Henry Kissinger
Amazon

The Necessity for Choice

by Henry Kissinger
Amazon

American Foreign Policy

by Henry Kissinger
Amazon

Does America Need a Foreign Policy?

by Henry Kissinger
Amazon

Diplomacy

by Henry Kissinger
Amazon

The Troubled Partnership

by Henry Kissinger
Amazon

Crisis

by Henry Kissinger
Amazon

World Order

by Henry Kissinger
Amazon

White House Years

by Henry Kissinger
Amazon

Years of Renewal

by Henry Kissinger
Amazon

Years of Upheaval

by Henry Kissinger
Amazon

Ending the Vietnam War

by Henry Kissinger
Amazon

For the Record

by Henry Kissinger

Showing 14 of 22 View all 22 books

Notable quotes.

QUOTES · 13

A wall of memorable lines from Henry Kissinger — lyrics, interviews, and off-the-cuff remarks captured over a lifetime.

Each Success Only Buys an Admission Ticket to a More Difficult Problem.I Want to Thank You for Stopping the Applause. It Is Impossible for Me to Look Humble for Any Period of Time.The Illegal We Do Immediately. the Unconstitutional Takes a Little Longer.
Nobody Will Ever Win the Battle of the Sexes. There’s Too Much Fraternizing with the Enemy.
Power Is the Ultimate Aphrodisiac.
Military Men Are Dumb, Stupid Animals to Be Used as Pawns for Foreign Policy.
The Most Fundamental Problem of Politics Is Not the Control of Wickedness but the Limitation of Righteousness.
The Nice Thing About Being a Celebrity Is That When You Bore People, They Think It’s Their Fault.
Even a Paranoid Can Have Enemies.
Power Is the Great Aphrodisiac.
We Are All the President’s Men.
Ninety Percent of the Politicians Give the Other Ten Percent a Bad Reputation.
The Essence of Richard Nixon Is Loneliness.
I Don’t See Why We Need to Stand by and Watch a Country Go Communist Due to the Irresponsibility of Its People. the Issues Are Much Too Important for the Chilean Voters to Be Left to Decide for Themselves.
It Is Not a Matter of What Is True That Counts, but a Matter of What Is Perceived to Be True.

Did you know?

FACTS · 47

Little-known facts about Henry Kissinger — origins, oddities, and behind-the-scenes details from a public life.

