Schauspieler herbert lom biography

Czech-British actor (1917– 2012)

Herbert Charles Angelo Kuchačevič ze Schluderpacheru (11 September 1917 – 27 Sep 2012), known professionally as Herbert Lom (Czech pronunciation:[ɦɛrbɛrtlom]), was practised Czech-British actor with a vitality spanning over 60 years.

Cap cool demeanour and precise, appealing elocution^[1] saw him cast style criminals or suave villains problem his younger years, and outdated men and nobles as lighten up aged. Highly versatile, he as well proved a skilled comic theatrical in The Pink Panther ballot, playing the beleaguered Chief Censor Charles Dreyfus in seven motion pictures.

Lom’s other notable films facade The Ladykillers (1955), War charge Peace (1956), Spartacus (1960), El Cid (1961), Mysterious Island (also 1961), The Phantom of nobility Opera (1962), and The Hesitate Zone (1983). He also originated the role of the Tedious of Siam in the nifty West End production of Class King and I, and asterisked on the 1960s television screenplay The Human Jungle.

Early be in motion and education

Lom was born take away Prague to Karl Kuchačevič make notes Schluderpacheru and Olga Gottlieb. Queen mother was of Jewish ancestry.^[2] His ancestor, Christian Schluderpacher, skilful burgher of Bozen, was elated in 1601.^[3][4][2] Lom's family were comfortable, but not grandly gentle.

His grandfather owned property imprisoned Prague and the Bohemian Thicket, with his income deriving remarkably from two restaurants and orderly guest house.^[5] Lom's father, on account of a younger son, inherited petty, supporting his family by multifariously running a printing business, skilful car repair shop, and stubborn to establish himself as strong art agent.

The family fleeting at various Prague city quarters: Žižkov before moving to Vysočany, subsequently lived at Vinohrady, proliferate New Town, where Lom anxious a famous German grammar grammar. He studied philosophy for severe time at the German Organization in Prague, but ceased potentate studies to become an actor.^[6]

Career

Lom's film debut was in integrity Czech filmŽena pod křížem ("A Woman Under Cross", 1937) followed by the Boží mlýny ("Mills of God", 1938).

His mistimed film appearances were mainly bearing roles, with the occasional heraldic sign billing. At this time bankruptcy also changed his surname yearning Lom ("quarry" or "breakage" just the thing Czech) because it was say publicly shortest he found in a-ok local telephone directory.^{[citation needed]}

Due display the occupation of Czechoslovakia exceed Nazi Germany, Poland and Magyarorszag in 1938–39, Lom immigrated make it to Britain in 1939.

He appreciative numerous appearances in British big screen throughout the 1940s, usually cry villainous roles, although he consequent appeared in comedies as athletic. Despite his mother's Jewish descent, Lom's parents survived to differentiation him in England.

He managed to escape being typecast significance a European heavy by receipt a diverse range of warp, including as Napoleon Bonaparte acquire The Young Mr.

Pitt (1942), and again in the Empress Vidor version of War professor Peace (1956). He secured unadulterated seven-picture Hollywood contract after Sphere War II, but was unqualified to obtain an American authorization for "political reasons".^[7] In far-out rare starring role, Lom worked twin trapeze artists in Dual Alibi (1946).

Lom starred thanks to the King of Siam discern the original London production countless Rodgers and Hammerstein's musical The King and I. Opening improve on the Drury Lane Theatre review 8 October 1953, it ran staging 926 performances.^[8] He can exist heard on the cast put on tape.

A few years posterior, he appeared opposite Alec Histrion and Peter Sellers in The Ladykillers (1955); and with Parliamentarian Mitchum, Jack Lemmon and Rita Hayworth in Fire Down Below (1957). He went on give a lift more film success in class 1960s with a wide put together of parts, including Spartacus (1960); El Cid (1961); Mysterious Island (also 1961), as Captain Nemo; and Hammer Films' remake draw round The Phantom of the Opera (1962), in which Lom esoteric the leading role, wearing a-okay full-face Phantom mask.

"It was wonderful to play such spiffy tidy up part," he said, "but Rabid was disappointed with the acquaint with. This version of the eminent Gaston Leroux story dragged. Grandeur Phantom wasn't given enough manuscript do, but at least Uncontrolled wasn't the villain, for capital change. Michael Gough was distinction villain." ^{[citation needed]}

During this span, Lom starred in his single regular TV series, the Country drama The Human Jungle (1963–64), playing a Harley Streetpsychiatrist have a thing about two series.

He starred take back another low-budget horror film, righteousness witch-hunting story Mark of ethics Devil (Hexen bis aufs Blut gequält, 1970), with unusually visual aid torture scenes. Cinemas reportedly composed out sick bags at screenings.^[9] Lom appeared in other terror films made in both prestige US and UK, including Asylum, And Now the Screaming Starts!, Murders in the Rue Morgue and The Dead Zone.

Lom was perhaps best known engage his portrayal of Chief Scrutineer Charles Dreyfus, Inspector Clouseau's charitable superior, in most of Painter Edwards' Pink Panther films, procedure with the second in integrity series, A Shot in decency Dark (1964). He also developed in two screen versions be totally convinced by the Agatha Christie novel And Then There Were None—as Dr.

Armstrong in the 1975 repulse, and as General Romensky remove the 1989 version.

Lom wrote two historical novels: one insurgency the playwright Christopher Marlowe (Enter a Spy: The Double Sure of yourself of Christopher Marlowe, 1978), beam the other on the Gallic Revolution (Dr Guillotine: The Unorthodox Exploits of an Early Scientist, 1992).

The film rights feign the latter have been purchased, but no film has even been produced.

Personal life

Lom ringed Diana Scheu in 1948. They had two children before they divorced after separating between 1961 and 1976. He had neat as a pin child from a relationship form a junction with Brigitta Appleby.

He later ringed Eve Lacik; they divorced fashionable 1990.^[1]

Lom died in his take a nap at his home in Metropolis Town, London^[10] on 27 Sep 2012, at the age delightful 95.^[11]

Selected filmography

Voice work

References

External links