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; 3 August 1937) is an English actor, writer, and theatre director. He is known for his unique style in theatre and for playing many villain roles in movies.
In theatre, he developed a special performance style called "Berkovian theatre." This style mixes physical acting, total theatre, and expressionism. His plays are often intense and explore difficult subjects.
As a movie actor, he is famous for playing bad guys. Some of his well-known villain roles include General Orlov in the James Bond film Octopussy (1983) and Victor Maitland in Beverly Hills Cop (1984). He also played Adolf Hitler in the miniseries War and Remembrance (1988–89).
Contents
Early Life and Education
Steven Berkoff was born Leslie Steven Berks on 3 August 1937, in Stepney, East End of London. His mother, Pauline "Polly" Hyman, was a housewife, and his father, Alfred "Al" Berks, was a tailor. He had an older sister named Beryl. His family was Jewish, and his grandparents came to England from Romania and Russia in the 1890s.
His father changed the family name from Berkowitz to Berks to help them fit into British society. Later, Steven legally changed his last name to Berkoff and started using his middle name, Steven.
During World War II, Steven, his sister, and their mother were moved to Luton, Bedfordshire, in 1942 for safety. In 1947, his family moved to the United States for a short time but returned to England when his father couldn't find work. Steven attended Raine's Foundation Grammar School and Hackney Downs School.
In 1952, he was arrested for stealing a bicycle and spent three months in a special youth detention center called borstal. After this, he became interested in drama. He took acting classes at City Literary Institute and trained at the Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art. He also studied physical theatre and mime at L'École Internationale de Théâtre Jacques Lecoq in Paris, finishing his training in 1965.
Steven Berkoff's Career
Steven Berkoff has had a long and successful career in theatre, film, and television. He is known for his unique acting style and for creating his own plays.
Theatre Work
Berkoff began his theatre journey in a Repertory Company in Barrow-in-Furness in 1962. Besides acting, he is a well-known playwright and theatre director.
His early plays were adaptations of stories by Franz Kafka, like The Metamorphosis (1969) and The Trial (1971). In the 1970s and 1980s, he wrote many plays, including East (1975), Greek (1980), and Decadence (1981). He also wrote Sink the Belgrano! (1986), which he considered one of his best works.
In 1988, Berkoff directed a unique version of Salome by Oscar Wilde, performed in slow motion. In 1998, his one-person play Shakespeare's Villains opened in London. This play explored the bad characters in William Shakespeare's works and was nominated for a major award.
Berkoff has continued to perform his one-man shows, such as One Man (2011), which included a story by Edgar Allan Poe and his own comedy piece called Dog. In 2013, he performed An Actor's Lament, his first verse play in many years. His 2018 play Harvey was inspired by the Harvey Weinstein scandal.
Film Roles
In movies, Berkoff often plays villains. He was the Soviet General Orlov in the James Bond film Octopussy (1983) and the bad art dealer Victor Maitland in Beverly Hills Cop (1984). He also played the Soviet officer Lieutenant Colonel Podovsky in Rambo: First Blood Part II (1985) and the gangster George Cornell in The Krays (1990).
Berkoff has said he takes Hollywood film roles mainly to fund his theatre work. He believes many of these films lack artistic value.
He also appeared in Stanley Kubrick's films A Clockwork Orange (1971) and Barry Lyndon (1975). His other films include The Passenger (1975), Outland (1981), and Absolute Beginners (1986).
In 1994, he wrote, directed, and starred in the film version of his play Decadence, alongside Joan Collins. More recently, he appeared in The Tourist (2010) and The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2011).
Television Appearances
Berkoff has had many roles on television. He appeared in early episodes of The Avengers and UFO. He played Hagath in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine and Stilgar in the miniseries Children of Dune.
He is also known for playing Adolf Hitler in the miniseries War and Remembrance. In 2011, he played the historical preacher Girolamo Savonarola in The Borgias. In 2012, he appeared in the popular science fiction show Doctor Who in the episode "The Power of Three".
In 2014, he played King Nikolaus in the TV show Witches of East End. In 2016, he appeared in the sitcom Man Down as a strict caretaker.
Other Projects
Beyond acting, Berkoff has done voice-over work for music and video games. He voiced General Lente in the video game Killzone and General Flying Fox in Heavenly Sword.
His memoir, Bad Guy! Journal of a Hollywood Turkey (2014), shares his experiences working on a big Hollywood movie. He has also presented episodes of the BBC Horizon series, exploring topics like infinity and the power of placebos.
Berkoff supports the Nightingale Theatre in Brighton, a small theatre venue.
What Critics Say
Experts like Annette Pankratz describe Steven Berkoff as an important modern playwright in Britain. They note his reputation as a "bad boy" of British theatre, which has brought him a lot of media attention. Critics often focus on how Berkoff presents himself as an artist and a public figure.
Personal Life
Steven Berkoff has been married twice. He married Alison Minto in 1970 and Shelley Lee in 1976; both marriages ended. He lives with his partner, Clara Fischer, a German pianist, in Limehouse, east London. Clara Fischer also appeared in his film Decadence. Steven Berkoff has two daughters, Mylea and Sarah, from previous relationships.
Awards and Recognition
Steven Berkoff has received several awards for his work in theatre.
- In 1997, he received the Total Theatre Lifetime Achievement Award.
- In 2000, he won the LA Weekly Theater Award for Solo Performance for his play Shakespeare's Villains.
- He also won a Scotsman Fringe First Award in 2000 for Messiah, Scenes from a Crucifixion.
- In 1999, his 25th-anniversary revival of East won the Stage Award for Best Ensemble work at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.
- In 1991, he won the Evening Standard Drama Award for Best Comedy for his play Kvetch.
The Berkoff Performing Arts Centre at Alton College, Hampshire, is named after him. At the opening ceremony, he spoke about how important theatre is for personal growth and connecting people. He said, "There's something about theatre that draws people together because it's something connected with the human soul."
See also
In Spanish: Steven Berkoff para niños
