John Steiner (7 January 1941 – 31 July 2022) was an English actor. Tall, thin and gaunt, he attended the

Royal Academy of Dramatic Art The Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA; ) is a drama school in London, England, that provides vocational conservatoire training for theatre, film, television, and radio. It is based in the Bloomsbury area of Central London, close to the Sen ...

and performed on-stage for the

Royal Shakespeare Company The Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) is a major British theatre company, based in Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, England. The company employs over 1,000 staff and produces around 20 productions a year. The RSC plays regularly in London, St ...

, but was best known to audiences for his roles in

Italian films Italian(s) may refer to: * Anything of, from, or related to the people of Italy over the centuries ** Italians, an ethnic group or simply a citizen of the Italian Republic or Italian Kingdom ** Italian language, a Romance language *** Regional Ita ...

, several of which became

cult classics A cult film or cult movie, also commonly referred to as a cult classic, is a film that has acquired a cult following. Cult films are known for their dedicated, passionate fanbase which forms an elaborate subculture, members of which engage ...

Early life and acting career

Steiner was born in

Chester Chester is a cathedral city and the county town of Cheshire, England. It is located on the River Dee, close to the English–Welsh border. With a population of 79,645 in 2011,"2011 Census results: People and Population Profile: Chester Loca ...

Cheshire Cheshire ( ) is a ceremonial and historic county in North West England, bordered by Wales to the west, Merseyside and Greater Manchester to the north, Derbyshire to the east, and Staffordshire and Shropshire to the south. Cheshire's county t ...

on January 7, 1941. He attended the

and joined the

. He acted in the role of Monsieur Dupere in

Peter Brook Peter Stephen Paul Brook (21 March 1925 – 2 July 2022) was an English theatre and film director. He worked first in England, from 1945 at the Birmingham Repertory Theatre, from 1947 at the Royal Opera House, and from 1962 for the Royal Shak ...

's production of ''

Marat/Sade ''The Persecution and Assassination of Jean-Paul Marat as Performed by the Inmates of the Asylum of Charenton Under the Direction of the Marquis de Sade'' (german: Die Verfolgung und Ermordung Jean Paul Marats dargestellt durch die Schauspielgrupp ...

''. He reprised the role when the play was transferred to Broadway, and again for the 1967 film adaptation. He found work primarily in films including and the original '' Bedazzled'' (1967) with

Peter Cook Peter Edward Cook (17 November 1937 – 9 January 1995) was an English actor, comedian, satirist, playwright and screenwriter. He was the leading figure of the British satire boom of the 1960s, and he was associated with the anti-establishme ...

and

Dudley Moore Dudley Stuart John Moore CBE (19 April 193527 March 2002) was an English actor, comedian, musician and composer. Moore first came to prominence in the UK as a leading figure in the British satire boom of the 1960s. He was one of the four writ ...

. In 1969, Steiner was hired to play a part in the

Spaghetti Western The Spaghetti Western is a broad subgenre of Western films produced in Europe. It emerged in the mid-1960s in the wake of Sergio Leone's film-making style and international box-office success. The term was used by foreign critics because most o ...

Tepepa ''Tepepa'', also known as ''Blood and Guns'', is an Italian epic Spaghetti Western film starring Tomas Milian and Orson Welles. The film was directed by Giulio Petroni. It was co-produced with Spain, where the film was released with the title ''T ...

'', and also appeared opposite

Franco Nero Francesco Clemente Giuseppe Sparanero (born 23 November 1941), known professionally as Franco Nero, is an Italian actor, producer, and director. His breakthrough role was as the title character in the Spaghetti Western film '' Django'' (1966), ...

in ''

White Fang ''White Fang'' is a novel by American author Jack London (1876–1916) — and the name of the book's eponymous character, a wild wolfdog. First serialized in ''Outing'' magazine between May and October 1906, it was published in book form in Oc ...

'', directed by

Lucio Fulci Lucio Fulci (; 17 June 1927 – 13 March 1996) was an Italian film director, screenwriter, and actor. Although he worked in a wide array of genres through a career spanning nearly five decades, including comedies and Spaghetti Westerns, he garn ...

. In 1971 he starred in the television series ''

Hine ''Hine'' is a surname deriving from Middle English. Etymology According to the '' Oxford Dictionary of Family Names in Britain and Ireland'', the modern name ''Hine'' and its variants derive from the Middle English word ''hine'' (with the addit ...

