Anton Diffring
Biography
Anton Diffring was a German actor in theater, film, and television. Born in Koblenz, Germany, his life spanned from October 20, 1918 to May 20, 1989, though another source lists his birth year as 1916. He passed away in Chateauneuf-Grasse, France. With the production of numerous World War II film and television projects in England beginning in the 1950s, Diffring was regularly cast in roles portraying Nazi military figures due to his Germanic physical traits, which included blond hair, pale blue eyes, and chiselled features. Known for his work across numerous films and series, his credits include appearances in Doctor Who, Flambards, and Where Eagles Dare.
Career overview
Anton Diffring was a German actor of Austrian-Belgian descent who worked in theater, film, and television. Born in Koblenz, Germany, he established a prolific career with numerous credits across film and television productions. With the rise of World War II film and television productions being produced in England beginning in the 1950s, his Germanic physical type, characterized by blond hair, pale blue eyes, and chiselled features, frequently led to him being cast in roles as Nazi military figures.
Over the course of his career, he appeared in a wide array of projects. Among the notable works associated with his filmography are Doctor Who, Flambards, and Where Eagles Dare, which is referenced in Czech sources as Kam orli nelétají. His career spanned decades of screen and stage work before his death on May 20, 1989, in Châteauneuf-Grasse, France.
Ask the Vault
Ask anything about Anton Diffring.
Frequent co-stars
Career timeline
Full Filmography
119 titles- The Heroes of Telemark: Location report from Norway (2003)
- Faceless (1988) as Dr. Karl Heinz Moser
- Doctor Who: Silver Nemesis (1988) as De Flores
- Anna (1988) as George Mamoulian
- The Making of Doctor Who: Silver Nemesis (1988)
- Wahnfried (1986) as Franz Listz
- Der Sommer des Samurai (1986) as Wintrich
- Operation Dead End (1986) as Prof. Lang
- Marie Ward - Zwischen Galgen und Glorie (1985) as Kardinal Millini
- Weltuntergang (1984)
- The Masks of Death (1984) as Graf Udo Von Felseck
- Der Besuch (1984) as Crazier
- The Winds of War (1983) as Joachim von Ribbentrop
- S.A.S. San Salvador (1983) as Peter Reynolds
- Non Stop Trouble with Spies (1983) as Colonel Henderson
- Escape to Victory (1981) as chief commentator
- Tusk (1980) as John Morrison
- Flambards (1979) as Mr Dermot
- Son of Hitler (1979) as Gernheim
- Der Durchdreher (1979) as Glorias erster Mann
- Das Einhorn (1978) as Blomich
- Le Mutant (1978) as O'Brien
- Plutonium (1978) as Direktor Arnold
- The Old Fox (1977) as Leo Steglitz
- The Galton & Simpson Playhouse (1977) as Heinz Steiner
- Vanessa (1977) as Major Kenneth Cooper
- Valentino (1977) as Baron Long
- The Indians Are Still Far Away (1977) as Le professeur d'allemand
- Io sono mia (1977) as Padre di Suna
- Waldrausch (1977) as Fürst
- The Swiss Conspiracy (1976) as Franz Benninger
- Montana Trap (1976) as Lieutenant Slade
- Kommissariat 9 (1975)
- H.P. Lovecraft: The Shadow Out of Time (1975) as Professor Peterson
- Operation: Daybreak (1975) as Reinhard Heydrich
- Lehmanns Erzählungen (1975) as Allan
- Derrick (1974) as Herr de Mohl
- Derrick (1974) as Alfred Bandera
- Derrick (1974) as Herr Scherer
- Borsalino and Co. (1974) as German
- Shatter (1974) as Hans Leber
- The Beast Must Die (1974) as Pavel
- Only the Wind Knows the Answer (1974) as John Keelwood
- Kiss Me and Die (1974) as Jonathan Lanceford
- Thriller (1973) as Jonathan Lanceford
- Tony Arzenta (1973) as Hans Grunwald (uncredited)
- The Battle of Sutjeska (1973) as Generaloberst Alexander Lohr
- Seven Deaths in the Cat's Eye (1973) as Dr. Franz
- Mark of the Devil Part II (1973) as Balthasar von Ross
- Little Mother (1973) as The Cardinal
- Assignment: Vienna (1972) as Insp. Hoffman
- The Day the Clown Cried (1972) as Captain Curt Runkel
- Dead Pigeon on Beethoven Street (1972) as Mensur
- Zeppelin (1971) as Colonel Hirsch
- The Iguana with the Tongue of Fire (1971) as Ambassador Sobieski
- Scene of the Crime (1970) as Mensur
- Piggies (1970) as Toto
- The Commissioner (1969) as Roland Sauter
