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Karel Stepanek


1899 - 1980

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The Tschech actor Karel Stepanek joined an acting education in Germany and from 1920 he worked on different stages, first in Brünn, later in Vienna and finally Berlin. There he was able to launch an impressive film career as Karl Stepanek. 

He made his film debut with the silent movie "Ein Lied, ein Dieb, ein Warenhaus" (28) before his started his impressive sound film career in Germany with "Berlin-Alexanderplatz" (31).

In the next years he impersonated numerous support roles in movies like "Fünf von der Jazzband" (32), "Spione im Savoy-Hotel" (32), "Walzerkrieg" (33), "Die Unbekannte" (36), "Es leuchten die Sterne" (38), "Narren im Schnee" (38), "Hotel Sacher" (39), "Der Florentiner Hut" (39) and "Frauen sind doch bessere Diplomaten" (41).

While his last movies were still running in the cinemas he already emigrated to Italy in 1939 when World War II broke out, the year after he went to England. 

There he was able to continue his career both on stage and in movies. Among others he appeared in the movies "Secret Mission" (42), "They Met in the Dark" (43), "The Captive Heart" (46), "Counterblast" (48) and "Golden Arrow" (49). 
He often was engaged to play Nazi villains - roles he hardly could elude.

He continued his film career successfully in the 50s and 60s and took part in many movies and TV productions. 
To these works belong "No Highway" (51), "Affair in Trinidad" (52), "City Beneath the Sea" (53), "Dangerous Cargo" (54), "Anastasia" (56), an episode of the serial "The Adventures of Robin Hood: The Wanderer" (56), "West of Suez" (57), "Our Man in Havana" (59), "Sink the Bismarck!" (60), "Wernher von Braun" (60), "Schachnovelle" (60), "Neunzig Minuten nach Mitternacht" (62), an episode of the serial "Das Kriminalmuseum: Die Nadel" (63), "Operation Crossbow" (65), "Licensed to Kill" (65) and "Der Mörderclub von Brooklyn" (67).

His last appearances in front of the camera were "The Games" (70) and "Been Down So Long It Looks Like Up to Me" (71).
 

Other movies with Karel Stepanek:
Allo Berlin? Ici Paris! (32) Wer ist die süsse Kleine? (32) Ein Lied für dich (33) Hermine und die sieben Aufrechten (35) Die Werft zum Grauen Hecht (35) Der Aussenseiter (35) Potpourri (36) Was sagen Sie dazu? (36) Stärker als Paragraphen (36) Klatovsti dragouni (37) Der Schauspieldirektor (37) Der Prüfstein (37) Signal in der Nacht (37) Die Fledermaus (37) Das Stilett (39) War es der im 3. Stock? (39) Die kluge Schwiegermutter (39) Drei Väter um Anna (39) Das Abenteuer geht weiter (40) Alles Schwindel (40) Tomorrow We Live (43) Escape to Danger (43) Broken Journey (48) The Fallen Idol (48) Conspirator (49) The Third Man (49) Give Us This Day (49) Cairo Road (50) State Secret (50) The Third Visitor (51) Serie "BBC Sunday-Night Theatre: Those in Favour" (51) Serie "BBC Sunday-Night Theatre: The Doctor's Dilemma" (51) Walk East on Beacon! (52) Never Let Me Go (53) Rough Shoot (53) Tale of Three Women (54) The Final Twist (54) Serie "Douglas Fairbanks. Jr., Presents: The International Settlement" (54) Serie "Douglas Fairbanks. Jr., Presents: The Mix-Up" (54) Serie "Lilli Palmer Theatre: The Suicide Club" (55) A Prize of Gold (55) Secret Venture (55) The Cockleshell Heroes (55) Man of the Moment (55) Private's Progress (56) The Man in the Road (56) Serie "Colonel March of Scotland Yard: Death in Inner Space" (56) Serie "Assignment Foreign Legion: The Stripes of Sergeant Schweiger" (56) Serie "Douglas Fairbanks. Jr., Presents: Dimitrios" (56) Serie "Douglas Fairbanks. Jr., Presents: The Man Who Wouldn't Escape" (56) There Shall Be No Night (57) Serie "ITV Television Playhouse: Dangerous Cargo" (57) Serie "The Adventures of Robin Hood: The York Treasure" (57) Serie "Overseas Press Club – Exclusive!: The Unknown Man" (57) The Traitor (57) Serie "Omnibus: Moment of Truth" (58) Serie "Armchair Theatre: The Last Tycoon" (59) Operation Amsterdam (59) Serie "ITV Play of the Week: The Night of the Big Heat" (60) Serie "No Hiding Place: State Visit" (60) Serie "Our House: To Please Louise" (60) Serie "Armchair Theatre: The Mystery of Martin Wheeler" (61) Serie "Zeit der Schuldlosen" (61) Aufstand der Gehorsamen (63) Devil Doll (64) The Heroes of Telemark (65) Sperrbezirk (66) The Frozen Dead (66) Serie "Court Martial: Let Slip the Dogs of War" (66) Serie "The Troubleshooters: Home and Dry" (67) Before Winter Comes (69) The File of the Golden Goose (69) 


 
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