Walter Slezak
From Alfred Hitchcock Wiki
- born: 03/May/1902 (Vienna, Austria)
- died: 21/Apr/1983 (Flower Hill, New York, USA) - suicide
Biography
Walter Slezak was an Austrian actor. Born in Vienna, Austria, the son of famed opera star Leo Slezak, he was a medical student and later a bank teller before becoming an actor. A hulking figure at 6'6", Slezak usually portrayed a villain or thug, but occasionally he played lighter, kindlier roles, as in "The Wonderful World of the Brothers Grimm".
Slezak began his movie career as a thin leading man in many silent films. His first role was in the Austrian film "Sodom and Gomorra" (1922). He worked steadily and appeared in over 100 films including "Once Upon a Honeymoon" (1942), "Lifeboat" (1944), "The Princess and the Pirate" (1944), "The Spanish Main" (1945), "Sinbad the Sailor" (1947), "Born to Kill" (1947), "Call Me Madam" (1953) and "Treasure Island" (1972).
He acted on radio in such shows as Lux Radio Theater, Columbia Workshop, The Pepsodent Show and The Charlie McCarthy Show. He made numerous television appearances, including Playhouse 90 and Studio One, and he appeared as "The Clock King" on Batman in 1966.
Later in life, apparently despondent over his continuing illnesses, he committed suicide by gunshot at age 80. He was survived by three children, including daughter Erika, who became a regular on "One Life to Live", a daytime drama her father had appeared on in 1976.
Filmography
With Hitchcock...
- Lifeboat (1944) - cast: Willy
Links
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