- Michael Kohlhaas - The Rebel (1969) as Kurfürst
- Kill Rommel! (1969) as Captain Richard Howell
- Where Eagles Dare (1968) as Col. Kramer
- Counterpoint (1967) as Col. Arndt
- The Double Man (1967) as Col. Berthold
- Fahrenheit 451 (1966) as Fabian / Headmistress
- The Blue Max (1966) as Holbach
- BBC Play of the Month (1965) as Adolf Eichmann
- Operation Crossbow (1965) as SS Sturmbannfuhrer
- The Heroes of Telemark (1965) as Major Frick
- Shots in 3/4 Time (1965) as Burger
- Geld, Geld, Geld - 2 Milliarden gegen die Bank von England (1965) as SS-Obergruppenführer Reinhard Heydrich
- Theatre 625 (1964) as Count Wolf von Helldorf
- Vorsicht Mister Dodd (1964) as Howard
- Lana: Queen of the Amazons (1964) as Prof. van Vries
- Doctor Who (1963) as De Flores
- Interpol (1963) as SS-Obergruppenführer Reinhard Heydrich
- Incident at Midnight (1963) as Dr. Erik Leichner
- Studio 4 (1962)
- Enter Inspector Duval (1961) as Inspector Duval
- Circus of Horrors (1960) as Dr. Schuler
- One Step Beyond (1959) as Wilhelm Hessler
- The Man Who Could Cheat Death (1959) as Dr. Georges Bonner
- Tales of Frankenstein (1958) as Baron Frankenstein
- A Question of Adultery (1958) as Carl Dieter
- Mark of the Phoenix (1958) as Inspector Schell
- Overseas Press Club - Exclusive! (1957) as Louis Walleau
- The Traitor (1957) as Joseph Brezina
- The Crooked Sky (1957) as Fraser
- Lady of Vengeance (1957) as Karmak
- Seven Thunders (1957) as Col. Trautman
- Wire Service (1956) as Joseph Tezlik
- Hancock's Half Hour (1956)
- Colonel March of Scotland Yard (1956) as Francois
- Colonel March of Scotland Yard (1956) as Davos
- Armchair Theatre (1956) as Cast Member
- Armchair Theatre (1956) as Karl Brandt
- Armchair Theatre (1956)
- Reach for the Sky (1956) as German Stabsfeldwebel
- House of Secrets (1956) as Anton Lauderbach
- Doublecross (1956) as Dmitri Krassin
- The Black Tent (1956) as Senior German Officer
- Seven Years in Tibet (1956) as Narrator (voice)
- Dixon of Dock Green (1955) as Charles Mason
- The Colditz Story (1955) as Hauptmann Fischer
- I Am a Camera (1955) as Fritz Wendel
- The Sea Shall Not Have Them (1954) as German Pilot
- The Red Beret (1953) as The Pole
- Never Let Me Go (1953) as Hotel Desk Clerk (uncredited)
- Park Plaza 605 (1953) as Gregor
- Albert R.N. (1953) as Capt Schultz
- Operation Diplomat (1953) as Edward Shroder
- Top Secret (1952) as Border Police GDR (uncredited)
- The Woman's Angle (1952) as Peasant
- Bachelor in Paris (1952) as Renoir
- Hotel Sahara (1951) as German Soldier
- Appointment with Venus (1951) as 2nd German Soldier
- State Secret (1950) as State Police Officer at Theater
- Highly Dangerous (1950) as Officer at Station (uncredited)
- Convoy (1940) as U-Boat Officer
- Neutral Port (1940) as Sailor
Frequently Asked Questions
What movies or TV shows is Anton Diffring best known for?
Anton Diffring is widely recognized for notable roles and projects including Wahnfried (1986), The Winds of War (1983), Escape to Victory (1981), Undercover (2019).
When and where was Anton Diffring born?
Anton Diffring was born on October 20, 1916 in Koblenz, Germany. They passed away on May 20, 1989.
How many credits does Anton Diffring have?
Anton Diffring has accumulated over 119 film and television credits across a career spanning from 1940 to 2003.
What is Anton Diffring's background in cinema and television?
Anton Diffring was a German actor in theater, film, and television. Born in Koblenz, Germany, his life spanned from October 20, 1918 to May 20, 1989, though another source lists his birth year as 1916. He passed away in Chateauneuf-Grasse, France. With the production of numerous World War II film and television project...
Anton Diffring by the numbers
Age in their best-rated roles
- The Commissioner (1969) as Roland Sauter — aged about 52
- Doctor Who (1963) as De Flores — aged about 46
- Doublecross (1956) as Dmitri Krassin — aged about 39
- Where Eagles Dare (1968) as Col. Kramer — aged about 51
- Colonel March of Scotland Yard (1956) as Francois — aged about 39
- Colonel March of Scotland Yard (1956) as Davos — aged about 39
What viewers say
No comments yet. Be the first to share your take on Anton Diffring.