John Steiner (7 January 1941 – 31 July 2022) was an English actor. Tall and gaunt, he attended the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art and performed on-stage for the Royal Shakespeare Company, but was best known to audiences for his roles in Italian films, several of which became cult classics.

Early life and education Steiner was born in Chester, Cheshire on 7 January 1941, to Ernest Steiner and Joan (nee Dutton). His father was Swiss. He studied at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art.

Career Out of drama school, Steiner joined the Royal Shakespeare Company. He acted in the role of Monsieur Dupere in Peter Brook's production of Marat/Sade. He reprised the role when the play was transferred to Broadway, and again for the 1967 film adaptation.

On television, he played Grey Wyler, a psychology student in The Death Game, a 1967 episode of The Saint. He found work primarily in films including and the original Bedazzled (1967) with Peter Cook and Dudley Moore.

In Italy In 1969, Steiner played a part in the Spaghetti Western Tepepa, and also appeared opposite Franco Nero in White Fang, directed by Lucio Fulci. In 1971 he starred in the television series Hine. In 1979 he featured in the leading role of Leo in a television production of Design for Living by Noël Coward.Play of the Month: Noël Coward's Design for Living, BBC Genome, accessed 31 March 2020

He found himself in demand in Italy and moved there, appearing in a great number of Italian exploitation and B-films including police actioners (Violent Rome), westerns (Mannaja), war films (The Last Hunter), nazisploitation (Deported Women of the SS Special Section), sci-fi adventure films (Yor, the Hunter from the Future), and horror films, such as Mario Bava's Shock, Dario Argento's Tenebrae, and Ruggero Deodato's Body Count. He also became a favourite of famed Italian filmmaker Tinto Brass, featuring in Salon Kitty, the infamous Caligula, Action, and Paprika. He remained in steady demand until the late 1980s.

Retirement and later life As the Italian film industry dwindled, Steiner retired from acting in 1991 and moved to California, where he became a successful real estate agent. Steiner later contributed to DVD extras on some of his films and gave interviews about his Italian work.

Personal life Steiner was bisexual. During the 1960s he was in a long-term relationship with director John Schlesinger and became the basis for the character Bob Elkin (played by Murray Head) in Schlesinger's semi-autobiographical film Sunday Bloody Sunday.

He later married, and is survived by his wife of over 30 years.

In addition to English, Steiner spoke French, Italian, and German.

Death Steiner died in a car crash in La Quinta, California, on 31 July 2022, at the age of 81.

Partial filmography

Marat/Sade (1967) – Monsieur Dupere Bedazzled (1967) – TV Announcer (uncredited) Work Is a Four-Letter Word (1968) – Anthony Tepepa (1969) – Doctor Henry Price The Thirteen Chairs (1969) – Stanley Duncan El bosque del lobo (1970) – Robert A Girl Called Jules (1970) – Luciano May Morning (1970) – Roderick Stanton The Golden Ass (1970) – Aristomene Bali (1970) – Arthur Glenn The Case Is Closed, Forget It (1971) – Biro Slap the Monster on Page One (1972) – Ingegner Montelli The Police Serve the Citizens? (1973) – Lambro Massacre in Rome (1973) – Col. Dollmann Black Holiday (1973) – Scagnetti White Fang (1973) – Charles 'Beauty' Smith Morel's Invention (1974) – Morel Challenge to White Fang (1974) – Beauty Smith / Charles Forth The Last Day of School Before Christmas (1975) – Il Tenente I Don't Want to Be Born (1975) – Tommy Morris Waves of Lust (1975) – Giorgio / Husband Violent Rome (1975) – Franco Spadoni 'Chiodo' Dracula in the Provinces (1975) – Count Dragulescu Salon Kitty (1976) – Biondo Le guêpier (1976) – Fisher Mark Strikes Again (1976) – Paul Henkel Deported Women of the SS Special Section (1976) – Herr Erner Bloody Payroll (1976) – Fausto Plot of Fear (1976) – Hoffmann Von Buttiglione Sturmtruppenführer (1977) – Schwein Shock (1977) – Bruno Baldini Mannaja (1977) – Valler The Criminals Attack, The Police Respond (1977) – Rufy Gangbuster (1977) – Killer Antonio Gramsci: The Days of Prison (1977) – Laurin Goodbye & Amen (1978) – Donald Grayson L'Amour en question (1978) – Tom Hastings Caligula (1979) – Longinus Action (1980) – The Manager The Last Hunter (1980) – Major William Cash Car Crash (1981) – Kirby The Salamander (1981) – Captain Roditi Hunters of the Golden Cobra (1982) – Captain David Franks Tenebrae (1982) – Christiano Berti Yor, the Hunter from the Future (1983) – Overlord Dagger Eyes (1983) – Ivanov The Ark of the Sun God (1984) – Lord Dean I due carabinieri (1984) – Crazy Man on Train A.D. (1985, TV Mini-Series) – Simon the Magus Cut and Run (1985) – Vlado Commando Leopard (1985) – Smithy The Berlin Affair (1985) – Oskar Engelhart Troppo forte (1985) – Mr. Adams Operation Nam (1986) – James Walcott Body Count (1986) – Dr. Olsen Summer Night (1986) – Frederick, Fulvia's lover Lone Runner (1986) – Skorm Julia and Julia (1987) – Alex Night of the Sharks (1988) – Rosentski (1988) – Duclaud Striker (1988) – Kariasin Appointment in Liverpool (1988) Sinbad of the Seven Seas (1989) – Jaffar Massacre Play (1989) – Danilo Paprika (1991) – Principe Ascanio (final film role)

References

External links

Biography for John Steiner (in French) His own website