''. In 1979 he featured in the leading role of Leo in a television production of ''

Design for Living ''Design for Living'' is a comedy play written by Noël Coward in 1932. It concerns a trio of artistic characters, Gilda, Otto and Leo, and their complicated three-way relationship. Originally written to star Lynn Fontanne, Alfred Lunt and Cowa ...

'' by

Noël Coward Sir Noël Peirce Coward (16 December 189926 March 1973) was an English playwright, composer, director, actor, and singer, known for his wit, flamboyance, and what ''Time'' magazine called "a sense of personal style, a combination of cheek and ...

. 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 ''Violent Rome'' ( it, Roma violenta) is an Italian 1975 ''poliziottesco'' film directed by Marino Girolami It obtained a great commercial success and launched the career of Maurizio Merli. The film has two sequels, '' Violent Naples'' and '' A Spe ...

''), westerns (''

Mannaja ''Mannaja'' (also known as ''A Man Called Blade'') is an Italian 1977 Spaghetti Western film directed by Sergio Martino. The main role, Blade, is played by Maurizio Merli. Other central roles are played by John Steiner, Sonja Jeannine, Donald O ...

''), war films (''

The Last Hunter ''The Last Hunter'' ( it, L'ultimo cacciatore) is a 1980 Italian " macaroni combat" directed by Antonio Margheriti and starring David Warbeck and Tony King. Initially made to capitalize on the success of '' The Deer Hunter'', ''The Last Hunt ...

''),

nazisploitation Nazi exploitation (also Nazisploitation) is a subgenre of exploitation film and sexploitation film that involves Nazis committing sex crimes, often as camp or prison overseers during World War II. Most follow the women in prison formula, only r ...

(''

Deported Women of the SS Special Section ''Le deportate della sezione speciale SS'' (internationally released as ''Deported Women of the SS Special Section'', ''SS Special Section Women'' and ''Deported Women'') is a 1976 Italian erotic-drama film directed by Rino Di Silvestro. The fil ...

''), sci-fi adventure films (''

Yor, the Hunter from the Future ''Yor, the Hunter from the Future'' ( it, Il mondo di Yor, lit=The World of Yor) is a 1983 science fiction fantasy film directed by Antonio Margheriti and starring Reb Brown, Corinne Cléry, Luciano Pigozzi, and John Steiner. The film was an Ital ...

''), and

horror films Horror is a film genre that seeks to elicit fear or disgust in its audience for entertainment purposes. Horror films often explore dark subject matter and may deal with transgressive topics or themes. Broad elements include monsters, apoc ...

, such as

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, frequently referred to as the "Master of Italian Horror" and the "Master of the Ma ...

's ''

Shock Shock may refer to: Common uses Collective noun *Shock, a historic commercial term for a group of 60, see English numerals#Special names * Stook, or shock of grain, stacked sheaves Healthcare * Shock (circulatory), circulatory medical emergen ...

'',

Dario Argento Dario Argento (; born 7 September 1940) is an Italian film director, producer, screenwriter, actor and film critic, critic. His influential work in the horror film, horror genre during the 1970s and 1980s, particularly in the subgenre known as ...

's ''

Tenebrae Tenebrae (—Latin for "darkness") is a religious service of Western Christianity held during the three days preceding Easter Day, and characterized by gradual extinguishing of candles, and by a "strepitus" or "loud noise" taking place in total ...

'', and

Ruggero Deodato Ruggero Deodato (born 7 May 1939) is an Italian film director, screenwriter, and sometime actor. His career has spanned a wide-range of genres including peplum, comedy, drama, poliziottesco and science fiction, yet he is perhaps best known fo ...

's ''

Body Count A body count is the total number of people killed in a particular event. In combat, a body count is often based on the number of confirmed kills, but occasionally only an estimate. Often used in reference to military combat, the term can also r ...

''. He also became a favourite of famed

Italian Italian(s) may refer to: * Anything of, from, or related to the people of Italy over the centuries ** Italians, an ethnic group or simply a citizen of the Italian Republic or Italian Kingdom ** Italian language, a Romance language *** Regional Ita ...

filmmaker Filmmaking (film production) is the process by which a motion picture is produced. Filmmaking involves a number of complex and discrete stages, starting with an initial story, idea, or commission. It then continues through screenwriting, castin ...

Tinto Brass Giovanni "Tinto" Brass (born 26 March 1933) is an Italian film director and screenwriter. In the 1960s and 1970s, he directed many critically acclaimed avant-garde films of various genres. Today, he is mainly known for his later work in the er ...

, featuring in ''

Salon Kitty Salon Kitty was a high-class Berlin brothel used by the Nazi intelligence service, the ''Sicherheitsdienst'' (SD), for espionage purposes during . Created in the early 1930s, the salon was taken over by SS general Reinhard Heydrich and his sub ...

