Gerhard Johannes Alexander Tichy Wondzinski (11 March 1920 – 11 April 1992), known as Gérard Tichy, was a German-Spanish

actor An actor (masculine/gender-neutral), or actress (feminine), is a person who portrays a character in a production. The actor performs "in the flesh" in the traditional medium of the theatre or in modern media such as film, radio, and television. ...

who appeared in numerous films, including several international productions.

Early life

Tichy was born Gerhard Johannes Alexander Tichy Wondzinski in

Weißenfels Weißenfels (; often written in English as Weissenfels) is the largest town of the Burgenlandkreis district, in southern Saxony-Anhalt, central Germany. It is situated on the river Saale, approximately south of Halle, Saxony-Anhalt, Halle. His ...

Saxony-Anhalt Saxony-Anhalt ( ; ) is a States of Germany, state of Germany, bordering the states of Brandenburg, Saxony, Thuringia and Lower Saxony. It covers an area of and has a population of 2.17 million inhabitants, making it the List of German states ...

, the son of a doctor. After a short period as an artist, he was conscripted into the

Reich Labour Service The Reich Labour Service (''Reichsarbeitsdienst''; RAD) was a major paramilitary organization established in Nazi Germany as an agency to help mitigate the effects of unemployment on the German economy, militarise the workforce and indoctrinate ...

during

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

, but was later transferred into the

Wehrmacht The ''Wehrmacht'' (, ) were the unified armed forces of Nazi Germany from 1935 to 1945. It consisted of the German Army (1935–1945), ''Heer'' (army), the ''Kriegsmarine'' (navy) and the ''Luftwaffe'' (air force). The designation "''Wehrmac ...

as an infantry soldier. He served in the Polish and French campaigns, but was captured by Allied forces in 1945. He was held in a prisoner-of-war camp in

Bordeaux Bordeaux ( ; ; Gascon language, Gascon ; ) is a city on the river Garonne in the Gironde Departments of France, department, southwestern France. A port city, it is the capital of the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region, as well as the Prefectures in F ...

for 18 months. Not wanting to be repatriated back to Germany, he made an escape attempt on

Christmas Eve Christmas Eve is the evening or entire day before Christmas, the festival commemorating nativity of Jesus, the birth of Jesus in Christianity, Jesus. Christmas Day is observance of Christmas by country, observed around the world, and Christma ...

, but was quickly re-captured taken to another camp. He escaped, this time successfully, while in transit and fled to

Hendaye Hendaye (; Basque: ''Hendaia'',HENDAIA
Spain Spain, or the Kingdom of Spain, is a country in Southern Europe, Southern and Western Europe with territories in North Africa. Featuring the Punta de Tarifa, southernmost point of continental Europe, it is the largest country in Southern Eur ...

by wading through the

Bidasoa __NOTOC__ The Bidasoa (; ; , ) is a river in the Basque Country of northern Spain and southern France that runs largely south to north. Named as such downstream of the village of Oronoz-Mugairi (municipality of Baztan) in the province of Navar ...

, and was caught by Spanish authorities. He was released from custody after being vouched for by other German expats, and settled in

Madrid Madrid ( ; ) is the capital and List of largest cities in Spain, most populous municipality of Spain. It has almost 3.5 million inhabitants and a Madrid metropolitan area, metropolitan area population of approximately 7 million. It i ...

Career

While working as a waiter in 1948, Tichy was spotted by director César Fernández Ardavín, who was looking for someone to play a German officer in the war film ''Neutrality''. He subsequently starred in the war epic '' Balarrasa'' (1951) and quickly became a prominent

character actor A character actor is an actor known for playing unusual, eccentric, or interesting character (arts), characters in supporting roles, rather than leading ones.28 April 2013, The New York Acting SchoolTen Best Character Actors of All Time Retrie ...

in Spanish cinema, ultimately appearing in 99 films over the course of his career. He won the CEC Award for Best Foreign Actor for his role in the 1955 film '' El canto del gallo''. A capable if not fluent English speaker, Tichy also appeared in several international productions that were filmed in Spain, most notably ''

King of Kings King of Kings, ''Mepet mepe''; , group="n" was a ruling title employed primarily by monarchs based in the Middle East and the Indian subcontinent. Commonly associated with History of Iran, Iran (historically known as name of Iran, Persia ...