Saturday Night Live featured John Belushi portraying him.
A Monty Python song mentions him.
He graduated summa cum laude from Harvard University.
During SALT negotiations in Russia, he joked about cameras in the chandelier duplicating pages he needed copied.
He became the first foreign-born U.S. Secretary of State, tied with Madeleine Albright as the highest cabinet position for a foreign-born politician.
Kissinger earned his Bachelor of Arts summa cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa in political science from Harvard in 1950, living in Adams House and studying under William Yandell Elliott.
Though largely identified as Richard Nixon’s Secretary of State, he served only for Nixon’s last eleven months, continuing under Gerald Ford.
During Nazi rule, Kissinger and his friends were regularly harassed and beaten by Hitler Youth gangs.
In 2023, Bavarian Minister-President Markus Söder awarded him the Bavarian Maximilian Order for Science and Art.
In September 2023, Kissinger met Volodymyr Zelenskyy in New York City, discussing Ukraine’s NATO membership aspirations.
In 1956, he became study director in nuclear weapons at the Council on Foreign Relations, publishing Nuclear Weapons and Foreign Policy in 1957.
On April 3, 2020, Kissinger shared his diagnostic view of the COVID-19 pandemic, warning it threatened the liberal world order.
In 1973, he received the U.S. Senator John Heinz Award for Greatest Public Service.
He was awarded the Bronze Star for tracking down Gestapo officers in Hanover.
His doctoral dissertation was titled Peace, Legitimacy, and the Equilibrium A Study of the Statesmanship of Castlereagh and Metternich.
During the American advance into Germany, as a private, he administered the city of Krefeld and later became a CIC Special Agent with the rank of sergeant.
In 1976, he became the first honorary member of the Harlem Globetrotters.
In 1980, he won the National Book Award in History for the first volume of his memoirs, The White House Years.
He is an honorary member of the Harlem Globetrotters.
Kissinger is a third cousin, twice removed, of actor Ben Barnes, sharing a great-great-great-great-grandfather.
Despite not being conventionally handsome, he became an unlikely sex symbol in the 1970s, often photographed with models and actresses.
He received many awards including the Nobel Peace Prize 1973, Guggenheim Fellowship 1965-1966, and the Woodrow Wilson Prize 1958.
He served as U.S. National Security Adviser 1969-1975 and U.S. Secretary of State 1973-1977.
A month before his death, he responded to the 2023 Hamas-led attack on Israel, calling it a grave mistake to let in many people of different cultures.
Diplomacy was his favorite game, he said in a 1973 interview.
His Realpolitik approach drew criticism for turning a blind eye to war crimes by American allies.
After the army, he taught at the European Command Intelligence School at Camp King.
He was immensely beloved in China; China News Service called him someone with sharp vision and thorough understanding of world affairs.
In December 2016, he advised President-elect Donald Trump to accept Crimea as part of Russia.
Scholars consider him an effective Secretary of State, but he is condemned for ignoring war crimes due to Realpolitik.
He served on the board of Theranos from 2014 to 2017.
He played tennis with Jimmy Connors at producer Robert Evans’ Beverly Hills estate.
He is the subject of Christopher Hitchens’ book The Trial of Henry Kissinger.
He was good friends with former West German Chancellor Helmut Schmidt.
He is portrayed by Theodore Bikel in The Final Days 1989, Paul Sorvino in Nixon 1995, and Ron Silver in Kissinger and Nixon 1995.
Surveys found him to be the most famous U.S. politician apart from presidents and vice presidents.
He was a member of the Founding Council of the Rothermere American Institute, University of Oxford.
In 2002, he became an honorary member of the International Olympic Committee.
He dated Barbara Howar.
He had two children, Elizabeth and David.
His brother is Walter Kissinger.
He was a lifelong fan of SpVgg Fürth now Greuther Fürth, attending a home game in 2012.
Daryl Grove called him one of the most influential people in the growth of soccer in the United States; he was chairman of the NASL board in 1978.
While a graduate student at Harvard in 1952, he consulted for the Psychological Strategy Board and founded the magazine Confluence.
Following high school, he studied accounting at City College of New York as a part-time student until drafted in 1943.
He became Honorary Chair of the Bloomberg New Economy Forum advisory board in 2018.
He passed away ten days after Rosalynn Carter and two days before Sandra Day O’Connor.

You wanted to know.

FAQ · 56

Quick answers to the questions readers ask most about Henry Kissinger.

When was Henry Kissinger born?

Henry Kissinger was born on May 27, 1923. His birth name was Heinz Alfred Kissinger.
Where was Henry Kissinger born?

He was born in Fürth, Bavaria, Germany. He grew up in a Jewish family there until the rise of Nazism.
When did Henry Kissinger die?

He died on November 29, 2023 at the age of 100. His death occurred in Kent, Connecticut.
How old was Henry Kissinger when he died?

He was 100 years old at the time of his death. He passed away just ten days after former First Lady Rosalynn Carter.
Where did Henry Kissinger die?

He died in Kent, Connecticut, USA. He had been living there in his later years.
What was Henry Kissinger's real name?

His birth name was Heinz Alfred Kissinger. He changed it to Henry after emigrating to the United States.
What was Henry Kissinger's occupation?

According to his biography, his occupation is listed as Actor. However, he is famously known as a diplomat and political scientist.
What nationality was Henry Kissinger?

He was born German and later became a naturalized US citizen in 1943. He retained his German citizenship as well.
Who were Henry Kissinger's parents?

His parents were Paula Stern and Louis Kissinger. They fled Germany with him in 1938.
Who was Henry Kissinger married to?

He was married twice: first to Ann Fleisher from 1949 until their divorce in 1964, and then to Nancy Kissinger from 1974 until his death.
Did Henry Kissinger have any siblings?

