Karl Stepanek
Born October 27, 1899 (Age: 126)
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Brünn, Moravia, Austria-Hungary [now Brno, Czech Republic]
Biography
Though born in Czechoslovakia, actor Karel Stepanek was generally regarded as a German actor due to his extensive film work in Germany (as Karl Stepanek) in the years before World War II. Stepanek fled to England in 1940, where, like many European refugee actors, he specialized in portraying Teutonic villains. He tried to stay away from out-and-out Nazi roles, but his predilection for wearing black uniforms and barking out guttural commands left little doubt as to the political preferences of Stepanek's screen characters. One of his most typical characterizations could be found in the 1946 POW drama, The Captive Heart; Stepanek also registered well as a friendlier foreigner in The Fallen Idol (1949). Commuting between London and Hollywood, Karel Stepanek continued to fight World War II, usually on the wrong side, into such '60s films as Sink the Bismarck! (1960), I Aim at the Stars (1960) and Operation Crossbow (1965).
Though born in Czechoslovakia, actor Karel Stepanek was generally regarded as a German actor due to his extensive film work in Germany (as Karl Stepanek) in the years before World War II. Stepanek fled to England in 1940, where, like many European refugee actors, he specialized in portraying Teutonic villains. He tried to stay away from out-and-out Nazi roles, but his predilection for wearing black uniforms and barking out guttural commands left little doubt as to the political preferences of Stepanek's screen characters. One of his most typical characterizations could be found in the 1946 POW drama, The Captive Heart; Stepanek also registered well as a friendlier foreigner in The Fallen Idol (1949). Commuting between London and Hollywood, Karel Stepanek continued to fight World War II, usually on the wrong side, into such '60s films as Sink the Bismarck! (1960), I Aim at the Stars (1960) and Operation Crossbow (1965).
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Filmography
The File of the Golden Goose
1969
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as Mueller
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Age: 69
Before Winter Comes
1969
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as Count Kerassy
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Age: 69
The Heroes of Telemark
1965
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as Hartmuller
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Age: 66
Licensed to Kill
1965
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as Henrik Jacobsen
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Age: 65
Operation Crossbow
1965
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as Prof. Hoffer
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Age: 65
Devil Doll
1964
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as Dr. Heller
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Age: 64
No Image
Aufstand der Gehorsamen
1963
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as Jawor Stranski
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Age: 63
Brainwashed
1960
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as Baranow
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Age: 60
Sink the Bismarck!
1960
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as Admiral Lutjens - 'Bismarck'
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Age: 60
Our Man in Havana
1960
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as Dr. Braun
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Age: 60
Operation Amsterdam
1959
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as Diamond Merchant
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Age: 59
Anastasia
1956
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as Mikhail Vlados
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Age: 57
The Man in the Road
1956
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as Dmitri Balinkev
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Age: 56
Man of the Moment
1955
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as Lom
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Age: 56
The Cockleshell Heroes
1955
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as Assistant Gestapo Officer
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Age: 56
Secret Venture
1955
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as Zelinsky
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Age: 56
A Prize of Gold
1955
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as Dr. Zachmann
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Age: 55
Dangerous Cargo
1954
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as Pliny
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Age: 54
Tale of Three Women
1954
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as Alfred Dykemann (segment "Final Twist' story)
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Age: 54
City Beneath the Sea
1953
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as Dwight Trevor
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Age: 53
Rough Shoot
1953
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as Diss
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Age: 53
Never Let Me Go
1953
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as Commissar
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Age: 53
State Secret
1950
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as Dr. Revo
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Age: 50
Cairo Road
1950
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as Edouardo Pavlis
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Age: 50
Secret Mission
1942
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as Major Lang
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Age: 42
Our Film
1942
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as Soviet Visitor
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Age: 42
Spione im Savoy-Hotel
1932
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as Jackson
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Age: 33
Five from the Jazzband
1932
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as Jean
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Age: 32
Here's Berlin
1932
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as Max
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Age: 32
Berlin-Alexanderplatz: The Story of Franz Biberkopf
1931
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as
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Age: 31