Walter Slezak
Biography
Walter Slezak was an Austrian-born film and stage actor born on May 3, 1902, in Vienna, Austria, and who died on April 21, 1983, in Flower Hill, New York. Active between 1922 and 1976, he was a portly character actor who appeared in numerous Hollywood films. He frequently portrayed villains or thugs, such as the German U-boat captain in Alfred Hitchcock's 1944 film Lifeboat. He also played lighter roles, including in the 1962 film The Wonderful World of the Brothers Grimm. His other film work included playing a cheerfully corrupt and philosophical private detective in the 1947 film noir Born to Kill and appearing as Squire Trelawney in the 1972 version of Treasure Island.
Career overview
Walter Slezak was an Austrian-born film and stage actor whose career spanned from 1922 to 1976. Born in Vienna, Austria, on May 3, 1902, he was a portly character actor who appeared in numerous Hollywood films. Throughout his career, he often portrayed villains or thugs, but occasionally he also took on lighter roles.
Among his notable performances, Slezak played the German U-boat captain in Alfred Hitchcock's 1944 film Lifeboat. He also appeared as a cheerfully corrupt and philosophical private detective in the 1947 film noir Born to Kill. His lighter work included a role in the 1962 film The Wonderful World of the Brothers Grimm, and he later appeared as Squire Trelawney in the 1972 version of Treasure Island.
With 97 known acting credits on his profile, Slezak established a substantial body of work in cinema. His life and career came to an end when he died on April 21, 1983, at the age of 80.
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Frequent co-stars
Career timeline
Full Filmography
104 titles- The Love Boat (1977) as Marcel Locksmith
- The Mysterious House of Dr. C. (1976) as Dr. Coppelius
- Treasure Island (1972) as Squire Trelawney
- Assignment: Vienna (1972) as Tandler
- Black Beauty (1971) as Hackenschmidt
- Filmgeschichte(n) aus Österreich (1970) as Self
- The Juggler of Notre Dame (1970) as The Innkeeper
- A Hundred-Odd Years from Now (1969)
- Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In (1968) as Self (uncredited)
- Heidi (1968) as Father Richter
- The Legend of Robin Hood (1968) as Friar Tuck
- Dr. Coppelius (1968) as Dr. Coppelius
- The Caper of the Golden Bulls (1967) as Antonio Gonzales
- Batman (1966) as The Clock King
- Congress of Love (1966) as Der 'Ewige Wiener'
- A Very Special Favor (1965) as Etienne
- Twenty-Four Hours to Kill (1965) as Malouf
- Emil and the Detectives (1964) as Baron
- Wonderful Life (1964) as Lloyd Davis
- A Cry of Angels (1963)
- The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (1962) as Self
- The Merv Griffin Show (1962) as Self
- The Wonderful World of the Brothers Grimm (1962) as Stossel
- The Mike Douglas Show (1961) as Self
- The Mike Douglas Show (1961) as Self - Co-Host
- Dr. Kildare (1961) as Dr. Max Jurgens
- Cain's Hundred (1961) as Arnie Grote
- Come September (1961) as Maurice Clavell
- Outlaws (1960)
- The Chevy Mystery Show (1960) as Host
- The Dow Hour of Great Mysteries (1960) as Count Fosco
- Rawhide (1959) as Lazio Tzgorni
- Startime (1959) as Joseph
- The Big Party (1959) as Self
- The Miracle (1959) as Flaco
- 77 Sunset Strip (1958) as Oskar Pauker
- Tonight Starring Jack Paar (1957) as Self
- Alcoa Theatre (1957) as Finch
- Ten Thousand Bedrooms (1957) as Papa Martelli
- Pinocchio (1957) as Gepetto
- Tony Awards (1956) as Self - Presenter
- The Dinah Shore Chevy Show (1956) as Self
- Telephone Time (1956) as Henri Charpentier
- MGM Parade (1955) as self
- The 20th Century Fox Hour (1955) as Emil Markheim
- The Steel Cage (1954) as Louis, the Prison Chef, segment "The Chef"
