Vladek Sheybal

Vladek Sheybal
Sheybal as Kronsteen in From Russia with Love (1963)
Born
Władysław Rudolf Zbigniew Sheybal

(1923-03-12)12 March 1923
Zgierz, Poland
Died16 October 1992(1992-10-16) (aged 69)
London, United Kingdom
Resting placePutney Vale Cemetery, London
NationalityPolish
CitizenshipUnited Kingdom
Alma materMerton College, Oxford
Occupation(s)Actor, singer
Years active1957–1992
Websitevladeksheybal.com

Vladek Sheybal (born Władysław Rudolf Zbigniew Sheybal; 12 March 1923 – 16 October 1992)[1] was a Polish character actor, singer and director of both television and stage productions.[2] He was well known for his portrayal of the chess grandmaster Kronsteen in the James Bond film From Russia with Love (1963), a role for which he had been personally recommended by his friend Sean Connery, and as Otto Leipzig in Smiley's People (1982).[3][4] He also had notable recurring roles as Dr. Douglas Jackson in Gerry Anderson's UFO, Captain Ferreira in the NBC miniseries Shōgun and as Gen. Bratchenko in the 1984 version of Red Dawn.

He became a naturalised British citizen, but remained "fiercely proud of his homeland and its culture".[2]

  1. ^ "Obituaries: Vladek Sheybal". The Stage and Television Today. 11 February 1993. p. 29.
  2. ^ a b Flintoff, Ian (30 October 1992). "Vladek Sheybal: A very Polish practitioner". The Guardian. Manchester.
  3. ^ "Home and Bio English - Vladek Sheybal Online". www.vladeksheybal.com. Archived from the original on 20 October 2020. Retrieved 13 January 2019.
  4. ^ "BFI Screenonline: Smiley's People (1982)". www.screenonline.org.uk.