Gordon Sterne

Gordon Sterne (16 January 1923 – 4 April 2017) was a German-born English actor.

Early life and education Sterne was born on 16 January 1923 in Essen, Germany of Jewish descent. He left his native Nazi-dominated birth country in 1941 and became a native of Windsor, Ontario with a father who worked in the tobacco business and mother, who was supportive of his theatre aspirations. Sterne studied economics at the University of Western Ontario before volunteering for the Canadian Army in 1944, serving in the infantry as a sergeant.

Heading to New York in 1945, he trained and graduated from the Dramatic Workshop under the tutelage of its founder Erwin Piscator, at the same time as Rod Steiger, Bea Arthur, Walter Matthau, Tony Curtis and Harry Belafonte.

Career Sterne then began his acting career in America, working on radio and TV, in summer stock and off-Broadway.

After a career on stage, playing the leading man in various plays in New Jersey during the 1940s, as well as Benvenuto Cellini in The Firebrand at Washington's Arena Stage and Joseph K in The Trial at New York's Provincetown Playhouse during the early 1950s, Sterne moved to Britain in 1956 where he had over 50 years working in theatre, TV and film.

Being able to speak German (and French) enabled Sterne to perform in Drop Dead Darling on tour in Germany as well as a spell with the English Theatre in Vienna. The Fur Collar (1962) - Duclos Stranglehood (1963) The V.I.P.s (1963) - Official (uncredited) From Russia with Love (1963) - SPECTRE Helicopter Pilot (uncredited) The Vulture (1967) - Edward Stroud The Assassination Bureau (1969) - Corporal (uncredited) The Chairman (1969) - U.S. Airforce Sergeant Mosquito Squadron (1969) - Resistance Leader (uncredited) The Adding Machine (1969) - Yard guard This, That and the Other (1970) - Producer Sex Play (1974) - Randolph O'Hara An American Werewolf in London (1981) - Mr. Kessler The Razor's Edge (1984) - Doctor Orion's Belt (1985) - American tourist Highlander (1986) - Dr. Willis Kennedy Fourplay (2001) - Actor in Color of My Life Laws of Attraction (2004) - Judge Baker

Television

I Spy (1956) - Captain Price ITV Play of the Week (1956) - Lieutenant Charles / Dr. Aristides Agramonte Armchair Theatre (1956–1962) - Harry / Lionel / Schroder Sunday Night Theatre (1956–1959) - Samuel Ellis / Howie Newson / Leander Nolan / Administrator / Clark Escape (1956) - Colonel Goodwin, USAAF O.S.S. (1958) - Flight Medic White Hunter (1958) - Richardson Rendezvous (1959) - Man (uncredited) The Four Just Men (1959–1960) - Franconi / Dr. Wayne The Charlie Drake Show (1959) - Mike Slade No Hiding Place (1959) - Ward Mayhoff International Detective (1960) - The Records Officer / The Professor Hancock's Half Hour (1960) - Canada House Clerk Man from Interpol (1960) - Lebois Interpol Calling (1960) - Rebel Captain (uncredited) Garry Halliday (1960) - Viner One Step Beyond (1961) - Man Tales of Mystery (1962) - Steve Brodie Out of This World (1962) - Journalist Zero One (1962–1965) - Ziggy Suspense (1963) - Mr. Shenner The Saint (1963–1966) - Fritz Kapel / Vopos Maigret (1963) - Inspector Clark Espionage (1964) - Aide to US Ambassador The Plane Makers (1964) - Oberst Leutnant Court Martial (1966) - Captain Carey The Prisoner (1964) - Bystander Man in a Suitcase (1968) - Ernst Liebkind Doctor Who (1970) - Heldorf Crossroads (1970) - George Baxter UFO (1970–1971) - German Delegate / Helmsman Ellis Paul Temple (1970) - Hotel receptionist The Troubleshooters (1970) - Dan Harper / Andy Shelton The Protectors (1973) - Barman Skiboy (1974) - Brubaker Anne of Avonlea (1975) - Thomas Lynde Second Verdict (1976) - Dr. Dolan The New Avengers (1977) - Professor Vasil Panorama (1982) - Prosecutor American Playhouse (1982) - Louis Lefkowitz Reilly, Ace of Spies (1983) - Ford Bulman (1985) - Legal Counsellor John and Yoko: A Love Story (1985) - New York Critic Jeeves and Wooster (1992) - Diner Gulliver's Travels (1996) - Brobdingnag Scientist Kavanagh QC (1997) - Old Timer Little Britain (2005) - Mr. Jeffreys The Tudors (2007–2009) - Bishop Tunstall