'' (1961) as

Joseph Joseph is a common male name, derived from the Hebrew (). "Joseph" is used, along with " Josef", mostly in English, French and partially German languages. This spelling is also found as a variant in the languages of the modern-day Nordic count ...

, ''

El Cid Rodrigo Díaz de Vivar ( – 10 July 1099) was a Castilian knight and ruler in medieval Spain. Fighting both with Christian and Muslim armies during his lifetime, he earned the Arabic honorific ("the Lord" or "the Master"), which would evolve i ...

'' (1961) playing King Ramiro, and '' Doctor Zhivago'' (1965) as Liberius, a

Red Red is the color at the long wavelength end of the visible spectrum of light, next to orange and opposite violet. It has a dominant wavelength of approximately 625–750 nanometres. It is a primary color in the RGB color model and a seconda ...

partisan commander. He appeared in numerous spaghetti Westerns, most notably

Sergio Corbucci Sergio Corbucci (; 6 December 1926 – 1 December 1990) was an Italian film director, screenwriter and Film producer, producer. He was one of the main exponents of the Spaghetti Western genre during the 1960s and 1970s, with his most notable work ...

's '' Compañeros'' (1971). He also worked with noted Spanish horror film directors such as Jesus Franco ('' Marquis de Sade: Justine''),

Paul Naschy Jacinto Molina Álvarez (September 6, 1934 – November 30, 2009) known by his stage name Paul Naschy, was a Spanish film actor, screenwriter, and director working primarily in horror films. His portrayals of numerous classic horror figures&md ...

(''The Beast and the Magic Sword''),

Amando de Ossorio Amando de Ossorio (6 April 1918 – 13 January 2001) was one of the foremost Spanish horror film directors during the European horror film surge in the 1970s, known especially for his "Blind Dead" tetralogy. Biography De Ossorio directed a shor ...

(''Serpiente del mar'') and

Juan Piquer Simón Juan Piquer Simón (16 February 1935 – 8 January 2011) was a Spanish film director best known for directing two cult classic horror film, horror exploitation film, exploitation films, ''Pieces (1982 film), Pieces'' (1982) and ''Slugs (1988 fil ...

( ''Pieces'') and famed Italian director

Mario Bava Mario Bava (; 31 July 1914 – 27 April 1980) was an Italian filmmaker who worked variously as a director, cinematographer, special effects artist and screenwriter. His low-budget genre films, known for their distinctive visual flair and stylish ...

('' Hatchet for the Honeymoon''). Tichy also periodically returned to his native Germany, performing at the Hamburg Kammerspiele and acting in the

Zarah Leander Zarah Leander (; 15 March 1907 – 23 June 1981) was a Sweden, Swedish singer and actress whose greatest success was in Germany between 1936 and 1943, when she was contracted to work for the state-owned UFA GmbH, Universum Film AG (UFA). Althou ...

film ''Cuba Cabana''.

Death

Tichy died in Madrid on April 11, 1992.

Selected filmography

* '' Neutrality'' (1949) - Deutscher Offizier * '' Black Jack'' (1950) * '' Service at Sea'' (1951) - Pasajero (uncredited) * ''Servicio en la mar'' (1951) - Pasajero (uncredited) * ''Cerca del cielo'' (1951) - Camarada defensor (uncredited) * '' The Floor Burns'' (1952) - Eduardo Behovia * '' Come Die My Love'' (1952) - Bill * '' The Call of Africa'' (1952) - Capitán Andrade * ''Hombre acosado'' (1952) - Jan Matiz * ''Barco sin rumbo'' (1952) * '' Cuba Cabana'' (1952) - Polizei-Oberst * ''

Decameron Nights ''Decameron Nights'' (also known as ''Tres Historias De Amor'') is a 1953 British-American anthology Technicolor film directed by Hugo Fregonese and starring Joan Fontaine and Louis Jourdan. It was written by George Oppenheimer based on three ...