- Letter to Loretta (1953) as Emil Kronsteidt
- Confidentially Connie (1953) as Emil Spangenberg
- Call Me Madam (1953) as August Tantinnin
- White Witch Doctor (1953) as Huysman
- Omnibus (1952) as Major Paul Petkoff
- Omnibus (1952) as Toine
- Hallmark Hall of Fame (1951) as Mr. Reallybig
- Hallmark Hall of Fame (1951) as George Frederic Handel
- The Name's the Same (1951) as Self
- Schlitz Playhouse of Stars (1951)
- Bedtime for Bonzo (1951) as Professor Hans Neumann
- People Will Talk (1951) as Barker
- Robert Montgomery Presents (1950) as Krisons Ringo
- What's My Line? (1950) as Self
- Danger (1950)
- Bud Abbott and Lou Costello in the Foreign Legion (1950) as Sgt. Axmann
- The Yellow Cab Man (1950) as Dr. Byron Dokstedder
- Spy Hunt (1950) as Doctor Stahl
- Suspense (1949) as Dr. Potterton / Richard Morley
- Suspense (1949) as Frank Cadwallader
- Suspense (1949)
- The Inspector General (1949) as Yakov
- Studio One (1948)
- Studio One (1948) as Lev Simon
- Studio One (1948) as Adrian Van Dyke
- The Ed Sullivan Show (1948) as Self
- The Pirate (1948) as Don Pedro Vargas
- Riff-Raff (1947) as Eric Molinar
- Sinbad the Sailor (1947) as Melik
- Born to Kill (1947) as Matthew Arnett
- The Spanish Main (1945) as Don Juan Alvarado
- Cornered (1945) as Melchior Incza
- Salome, Where She Danced (1945) as Dimitrioff
- Lifeboat (1944) as Willi
- Step Lively (1944) as Joe Gribble
- The Princess and the Pirate (1944) as La Roche
- Till We Meet Again (1944) as Vitrey, The Mayor
- The Fallen Sparrow (1943) as Dr. Christian Skaas
- This Land Is Mine (1943) as Major Erich von Keller
- Once Upon a Honeymoon (1942) as Baron Franz Von Luber
- Spione im Savoy-Hotel (1932) as Kurt
- Eros in Ketten (1929)
- Osudné noci (1929)
- Ledige Mütter (1928)
- Almenrausch und Edelweiss (1928) as Mentel
- Addio giovinezza! (1927)
- Die Lorelei (1927)
- Liebe geht seltsame Wege (1927)
- The Right to Live (1927)
- The Long Intermission (1927) as Ottokar
- Ehegeheimnisse (1926)
- Junges Blut (1926) as Oberprimaner
- Aus des Rheinlands Schicksalstagen (1926) as Walter Thiermann
- Grüß mir das blonde Kind am Rhein (1926)
- O alte Burschenherrlichkeit (1925)
- Mein Leopold (1924)
- Michael (1924) as Michael
- Sodom and Gomorrah (1922) as Eduard Harber - Student am Cambridge-Lyzeum / Ein Goldschmied von Galiläa
Frequently Asked Questions
What movies or TV shows is Walter Slezak best known for?
Walter Slezak is widely recognized for notable roles and projects including The Love Boat (1977), Treasure Island (1972), Righteous Kill (2008), Man of the Year (2006).
When and where was Walter Slezak born?
Walter Slezak was born on May 3, 1902 in Vienna, Austria. They passed away on April 21, 1983.
How many credits does Walter Slezak have?
Walter Slezak has accumulated over 104 film and television credits across a career spanning from 1922 to 1977.
What is Walter Slezak's background in cinema and television?
Walter Slezak was an Austrian-born film and stage actor born on May 3, 1902, in Vienna, Austria, and who died on April 21, 1983, in Flower Hill, New York. Active between 1922 and 1976, he was a portly character actor who appeared in numerous Hollywood films. He frequently portrayed villains or thugs, such as the German...
Walter Slezak by the numbers
Age in their best-rated roles
- Hallmark Hall of Fame (1951) as Mr. Reallybig — aged about 49
- Hallmark Hall of Fame (1951) as George Frederic Handel — aged about 49
- Danger (1950) — aged about 48
- The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (1962) as Self — aged about 60
- Tonight Starring Jack Paar (1957) as Self — aged about 55
- MGM Parade (1955) as self — aged about 53
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