'', the infamous ''

Caligula Gaius Julius Caesar Augustus Germanicus (31 August 12 – 24 January 41), better known by his nickname Caligula (), was the third Roman emperor, ruling from 37 until his assassination in 41. He was the son of the popular Roman general Germanicu ...

'', ''

Action Action may refer to: * Action (narrative), a literary mode * Action fiction, a type of genre fiction * Action game, a genre of video game Film * Action film, a genre of film * ''Action'' (1921 film), a film by John Ford * ''Action'' (1980 fil ...

'', and ''

Paprika Paprika ( US , ; UK , ) is a spice made from dried and ground red peppers. It is traditionally made from ''Capsicum annuum'' varietals in the Longum group, which also includes chili peppers, but the peppers used for paprika tend to be milder an ...

''. 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 California is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States, located along the West Coast of the United States, Pacific Coast. With nearly 39.2million residents across a total area of approximately , it is the List of states and territori ...

, 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 John Richard Schlesinger (; 16 February 1926 – 25 July 2003) was an English film and stage director. He won the Academy Award for Best Director for ''Midnight Cowboy'', and was nominated for the same award for two other films ('' Darling'' an ...

and became the basis for the character Bob Elkin (played by

Murray Head Murray Seafield St George Head (born 5 March 1946) is an English actor and singer. Head has appeared in a number of films, including a starring role as the character Bob Elkin in the Oscar-nominated 1971 film ''Sunday Bloody Sunday''. As a mus ...

) 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.

Selected filmography

*''

'' (1967) – Monsieur Dupere *'' Bedazzled'' (1967) – TV Announcer (uncredited) *''

Work Is a Four-Letter Word ''Work Is a Four-Letter Word'' (also known as ''Work Is a 4-Letter Word'') is a 1968 British satirical comedy film directed by Peter Hall and starring David Warner and Cilla Black, in her only acting role in a cinematic film. The film was not we ...

'' (1968) – Anthony *''

'' (1969) – Doctor Henry Price *''

The Thirteen Chairs ''The Thirteen Chairs'' (french: 12 + 1; it, Una su 13) is a 1969 comedy film directed by Nicolas Gessner and Luciano Lucignani and starring Sharon Tate, Vittorio Gassman and Orson Welles, and featuring Vittorio De Sica, Terry-Thomas, Mylène ...

'' (1969) – Stanley Duncan *'' El bosque del lobo'' (1970) – Robert *'' A Girl Called Jules'' (1970) – Luciano *''

May Morning May Morning is an annual event in Oxford, United Kingdom, on May Day (1 May). Event The event starts early at 6 a.m. with the Magdalen College Choir singing a hymn, the Hymnus Eucharisticus, from the top of Magdalen Tower, a tradition str ...

'' (1970) – Roderick Stanton *''L'asino d'oro: processo per fatti strani contro Lucius Apuleius cittadino romano'' (1970) – Aristomene *''

Bali Bali () is a province of Indonesia and the westernmost of the Lesser Sunda Islands. East of Java and west of Lombok, the province includes the island of Bali and a few smaller neighbouring islands, notably Nusa Penida, Nusa Lembongan, and Nu ...

'' (1970) – Arthur Glenn *''

The Case Is Closed, Forget It ''L'istruttoria è chiusa: dimentichi '' (internationally released as ''The Case Is Closed, Forget It'') is a List of Italian films of 1971, 1971 Cinema of Italy, Italian crime drama film directed by Damiano Damiani. It is based on the novel ''Tan ...

'' (1971) – Biro *'' Slap the Monster on Page One'' (1972) – Ingegner Montelli *'' The Police Serve the Citizens?'' (1973) – Lambro *''

Massacre in Rome ''Massacre in Rome'' ( it, Rappresaglia) is a 1973 Italian war drama film directed by George Pan Cosmatos about the Ardeatine massacre which occurred at the Ardeatine caves in Rome, 24 March 1944, committed by the Germans as a reprisal for a par ...

'' (1973) – Col. Dollmann *''

Black Holiday ''Black Holiday'' ( it, La villeggiatura) is a 1973 Italian political drama film directed by Marco Leto and starring Adolfo Celi. Cast * Adolfo Celi as Commissioner Rizzuto * Adalberto Maria Merli as Franco Rossini * John Steiner as Scagnett ...