Yes, he had one brother named Walter Kissinger. Walter also survived the Holocaust and became a businessman.
Where did Henry Kissinger go to school?

He attended George Washington Educational Campus in New York City, then City College of New York, and later Harvard University where he earned his bachelor’s, master’s, and PhD.
What awards did Henry Kissinger win?

He won numerous awards including the Nobel Peace Prize in 1973, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the Charlemagne Prize, and the National Book Award, among many others.
How many awards did Henry Kissinger receive?

He received over 30 major awards, including the Bronze Star Medal, Guggenheim Fellowship, and honorary doctorates from Peking University and Waseda University.
What is Henry Kissinger best known for?

He is best known for his role as US Secretary of State and National Security Advisor, particularly his shuttle diplomacy in the Middle East, rapprochement with China, and the Vietnam War ceasefire negotiations.
How tall was Henry Kissinger?

He was 5 feet 8 inches tall, or 1.73 meters. His height was often noted in media profiles.
What other names did Henry Kissinger use?

He was known as Dr. Henry A. Kissinger, Dr. Kissinger, and Secretary of State Henry Kissinger. His birth name was Heinz Alfred Kissinger.
What was Henry Kissinger's involvement in the Vietnam War?

As National Security Advisor and later Secretary of State, he negotiated a ceasefire with Le Duc Tho in 1973, for which they shared the Nobel Peace Prize. He also authorized secret bombing campaigns in Cambodia.
Did Henry Kissinger have children?

Yes, he had two children: Elizabeth and David Kissinger. David became a businessman and author.
What did Henry Kissinger do after leaving government?

In 1982, he founded Kissinger Associates, a geopolitical consulting firm. He also wrote several books and continued to advise world leaders.
Was Henry Kissinger criticized for his policies?

Yes, his Realpolitik approach drew criticism for supporting authoritarian regimes and turning a blind eye to war crimes. Christopher Hitchens wrote a book titled The Trial of Henry Kissinger.
What was Henry Kissinger's role in US-China relations?

He made secret trips to China in 1971-1972 that led to President Nixon’s historic visit, normalizing relations between the two countries. He remained a beloved figure in China.
Did Henry Kissinger play any sports?

He was an avid tennis player and played with Jimmy Connors. He also became chairman of the North American Soccer League board in 1978.
What was Henry Kissinger's relationship with the media?

He was frequently portrayed on television, including by John Belushi on Saturday Night Live and appeared as himself on shows like The Daily Show and The Colbert Report.
Did Henry Kissinger serve in the military?

He was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1943 and served until 1946, earning a Bronze Star for his intelligence work in Germany.
Was Henry Kissinger considered a sex symbol?

Despite not being conventionally handsome, he became an unlikely sex symbol in the 1970s, often seen with models and actresses.
What was Henry Kissinger's educational background?

He earned his bachelor’s summa cum laude from Harvard in 1950, followed by a master’s in 1952 and a PhD in 1954. His dissertation focused on Castlereagh and Metternich.
What was Henry Kissinger's first job after the war?

After the war, he stayed in Europe as a lecturer at the European Command Intelligence School in Oberammergau. He then returned to Harvard for graduate studies.
Did Henry Kissinger receive any foreign honors?

He received many international honors, including the Charlemagne Prize 1987, Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire, and the Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany.
What was Henry Kissinger's stance on nuclear weapons?

In his 1957 book Nuclear Weapons and Foreign Policy, he criticized the Eisenhower administration’s massive retaliation doctrine and proposed using tactical nuclear weapons, which sparked controversy.
How did Henry Kissinger die?

He died at his home in Kent, Connecticut. The cause of death was not specified in public reports, but he was 100 years old.
Was Henry Kissinger involved in the Watergate scandal?

He was not directly implicated, but he served as Secretary of State during the final months of Nixon’s presidency after Nixon’s resignation due to Watergate.
What was Henry Kissinger's role in the Middle East?

He conducted shuttle diplomacy between Arab states and Israel, leading to the 1974 troop disengagement agreement and later the Camp David Accords framework.
Did Henry Kissinger have any cameo appearances?

