Steven Berkoff facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Steven Berkoff
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Berkoff in 2020
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| Born |
Leslie Steven Berks
3 August 1937 |
| Alma mater | Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art L'École Internationale de Théâtre Jacques Lecoq |
| Occupation |
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| Years active | 1958–present |
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Notable work
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East (1975) Shakespeare's Villains (1998) |
| Spouse(s) |
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| Partner(s) | Clara Fischer |
| Children | 2 |
| Awards | Total Theatre Lifetime Achievement Award (1997) LA Weekly Theater Award for Solo Performance (2000) |
Steven Berkoff (born Leslie Steven Berks on August 3, 1937) is an English actor, writer, and director. He is famous for his work in the theatre and for playing memorable villains in popular movies.
As a theatre creator, he is known for a special style called "Berkovian theatre." This style mixes physical theatre (where actors use their bodies to tell the story), total theatre (using music, design, and movement), and expressionism (showing inner feelings instead of just outside reality). His plays are often very intense and make audiences think about difficult topics.
On screen, Berkoff is famous for playing bad guys. He was the villainous General Orlov in the James Bond movie Octopussy (1983). He also played the art dealer Victor Maitland in Beverly Hills Cop (1984) and the tough Lt. Col. Podovsky in Rambo: First Blood Part II (1985).
Contents
Early Life and Education
Berkoff was born in Stepney, in the East End of London. His parents were Pauline, a housewife, and Alfred, a tailor. He has an older sister named Beryl. His family is Jewish, and his grandparents moved to England from Romania and Russia in the 1890s.
The family's original last name was Berkowitz. His father changed it to Berks to help the family fit into British society. Steven, who was called Leslie as a child, later changed his last name to Berkoff.
During World War II, Berkoff and his family were evacuated to Luton for safety. After the war, they moved to the United States for a short time but soon returned to England. As a teenager, Berkoff got into some trouble but found his passion in acting. He studied drama at the Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art and later trained in mime and physical theatre in Paris.
Career
Theatre Work
Berkoff is a well-known playwright (a person who writes plays) and theatre director. Some of his first plays were based on the stories of writer Franz Kafka, like The Metamorphosis and The Trial.
He also wrote his own original plays, such as East (1975), Greek (1980), and Decadence (1981). His plays are known for being very powerful and emotional. They often make audiences feel strong emotions and can be very memorable.
In 1998, his one-man show Shakespeare's Villains opened in London. In the show, he explored the famous villains from William Shakespeare's plays. It was nominated for a prestigious Laurence Olivier Award.
Movie Roles
In movies, Berkoff became famous for playing villains. He was the Soviet General Orlov in the James Bond film Octopussy (1983) and the powerful art dealer Victor Maitland in Beverly Hills Cop (1984). He also played Soviet officer Lt. Col. Podovsky in Rambo: First Blood Part II (1985).
He appeared in two films by the famous director Stanley Kubrick: A Clockwork Orange (1971) and Barry Lyndon (1975). Some of his other movies include The Krays (1990), Legionnaire (1998), and The Tourist (2010). He also appeared in The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2011).
Berkoff has said he often takes roles in big Hollywood movies to earn money to support his work in the theatre, which is his main passion.
Television Appearances
Berkoff has appeared in many TV shows. Early in his career, he had roles in classic shows like The Avengers and The Saint. He also appeared in the science fiction series UFO.
Other notable TV roles include:
- Hagath in an episode of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine.
- Stilgar in the mini-series Children of Dune.
- Adolf Hitler in the mini-series War and Remembrance.
- King Nikolaus in the show Witches of East End.
- Shakri in a 2012 episode of Doctor Who called "The Power of Three".
Other Projects
Berkoff has also worked on other interesting projects. He has provided his voice for video game characters, including General Lente in Killzone and General Flying Fox in Heavenly Sword.
He is a patron (a supporter) of the Nightingale Theatre in Brighton, which helps new and experimental theatre productions.
Personal Life
Berkoff lives in east London with his partner, Clara Fischer, who is a pianist. He has two daughters from earlier relationships.
In 1996, Berkoff was involved in a court case against a journalist who wrote unkind comments about his appearance. The judge agreed that the comments were meant to make fun of him, and Berkoff won the case.
Awards and Honours
Steven Berkoff has won several awards for his work in the theatre.
- 1991: Evening Standard Award for Best Comedy for his play Kvetch.
- 1997: Total Theatre Lifetime Achievement Award for his contributions to theatre.
- 2000: LA Weekly Theater Award for his one-man show Shakespeare's Villains.
A performing arts center at Alton College in Hampshire, England, is named The Berkoff Performing Arts Centre in his honour.
See also
In Spanish: Steven Berkoff para niños