'' (1973) – Scagnetti *''

'' (1973) – Charles 'Beauty' Smith *''

Morel's Invention ''La invención de Morel'' (; 1940) — translated as ''The Invention of Morel'' or ''Morel's Invention'' — is a novel by Argentine writer Adolfo Bioy Casares. It was Bioy Casares' breakthrough effort, for which he won the 1941 First Mu ...

'' (1974) – Morel *''

Challenge to White Fang ''The Return of White Fang'' ( it, Il ritorno di Zanna Bianca) is a 1974 Northern film. A sequel to ''White Fang'', it was directed, as was its predecessor, by Lucio Fulci, as part of a trend of films inspired by '' Call of the Wild'' (1972), wh ...

'' (1974) – Beauty Smith / Charles Forth *'' The Last Day of School Before Christmas'' (1975) – Il Tenente *''

I Don't Want to Be Born ''I Don't Want to Be Born'' is a 1975 British horror film directed by Peter Sasdy and starring Joan Collins, Ralph Bates, Eileen Atkins, and Donald Pleasence. Its plot follows a woman who gives birth to a child that appears to be demonically p ...

'' (1975) – Tommy Morris *''

Waves of Lust ''Waves of Lust'' ( it, Ondata di piacere, also known as ''A Wave of Pleasure'') is a 1975 Italian erotic thriller-drama film directed by Ruggero Deodato and starring John Steiner and Silvia Dionisio. Plot Irem and Barbara are a young Italian co ...

'' (1975) – Giorgio / Husband *''

'' (1975) – Franco Spadoni 'Chiodo' *''

Dracula in the Provinces ''Dracula in the Provinces'' ( it, Il cav. Costante Nicosia demoniaco ovvero: Dracula in Brianza, lit. The Noble devilish Costante Nicose or: Dracula in Brianza) is a 1975 Italian horror comedy film directed by Lucio Fulci and starring Lando Buzz ...

'' (1975) – Count Dragulescu *''

'' (1976) – Biondo *''

Le guêpier ''Le guêpier'' is a 1976 French-Italian film, directed by Roger Pigaut. It stars actor Gabriele Ferzetti. Cast * Claude Brasseur - Renaud * Marthe Keller - Melba * Gabriele Ferzetti - Gaspard * Vicky Messica - Vava * Vittorio Sanipoli - Fo ...

'' (1976) – Fisher *''

Mark Strikes Again ''Mark Strikes Again'' ( it, Mark colpisce ancora, also known as ''The .44 Specialist'') is a 1976 Italian '' poliziottesco'' film directed by Stelvio Massi. Originally planned as an original film, during the shoots and the post-production process ...

'' (1976) – Paul Henkel *''

'' (1976) – Herr Erner *''

Bloody Payroll ''Bloody Payroll'' ( it, Milano violenta) is a 1976 Italian noir-poliziotteschi crime film written and directed by Mario Caiano. Author Roberto Curti described the film as more of a film noir than a ''poliziottesco''. Cast *Claudio Cassinelli ...

'' (1976) – Fausto *''

Plot of Fear ''Plot of Fear'' ( it, ...e tanta paura, links=no/ ''Too Much Fear''), also known as ''Bloody Peanuts'', is an Italian giallo movie directed in 1976 by Paolo Cavara. The film also includes a well-known animated erotic insert directed by Gibba in ...

'' (1976) – Hoffmann *'' Von Buttiglione Sturmtruppenführer'' (1977) – Schwein *''

'' (1977) – Bruno Baldini *''

'' (1977) – Valler *'' The Criminals Attack, The Police Respond'' (1977) – Rufy *'' Gangbuster'' (1977) – Killer *'' Antonio Gramsci: The Days of Prison'' (1977) – Laurin *''

Goodbye & Amen ''Goodbye & Amen'' is a 1978 Italian film. It stars Claudia Cardinale, Tony Musante and John Forsythe in the leading roles. Cast *Tony Musante: John Dhannay *Claudia Cardinale: Aliki *John Forsythe: USA ambassador *John Steiner: Donald Grayson ...

'' (1978) – Donald Grayson *''L'Amour en question'' (1978) – Tom Hastings *''

'' (1979) – Longinus *''

'' (1980) – The Manager *''

'' (1980) – Major William Cash *'' Car Crash'' (1981) – Kirby *'' The Salamander'' (1981) – Captain Roditi *''

Hunters of the Golden Cobra ''Hunters of the Golden Cobra'' (Italian: ''I Cacciatori del Cobra d'Oro'') is an Italian 1982 action film starring David Warbeck. It was directed by Antonio Margheriti, and is one of several Italian imitations of ''Raiders of the Lost Ark'', shot ...