'' (1953) * '' I Was a Parish Priest'' (1953) - El Negro * ''Pasaporte para un ángel (Órdenes secretas)'' (1954) * '' Judas' Kiss'' (1954) -

Pontius Pilate Pontius Pilate (; ) was the Roman administration of Judaea (AD 6–135), fifth governor of the Judaea (Roman province), Roman province of Judaea, serving under Emperor Tiberius from 26/27 to 36/37 AD. He is best known for being the official wh ...

* '' An Impossible Crime'' (1954) - Eugenio Certal * ''

He Died Fifteen Years Ago ''He Died Fifteen Years Ago'' (Spanish: ''Murió hace quince años'') is a 1954 Spanish drama film directed by Rafael Gil and starring Rafael Rivelles, Francisco Rabal and Lyla Rocco. Synopsis Diego Acuña was one of the children transferre ...

'' (1954) - Germán Goeritz * '' Malaga'' (1954) - Cronkhite * '' Kubala'' (1955) * ''Lo que nunca muere'' (1955) - Pierre * ''

The Cock Crow ''El canto del gallo'' is a 1955 Spanish drama film directed by Rafael Gil. Plot In Hungary, during World War II and at a time when religious were being killed, Gans, a powerful communist commissar, saves the life of Father Miller, a former clas ...

'' (1955) - Gans * ''Nunca es demasiado tarde'' (1956) - Jorge * ''

Alexander the Great Alexander III of Macedon (; 20/21 July 356 BC – 10/11 June 323 BC), most commonly known as Alexander the Great, was a king of the Ancient Greece, ancient Greek kingdom of Macedonia (ancient kingdom), Macedon. He succeeded his father Philip ...

'' (1956) - (uncredited) * ''Miedo'' (1956) * '' Curra Veleta'' (1956) - Alfredo Brighton * ''Minutos antes'' (1956) * ''Cuando el valle se cubra de nieve'' (1957) * ''...Y eligió el infierno'' (1957) * ''Aquellos tiempos del cuplé'' (1958) - Jorge * '' Cuatro en la frontera'' (1958) - Julio * ''Hospital general'' (1958) * ''El frente infinito'' (1959) - Capitán Estrada * ''Molokai, la isla maldita'' (1959) - Capitán * ''Un ángel tuvo la culpa'' (1960) - Sr. X * ''Alerta en el cielo'' (1961) - Sargento Bell * ''

'' (1961) - Joseph * ''

'' (1961) - King Ramiro * ''Pecado de amor'' (1961) - Gerardo Esquivel * ''

The Happy Thieves ''The Happy Thieves'' is a 1961 American crime/comedy-drama film starring Rex Harrison and Rita Hayworth, and directed by George Marshall. The film is based on the novel '' The Oldest Confession'' by Richard Condon. The film was poorly received, ...

'' (1961) - Antonio, Prado Museum Guard * '' Queen of The Chantecler'' (1962) - Henri Duchel * ''Face of Terror'' (1962) - Dr. Chambers * ''Los culpables'' (1962) - Salvador * ''Senda torcida'' (1963) - Silvestre * ''

The Blancheville Monster ''The Blancheville Monster'', released in the UK and Italy as ''Horror'', is a 1963 horror film directed by Alberto de Martino. The film's script by Gianni Grimaldi and Bruno Corbucci is promoted as being based on the works of Edgar Allan Poe, ...

'' (1963) - Rodéric De Blancheville * '' Casablanca, Nest of Spies'' (1963) - Mayor * ''The Secret Seven'' (1963) - Rabirio * ''La muerte silba un blues'' (1964) - Carlos Moroni * ''La Chance et l'Amour'' (1964) - Un truand (segment "Une chance explosive") * '' Desafío en Río Bravo'' (1964) - Zack Williams * ''Un tiro por la espalda'' (1964) * ''El niño y el muro'' (1965) - Guardia alemán #2 * '' The Hell of Manitoba'' (1965) - Jack Villaine * '' That Man in Istanbul'' (1965) - Charly Cohen * '' Marie-Chantal contre le docteur Kha'' (1965) - Maitre d'Hôtel * '' Man from Canyon City'' (1965) - Hargitay * ''Playa de Formentor'' (1965) - Carlos Sanromá * '' Train d'enfer'' (1965) - Matras * '' 100.000 dollari per Ringo'' (1965) - Tom Sherry * '' Doctor Zhivago'' (1965) - Liberius, Red Partisan Commander * '' Agent X-77 Orders to Kill'' (1966) - Dr. Reichmann * '' Cuatro dólares de venganza'' (1966) - Clifford * ''

