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Walter Slezak
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Walter Slezak (May 3, 1902 – April 21, 1983) was an Austrian actor.
He was born in Vienna, Austria, the son of famed opera star Leo Slezak. He was a medical student and later a bank teller before becoming an actor.
A hulking figure at 6'6", Slezak usually played a villain or thug, but occasionally he played lighter, kindlier roles, as in The Wonderful World of the Brothers Grimm. Slezak's first role was in the Austrian film Sodom and Gomorra (1922). He worked steadily and appeared in over 100 films including Once Upon a Honeymoon (1942), Lifeboat, (1944) The Princess and the Pirate (1944), The Spanish Main (1945), Sinbad the Sailor (1947), Born to Kill (1947), Call Me Madam (1953) and Treasure Island (1972).
He began his movie career as a thin leading man in many silent films, and played the lead in such Broadway musicals as Fanny, for which he won the Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical. Because he became heavier as he got older he decided to play character roles when he moved to Hollywood sound films. His autobiography, What Time's the Next Swan? was published in 1962. He also appeared on television, twice appearing as "The Clock King" on Batman in 1966.
Later in life, apparently despondent over his continuing illnesses, he committed suicide by gunshot at age 80. He was survived by three children, including daughter Erika, who has risen to fame on the soap opera, One Life to Live, a soap that Walter Slezak appeared on in 1976.
He won a Tony Award in 1955 for his role in the Broadway production of Fanny.
| Preceded by Alfred Drake for Kismet |
Tony Award for Best Leading Actor in a Musical 1955 for Fanny |
Succeeded by Ray Walston for Damn Yankees |
- Walter Slezak at the Internet Movie Database
- Walter Slezak at the Internet Broadway Database
- Walter Slezak's Gravesite
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Categories: Austrian actors | Austrian character actors | Austrian musical theatre actors | Austrian film actors | Austrian television actors | Austrian-Americans | Natives of Vienna | Suicides by firearm | Tony Award winners | 1902 births | 1983 deaths | Actors who committed suicide | Austrian people stubs | Screen actor stubs