'' (1982) – Captain David Franks *''

'' (1982) – Christiano Berti *''

'' (1983) – Overlord *''

Dagger Eyes ''Dagger Eyes'' ( it, Mystère) is a 1983 Italian thriller film directed by Carlo Vanzina, starring Carole Bouquet as Mystère. Plot Mystère is a high-class French prostitute who works in Rome. Her friend and colleague Pamela steals a gold lig ...

'' (1983) – Ivanov *''

The Ark of the Sun God ''Sopravvissuti della città morta'' (Survivors of the Dead City) or ''Ark of the Sun God'' is a 1984 Italian action film starring David Warbeck and directed by Antonio Margheriti. The film was partly filmed and produced in Turkey. Cast *David W ...

'' (1984) – Lord Dean *'' I due carabinieri'' (1984) – Crazy Man on Train *''

A.D. The terms (AD) and before Christ (BC) are used to label or number years in the Julian and Gregorian calendars. The term is Medieval Latin and means 'in the year of the Lord', but is often presented using "our Lord" instead of "the Lord", ...

'' (1985, TV Mini-Series) – Simon the Magus *'' Cut and Run'' (1985) – Vlado *''

Commando Leopard ''Commando Leopard'' (german: Kommando Leopard) is a 1985 Euro War film directed by Antonio Margheriti and starring Lewis Collins, Klaus Kinski, and Manfred Lehmann. Plot In an unnamed Latin American dictatorship, a group of rebel freedom fight ...

'' (1985) – Smithy *''

The Berlin Affair ''The Berlin Affair'' ( it, Interno Berlinese) is a 1985 Italo-German film, directed by Liliana Cavani and starring Gudrun Landgrebe, Kevin McNally and Mio Takaki. Set in Berlin, 1938, it sees the wife of a rising Nazi diplomat fall in love wit ...

'' (1985) – Oskar Engelhart *''

Troppo forte ''Troppo forte'' (also known as ''Great'', ''He's Too Much'' and ''Too Much'') is a 1986 Italian comedy film directed by Carlo Verdone. Plot Oscar Pettinari is a young hick from the suburbs of Rome, who gravitates around Cinecittà trying rather ...

'' (1985) – Mr. Adams *''

Operation Nam ''Operation Nam'' ( it, Cobra Mission, german: Die Rückkehr der Wildgänse) is a 1986 Italian-German war film written and directed by Fabrizio De Angelis (credited as Larry Ludman). It had a sequel, ''Cobra Mission 2'', released in 1988. Plot T ...

'' (1986) – James Walcott *''

'' (1986) – Dr. Olsen *'' Summer Night'' (1986) – Frederick, Fulvia's lover *'' Lone Runner'' (1986) – Skorm *''

Julia and Julia ''Julia and Julia'' ( it, Giulia e Giulia) is a 1987 Italian drama film directed by Peter Del Monte. The screenplay by Silvia Napolitano, Sandro Petraglia, Joseph Minion, and Del Monte is based on a story by Napolitano. Synopsis Julia is a you ...

'' (1987) – Alex *''

Night of the Sharks ''Night of the Sharks'' ( it, La notte degli squali) is a 1988 Italian-Spanish-Mexican film directed and co-written by Tonino Ricci. The film's story takes place in Miami, Florida and Cancún, Mexico, although it was filmed in the Dominican Repu ...

'' (1988) – Rosentski *' (1988) – Duclaud *'' Striker'' (1988) – Kariasin *''

Appointment in Liverpool ''Appointment in Liverpool'' ( it, Appuntamento a Liverpool) is a 1988 Italian drama film co-written and directed by Marco Tullio Giordana.''Variety Film Reviews'', Volume 20. Garland Pub., 1989. Plot Caterina is a twenty-year-old girl from Crem ...

'' (1988) *''

Sinbad of the Seven Seas ''Sinbad of the Seven Seas'' is a 1989 Italian fantasy film produced and directed by Enzo G. Castellari from a story by Luigi Cozzi, revolving around the adventures of Sinbad the Sailor. Sinbad must recover five magical stones to free the city ...

'' (1989) – Jaffar *'' Massacre Play'' (1989) – Danilo *''

'' (1991) – Principe Ascanio (final film role)

References

External links

* *
Biography for John Steiner (in French)

His own website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Steiner, John 1941 births 2022 deaths English male television actors Male Spaghetti Western actors English male film actors Actors from Chester Male actors from Cheshire English expatriates British estate agents (people) Alumni of the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art Road incident deaths in California British expatriates in Italy British expatriates in the United States English male stage actors Royal Shakespeare Company members