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John Steiner
Steiner in Waves of Lust (1975)
Born(1941-01-07)7 January 1941
Chester, Cheshire, England
Died31 July 2022(2022-07-31) (aged 81)
La Quinta, California, U.S.
Occupation(s)Actor, real estate agent
Years active1965–1991 (acting)
1991–2022 (real estate)
Websitehttps://johnsteiner.evrealestate.com/

John Steiner (7 January 1941 – 31 July 2022) was an English actor. Tall, thin and gaunt, he attended the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art and performed on-stage for the Royal Shakespeare Company, but was best known to audiences for his roles in Italian films, several of which became cult classics.[1]

Early life and acting career

Steiner was born in Chester, Cheshire on 7 January 1941.[2] He attended the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art and joined the Royal Shakespeare Company. He acted in the role of Monsieur Dupere in Peter Brook's production of Marat/Sade. He reprised the role when the play was transferred to Broadway, and again for the 1967 film adaptation.

He found work primarily in films including and the original Bedazzled (1967) with Peter Cook and Dudley Moore.[3] In 1969, Steiner was hired to play a part in the Spaghetti Western Tepepa, and also appeared opposite Franco Nero in White Fang, directed by Lucio Fulci. In 1971 he starred in the television series Hine.[4] In 1979 he featured in the leading role of Leo in a television production of Design for Living by Noël Coward.[5]

He found himself in demand in Italy and moved there, appearing in a great number of Italian exploitation and B-films including police actioners (Violent Rome), westerns (Mannaja), war films (The Last Hunter), nazisploitation (Deported Women of the SS Special Section), sci-fi adventure films (Yor, the Hunter from the Future), and horror films, such as Mario Bava's Shock, Dario Argento's Tenebrae, and Ruggero Deodato's Body Count. He also became a favourite of famed Italian filmmaker Tinto Brass, featuring in Salon Kitty, the infamous Caligula, Action, and Paprika.[6] He remained in steady demand until the late 1980s.

Retirement and later life

As the Italian film industry dwindled, Steiner retired from acting in 1991 and moved to California, where he became a successful real estate agent.[7] Steiner later contributed to DVD extras on some of his films and gave interviews about his Italian work.

Personal life

Steiner was bisexual. During the 1960s he was in a long-term relationship with director John Schlesinger and became the basis for the character Bob Elkin (played by Murray Head) in Schlesinger's semi-autobiographical film Sunday Bloody Sunday.[8]

He later married, and is survived by his wife of over 30 years

In addition to English, Steiner spoke French, Italian, and German.[9]

Death

Steiner died in a car crash in La Quinta, California,[7] on 31 July 2022, at the age of 81.[1][10][11]

Selected filmography

References

  1. ^ a b Fiorentino, Francesca (2 August 2022). "Addio a John Steiner, volto celebre di spaghetti western e poliziotteschi". asburymovies.it (in Italian). Retrieved 2 August 2022.
  2. ^ Barnes, Mike (4 August 2022). "John Steiner, Actor in 'Caligula,' Dies at 81". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 5 August 2022.
  3. ^ "John Steiner | Movies and Filmography". AllMovie.
  4. ^ "The Little White Lady (1971)". BFI. Archived from the original on 15 May 2019.
  5. ^ Play of the Month: Noël Coward's Design for Living, BBC Genome, accessed 31 March 2020
  6. ^ "John Steiner". BFI. Archived from the original on 23 March 2018.
  7. ^ a b Albani-Burgio, Paul. "British actor John Steiner identified as man killed in La Quinta crash on Sunday". The Desert Sun. Retrieved 2 August 2022.
  8. ^ Mann, William J. Edge of Midnight: The Life of John Schlesinger. Billboard Books. ASIN B005Q8EQJW.
  9. ^ Network, Reliance. "bio/johnsteiner". johnsteiner.evrealestate.com. Archived from the original on 18 September 2021. Retrieved 3 August 2022.
  10. ^ Haring, Bruce (4 August 2022). "John Steiner Dies: Veteran Film Actor For 'Caligula' In Car Accident, Was 81". Deadline. Retrieved 5 August 2022.
  11. ^ Barnes, Mike (4 August 2022). "John Steiner, Actor in 'Caligula,' Dies at 81". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 5 August 2022.

External links

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