He appeared as himself in several TV shows and documentaries, including Dynasty 1981 and American Experience. He also voiced a character in Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child.
What was Henry Kissinger's relationship with China after his tenure?

He visited China frequently and met with Chinese leaders. In September 2023, he met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in New York to discuss Ukraine’s NATO bid.
Did Henry Kissinger support Donald Trump?

He advised President-elect Trump in 2016, suggesting acceptance of Crimea as part of Russia. He also met with Trump on various foreign policy issues.
What was Henry Kissinger's stance on the COVID-19 pandemic?

In April 2020, he wrote that the pandemic threatened the liberal world order and called for greater international cooperation.
Was Henry Kissinger a member of any boards?

He served on the board of Theranos from 2014 to 2017, a company later found to be fraudulent. He also chaired the advisory board for the Bloomberg New Economy Forum.
What sports team did Henry Kissinger support?

He was a lifelong fan of SpVgg Greuther Fürth, his hometown soccer club in Germany. He had honorary membership and lifetime season tickets.
Did Henry Kissinger write any books?

He wrote several books, including Nuclear Weapons and Foreign Policy 1957, The White House Years 1979, which won a National Book Award, and Does America Need a Foreign Policy? 2001.
What was Henry Kissinger's impact on soccer in the US?

He was chairman of the North American Soccer League board in 1978 and helped promote the sport. He is considered one of the most influential figures in the growth of soccer in America.
Was Henry Kissinger related to any celebrities?

He is a third cousin, twice removed, of actor Ben Barnes. They share a common ancestor through Meyer Loeb Kissinger.
What was Henry Kissinger's favorite game?

In a 1973 interview, he said diplomacy was his favorite game.
Did Henry Kissinger receive any posthumous honors?

He died in November 2023, and posthumous honors have not been widely reported, but his legacy continues to be debated.
What was Henry Kissinger's opinion on Muslim immigration?

In response to the 2023 Israel-Hamas war, he called it a grave mistake to allow in many people of different cultures, referencing Muslim immigration into Germany.
How did Henry Kissinger contribute to the SALT talks?

As National Security Advisor, he helped negotiate the Strategic Arms Limitation Talks with the Soviet Union, culminating in the SALT I treaty signed in 1972.
What was Henry Kissinger's role in the Harvard International Seminar?

From 1952 to 1969, he directed the seminar, which allowed him to meet foreign officials and future leaders.
Was Henry Kissinger a spy?

He sought to work as a spy for the FBI in 1952 while a graduate student, but it is unclear if he was ever officially an agent.
What was Henry Kissinger's view on German reunification?

After the 1989 revolutions, he supported the rapid reunification of Germany and maintenance of transatlantic alliances.
How is Henry Kissinger remembered in popular culture?

He has been portrayed by actors like Paul Sorvino and Ron Silver, parodied on Saturday Night Live, and mentioned in Monty Python songs.
What was Henry Kissinger's net worth?

While not extensively documented, he earned millions through his consulting firm Kissinger Associates and book royalties.
Did Henry Kissinger support any humanitarian causes?

He was involved in various initiatives, but his foreign policy often prioritized geopolitical stability over human rights.
Was Henry Kissinger a member of any secret societies?

He was a member of the Founding Council of the Rothermere American Institute at Oxford and became an honorary member of the International Olympic Committee.
What was Henry Kissinger's stance on the Vietnam War?

He supported a policy of military strength while pursuing negotiations, leading to the 1973 ceasefire that ended US combat involvement.
Did Henry Kissinger have any grandchildren?

The source does not specify grandchildren, only his two children Elizabeth and David.
What was Henry Kissinger's role in the Ford administration?

He remained Secretary of State under President Gerald Ford from 1974 to 1977, continuing his foreign policy work.

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Audited & updated by

Emma has 8 years of editorial experience and a very clear idea of what a good biography looks like. At Famousy, she runs the editorial operation and decides what meets the bar and what doesn't. She's the kind of editor who remembers the profiles she pushed back on more clearly than the ones she approved. That's not a complaint. That's exactly why the site reads the way it does.

Published on May 11, 2026

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