Have you seen Walter Gotell?
Mar 15, 2019 9:26:21 GMT
mattgarth and Lebowskidoo 🎄😷🎄 like this
Post by teleadm on Mar 15, 2019 9:26:21 GMT
Well, have you? Chances are big if you've seen James Bond movies, and even bigger if you've seen the ones starring Roger Moore. He would have been one of the many typical small-parts actors that would have been forgotten by now, if the role of KGB General Gogol hadn't come around.
Walter Gotell was born in Bonn in what was then Rheinpreussen (Rhenish Prussia, a province of the Kingdom of Prussia) in 1924.
His family emigrated to Britain after the arrival of Nazism in Germany.
A fluent English speaker, he started in films as early as 1942, usually playing Nazi Germans, the kinds he hated the most.
Over the years he came to play all kinds of nationalities, but very seldom British characters. By the early 1960's he had become an established small-parts actor.
Small-parts actors can't live on those salaries alone. Since he also had business skills, he also became a successful businessman using his acting skills and was business manager of several engineering companies too.
His first role in the James Bond film series was in 1963, when he played the henchman Morzeny in From Russia with Love.
He gained the role of KGB General Anatol Gogol because of his resemblance to the former head of Soviet secret police Lavrentiy Beria, intended for one film only, The Spy Who Loved Me 1977, but the character turned out to be too good for just one movie, and it continued up until The Living Daylights 1987. As the Cold War neared its end, the role of leader of the KGB was seen to change attitudes to the West, from direct competitor to collaborator.
Goofing around on the set while making The Spy Who Loved Me 1977, with Bernard Lee, Rocger Moore and Barbara Bach.
Looking at Katherine Hepburn and Humphrey Bogart in The African Queen 1951.
Above Us the Waves 1955, uncredited as a German Officer on Battleship Tirpitz.
As Lt. Muesel in The Guns of Navarone 1961.
Road to Hong Kong 1962, with Robert Morley, Joan Collins, Bob Hope and Bing Crosby.
As German Capt. Hoffman in 55 Days at Peking 1963.
First Bond movie, From Russia with Love 1963 as Morzeny, with Lotte Lenya.
In one of the leading roles in the BBC TV police drama series Softly Softly: Task Force between 1969 and 1975, seen here with Startford Johns.
As Colonel Riat in Black Sunday 1977, with Robert Shaw.
First time as KGB General Gogol in The Spy Who Loved Me 1977.
Last time as Gogol in The Living Daylights 1987, with Robert Brown.
Guest star role as Kurt Mandl in Star Trek: The Next Generation episode Home Soil 1988, with Elizabeth Lindsey and Gerard Prendergast.
Next to last acting role, as Victor Klemper in The X-Files episode Paper Clip 1995.
Last acting role, standing in the middle as Erik the Old in Prince Valliant 1997, with among others, Warwick Davis and Ron Perlman.
Walter Gotell acted in 169 movies and television productions.
He left us in May 1997 at the age of 73, a victim of cancer.
Thanks for watching!
Comments are welcome!
Walter Gotell was born in Bonn in what was then Rheinpreussen (Rhenish Prussia, a province of the Kingdom of Prussia) in 1924.
His family emigrated to Britain after the arrival of Nazism in Germany.
A fluent English speaker, he started in films as early as 1942, usually playing Nazi Germans, the kinds he hated the most.
Over the years he came to play all kinds of nationalities, but very seldom British characters. By the early 1960's he had become an established small-parts actor.
Small-parts actors can't live on those salaries alone. Since he also had business skills, he also became a successful businessman using his acting skills and was business manager of several engineering companies too.
His first role in the James Bond film series was in 1963, when he played the henchman Morzeny in From Russia with Love.
He gained the role of KGB General Anatol Gogol because of his resemblance to the former head of Soviet secret police Lavrentiy Beria, intended for one film only, The Spy Who Loved Me 1977, but the character turned out to be too good for just one movie, and it continued up until The Living Daylights 1987. As the Cold War neared its end, the role of leader of the KGB was seen to change attitudes to the West, from direct competitor to collaborator.
Goofing around on the set while making The Spy Who Loved Me 1977, with Bernard Lee, Rocger Moore and Barbara Bach.
Looking at Katherine Hepburn and Humphrey Bogart in The African Queen 1951.
Above Us the Waves 1955, uncredited as a German Officer on Battleship Tirpitz.
As Lt. Muesel in The Guns of Navarone 1961.
Road to Hong Kong 1962, with Robert Morley, Joan Collins, Bob Hope and Bing Crosby.
As German Capt. Hoffman in 55 Days at Peking 1963.
First Bond movie, From Russia with Love 1963 as Morzeny, with Lotte Lenya.
In one of the leading roles in the BBC TV police drama series Softly Softly: Task Force between 1969 and 1975, seen here with Startford Johns.
As Colonel Riat in Black Sunday 1977, with Robert Shaw.
First time as KGB General Gogol in The Spy Who Loved Me 1977.
Last time as Gogol in The Living Daylights 1987, with Robert Brown.
Guest star role as Kurt Mandl in Star Trek: The Next Generation episode Home Soil 1988, with Elizabeth Lindsey and Gerard Prendergast.
Next to last acting role, as Victor Klemper in The X-Files episode Paper Clip 1995.
Last acting role, standing in the middle as Erik the Old in Prince Valliant 1997, with among others, Warwick Davis and Ron Perlman.
Walter Gotell acted in 169 movies and television productions.
He left us in May 1997 at the age of 73, a victim of cancer.
Thanks for watching!
Comments are welcome!
