Stefan Kalipha facts for kids

Stefan Kalipha (born Stephen Siegfried Behrendt in 1940) is an actor from Trinidad who has also become a British citizen. He has been acting since around 1970. You might know him from his roles as Ramon in the movie Cuba (1979), Daoud in The Curse of King Tut's Tomb, and Fat Larry in Babylon (both from 1980). He also played Hector González, a hitman, in the James Bond film For Your Eyes Only (1981). Kalipha also appeared as Wali Dad in The Crucifer of Blood (1991) and Buldeo in The Jungle Book (1994).

Stefan Kalipha's Early Life

Stefan Kalipha was born Stephen Siegfried Behrendt in Trinidad in 1940. He grew up in Port of Spain. His family background includes Indian, African, Portuguese, and German roots. He spent his childhood with his cousin, Horace Ové, and his best friend, Mustapha Matura, who also became famous in creative fields. In 1959, Kalipha moved to England. He studied acting at the East 15 Acting School. He later chose to use his grandfather's name, Kalipha, as his stage name.

Stefan Kalipha's Acting Career

Stefan Kalipha has had a long and interesting career in both television and movies.

Television Roles

In 1970, Kalipha played Casey in an episode of the drama series Callan. His character was a young Black man in London who felt frustrated about finding work, even though he had good grades.

In 1977, Kalipha took on the role of Reverend Henry Paul in a TV show pilot called Meadowlark. This was a comedy show set in Brixton. It was about a Black married couple who shared their apartment with an Irish woman. The pilot episode was 36 minutes long and featured other actors like Oscar James. However, this pilot was never shown on TV.

Later, in 1992, Kalipha had a regular role as Jonathan Phelps in the series Prime Suspect. In 2015, he appeared as Tobias in The Bastard Executioner. He also appeared in episodes of Quiller and Tales of the Unexpected.

Movie Roles

One of Kalipha's most well-known movie roles was Hector Gonzalez in the 1981 James Bond film For Your Eyes Only. In the movie, his character pretends to be a plane pilot. His plan is to kill a British agent named Sir Timothy Havelock and his family.

In 1983, Kalipha played the Data School Instructor in Superman III. Later, in 1989, he appeared as the Hatay tank gunner in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. He has also been in many other films, including The Jungle Book where he played Buldeo.

Stage Performances

Stefan Kalipha has also performed on stage. In 1977, he played Ahmed in a play called Mecca. Ahmed was a helpful tour agent who tried to fix problems among tourists at a villa in Morocco. This play was shown at the Open Space Theatre in London.

Stefan Kalipha's Personal Life

Today, Stefan Kalipha lives in Primrose Hill, a neighborhood in London.

Stefan Kalipha's Filmography and Theatre Roles

Stefan Kalipha has had many roles in films and on television. Here are some of them: