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Steven Berkoff is a Actor, Director and Scriptwriter British born on 3 august 1937 at Stepney (United-kingdom)

Steven Berkoff

Steven Berkoff
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Birth name Leslie Steven Berks
Nationality United-kingdom
Birth 3 august 1937 (86 years) at Stepney (United-kingdom)

Steven Berkoff (born 3 August 1937) is an English actor, author, playwright and theatre director. As an actor, he is best known for his performances in villainous roles, such as Lt. Col Podovsky in Rambo: First Blood Part II, General Orlov in the James Bond film Octopussy, Victor Maitland in Beverly Hills Cop and Adolf Hitler in the TV mini-series War and Remembrance.

Biography

Berkoff lives with his partner, Clara Fisher, in London.


Defamation lawsuit
In 1996, Berkoff won Berkoff v. Burchill, a libel civil action that he brought against Sunday Times journalist Julie Burchill after she published comments suggesting that he was "hideously ugly". The judge ruled for Berkoff, finding that Burchill's actions "held him to ridicule and contempt."


Political and religious views
Berkoff has spoken and written about how he believes Jews and Israel to be regarded in Britain. In a January 2009 interview with The Jewish Chronicle, in which he discussed anti-Israel sentiment in the aftermath of the Gaza War, he said:






There is an in-built dislike of Jews. Overt antisemitism goes against the British sense of fair play. It has to be covert and civilised. So certain playwrights and actors on the left wing make themselves out to be stricken with conscience. They say: 'We hate Israel, we hate Zionism, we don't hate Jews.' But Zionism is the very essence of what a Jew is. Zionism is the act of seeking sanctuary after years and years of unspeakable outrages against Jews. As soon as Israel does anything over the top it's always the same old faces who come out to demonstrate. I don't see hordes of people marching down the street against Mugabe when tens of thousands are dying every month in Zimbabwe.




Interviewer Simon Round noted that Berkoff was also keen to express his view that right-wing Israeli politicians, such as Ariel Sharon and Benjamin Netanyahu, were "wretched". Asked if British antisemitism manifested itself in theatre, Berkoff responded: "They quite like diversity and will tolerate you as long as you act a bit Gentile and don't throw your chicken soup around too much. You are perfectly entitled occasionally even to touch the great prophet of British culture, Shakespeare, as long as you keep your Jewishness well zipped up." Berkoff also referred to the Gaza war as a factor in writing Biblical Tales: "It was the recent 'Gaza' war and the appalling flack that Israel received that prompted me to investigate ancient Jewish values."
Speaking to The Jewish Chronicle in May 2010, Berkoff criticised the Bible but added, "it inspires the Jews to produce Samsons and heroes and to have pride". Berkoff went on to say of the Talmud in the same article: "As Jews, we are so incredibly lucky to have the Talmud, to have a way of re-interpreting the Torah. So we no longer cut off hands, and slay animals, and stone women."

In a Daily Telegraph travel article written while visiting Israel in 2007, Berkoff described Melanie Phillips' book Londonistan: How Britain is Creating a Terror State Within, as "quite overwhelming in its research and common sense. It grips me throughout the journey."

In 2012, Berkoff, with others, wrote in support of Israel's national theatre, Habima, performing in London.

Best films

Beverly Hills Cop (1984)
(Actor)
Rambo: First Blood Part II (1985)
(Actor)
The Tourist (2010)
(Actor)
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2011)
(Actor)
Octopussy (1983)
(Actor)
Steal (2002)
(Actor)

Usually with

Billy Murray
Billy Murray
(5 films)
Ricky Grover
Ricky Grover
(2 films)
Nick Moran
Nick Moran
(3 films)
Dave Legeno
Dave Legeno
(4 films)
Source : Wikidata

Filmography of Steven Berkoff (60 films)

Display filmography as detailed form
YearNameJobRoles
2021Creation StoriesActorAleister Crowley
2017London HeistActorAlfie
2016Manhattan NightActorHobbs
2014Katherine of AlexandriaActorLiberius
2014We Still Kill the Old WayActorCharlie
2013RED 2ActorCobb
2012Strippers vs. WerewolvesActorFlett
2011The Girl with the Dragon TattooActorDirch Frode
2011Big Fat Gypsy GangsterActorGuru Shah
2011Moving TargetActorLawrence Masters
2010The TouristActorReginald Shaw
2010Dead CertActorKenneth Mason
2010The Big I AmActorThe MC
200944 Inch ChestActorTippi Gordon
2009At World's EndActorJack Pudovski
2008The CottageActorArnie (uncredited)
2007Say It in RussianActor
2006The Flying ScotsmanActorErnst Hagemann
2006Pu-239ActorStarkov
2005Shadow of the SwordActorInquisitor
2005Forest of the GodsActorCommandant Hoppe
2004BridesActorKarabulat
2004Action Man: Robot ATAKActorDr. X (voice)
2004Head in the CloudsActorCharles Bessé
2004Action Man: X Missions The MovieActorDr. X (voice)
20039 Dead Gay GuysActorJeff
2003HeadrushActorWuj
2002StealActorSurtayne
2002Beginner's LuckActorMagic Bob
2001Attila (miniseries)ActorKing Rua
2000Rancid AluminiumActorMr Kant
2000In the BeginningActorPotiphar
1998LegionnaireActorSgt. Steinkampf
1997Another 9 1/2 WeeksActorVittorio DaSilva
1995Fair GameActorColonel Ilya Kazak
1994DecadenceActor, Director, Scriptwriter
1993FlynnActorKlaus Reicher
1992Intruders (miniseries)ActorAddison Leach
1990The KraysActorGeorge Cornell
1990A Season of GiantsActorGirolamo Savonarola
1988Prisoner of RioActorJack McFarland
1986Absolute BeginnersActorThe Fanatic
1986Under the Cherry MoonActorMr. Sharon
1986Sins (TV miniseries)Actor
1985Rambo: First Blood Part IIActorLt. Col. Podovsky
1985UnderworldActorHugo Motherskille
1985RevolutionActorSgt. Jones
1984Beverly Hills CopActorVictor Maitland
1983OctopussyActorOrlov
1981OutlandActorSagan
1980McVicarActorRonnie Harrison
1977Joseph AndrewsActorGreasy Fellow
1975Barry LyndonActorLord Ludd
1975The PassengerActorStephen
1972A Clockwork OrangeActorDet. Const. Tom
1971Nicholas and AlexandraActorPankratov
1967Slave GirlsActorJohn
1961KongaActorStudent on Field Trip (uncredited)
1959The Devil's DiscipleActorBritish Corporal
1958I Was Monty's DoubleActorMinor Role (uncredited)