Sandor Elès

József Sándor Éles[2][3] (15 June 1936 – 10 September 2002), sometimes credited simply as Sándor Éles, was a Hungarian actor. He started his career in theatre, but was best known latterly for TV and film work.[4]

Sándor Éles
Éles photographed by Paul Tanqueray, circa 1960[1]
Birth nameSándor József Éles
Born(1936-06-15)15 June 1936
Tatabánya, Hungary
Died10 September 2002(2002-09-10) (aged 66)
Kilburn, London, England

Early life

Born in Tatabánya, 60 km from Budapest,[2] Éles was orphaned during World War II, and emigrated to Britain during the Hungarian Revolution of 1956.

Career

He began his acting career on stage, and went on to appear in a host of television roles, the majority on ITV. These included the ITC series The Avengers, Danger Man, The Baron, The Saint, Timeslip and Jason King.[2]

He appeared as a storyteller on the BBC children's programme Jackanory in ten episodes between 1970 and 1972, and he also made appearances in The Avengers, The Professionals, Strange Report and Upstairs, Downstairs. Often cast in generic 'foreigner' roles (diplomats, waiters, desk clerks), he most often played Frenchmen. Éles became a British citizen on 10 January 1977.[2]

One of his most memorable film roles was as the mysterious Paul in the Brian Clemens thriller And Soon the Darkness (1970). He also had major roles in the Hammer Horror movies Countess Dracula (1971) and The Evil of Frankenstein (1964) as well as appearing for four years in the 1980s as the scheming restaurant manager, Paul Ross, in the British TV soap opera Crossroads.[5]

In 1996, Éles returned to his cultural roots, appearing as the narrator in the Bartók opera, Bluebeard's Castle. The concert performances, given by the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra under Bernard Haitink, were recorded for CD.[6]

Death

Éles died in Kilburn, London on 10 September 2002, aged 66, apparently from a heart attack.[7]

Filmography
Year Title Role Notes
1961The RebelArtist
1961The Naked EdgeManfridi St John
1962Guns of DarknessLt. Gomez
1964French DressingVladek
1964The Evil of FrankensteinHans
1965San Ferry AnnShop Attendant
1967The Magnificent TwoArmandez
1970The Kremlin LetterLt. Grodin
1970And Soon the DarknessPaul
1971Countess DraculaLt. Imre Toth
1971Fun and GamesPaul Floret
1973ScorpioMalkin
1975Love and DeathSoldier 2
1977The AssignmentClerk
1978The Greek TycoonLawrence
1991Sherlock Holmes and the Leading LadyMaitre D'
1996Surviving PicassoParty Guest(final film role)

References
  1. "Person - National Portrait Gallery". npg.org.uk.
  2. Services, Good Stuff IT. "Jozsef Sandor Eles died in Kilburn London NW6 on Tuesday 10 September 2002 (Unclaimed Estate Reference BV2032832/1) - Bona Vacantia List". unclaimedestates.info.
  3. "Sandor Elès". Archived from the original on 19 September 2016.
  4. "Sandor Eles biography". allmovie.com. Retrieved 30 October 2016.
  5. "Crossroads Online: A resource for all Crossroads fans". crossroads2001.co.uk. Retrieved 30 October 2016.
  6. "Bartók: Duke Bluebeard's Castle, Sz. 48, Op. 11 (Bluebeard's Castle; A kékszakállú herceg vára) on CD, SACD, DVD & download (MP3 & FLAC)". prestoclassical.co.uk. Retrieved 30 October 2016.
  7. Obituaries in the Performing Arts
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.