The Sea Pirate ''The Sea Pirate'' (, , , also known as ''The Fighting Corsair'') is a 1966 French-Italian-Spanish adventure film directed by Sergio Bergonzelli and Roy Rowland (film director), Roy Rowland. Plot Cast * Gérard Barray as Robert Surcouf * ...

'' (1966) - Kernan * ''Le Solitaire passe à l'attaque'' (1966) - Bernsen * '' The Texican'' (1966) - Boyd Thompson * ''Il grande colpo di Surcouf'' (1966) - Kernan * '' Superargo Versus Diabolicus'' (1966) - Diabolikus * ''

Master Stroke ''Master Stroke'' () is a 1967 Italian crime film directed by Michele Lupo and starring Richard Harrison (actor), Richard Harrison. Cast * Richard Harrison (actor), Richard Harrison - Arthur Lang * Adolfo Celi - Mr. Bernard * Margaret Lee (Brit ...

'' (1967) - Max * '' Face to Face'' (1967) - Mayor of Silvertown (uncredited) * ''

Madigan's Millions ''Madigan's Millions'' (, ) is a 1968 Italian-Spanish comedy crime film directed by Stanley Prager and produced by Sidney W. Pink. The movie was shot in 1966, but was not released for two years. It stars Dustin Hoffman in his first movie role ...

'' (1968) - J. P. Ogilvie * '' The Magnificent Tony Carrera'' (1968) - Serge * ''Sartana Does Not Forgive'' (1968) - Joe Sullivan * '' They Came to Rob Las Vegas'' (1968) - Sheriff Klinger * '' Hot Line'' (1968) - Truman * ''Cantando a la vida'' (1969) * ''Hora cero: Operación Rommel'' (1969) - Gen. von Gruber * '' Marquis de Sade: Justine'' (1969) - Comte Courville * ''Murder by Music'' (1969) - Inspector * '' Hatchet for the Honeymoon'' (1970) - Dr. Kalleway * '' Cuadrilátero'' (1970) - Óscar * ''El último día de la guerra'' (1970) - Pvt. Bronc * '' Compañeros'' (1970) - Lieutenant * ''Un verano para matar'' (1972) - Alex * ''Les Charlots font l'Espagne'' (1972) - Le capitaine du grand voilier * '' La isla misteriosa y el capitán Nemo'' (1973) - Cyrus Smith * '' The Corruption of Chris Miller'' (1973) - Commissioner * ''La orgía de los muertos'' (1973) - Professor Leon Droila * ''Striptease'' (1978) - Play Boy * ''Venus de fuego'' (1978) - Detective * '' Maravillas'' (1981) - Benito * ''Misterio en la isla de los monstruos'' (1981) (a.k.a. ''Mystery on Monster Island'') - Capt. Turkott * ''L'ultimo harem'' (1981) - (uncredited) * ''Los diablos del mar'' (1982) - Captain Hull * '' Pieces'' (1982) - Dr. Jennings * '' La Bestia y la Espada Magica'' (1983) (a.k.a. ''The Beast and the Magic Sword'') - Otton el grande * ''La hoz y el Martínez'' (1985) - Dimitri Vasilievich * ''¡Qué tía la C.I.A.!'' (1985) - Agente de la RFA * ''Serpiente de mar'' (1985) a.k.a. ''The Sea Serpent'' * ''Romanza final (Gayarre)'' (1986) * ''Yo me bajo en la próxima, ¿y usted?'' (1992) - (final film role)

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Tichy, Gerard 1920 births 1992 deaths Spanish male film actors German male film actors German escapees German prisoners of war in World War II held by France German emigrants to Spain German Army officers of World War II Male actors from Madrid Male Spaghetti Western actors 20th-century Spanish male actors 20th-century German male actors Escapees from French detention People from Weißenfels Male actors from Saxony-Anhalt