The name of the character played by Christoph Waltz in "Inglourious Basterds" is Colonel Hans Landa. The movie is set in Nazi-occupied France during World War II and follows a group of Jewish-American soldiers who plan to assassinate high-ranking German officials. Waltz's performance as Landa, a charming and cunning SS officer, earned him widespread critical acclaim and he won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role.