Herta-Maria Perschy (23 September 1938 – 3 December 2004) was an

Austrian Austrian may refer to: * Austrians, someone from Austria or of Austrian descent ** Someone who is considered an Austrian citizen, see Austrian nationality law * Austrian German dialect * Something associated with the country Austria, for example: ...

actress whose career included performances on screen with actor

Rock Hudson Rock Hudson (born Roy Harold Scherer Jr.; November 17, 1925 – October 2, 1985) was an American actor. One of the most popular movie stars of his time, he had a screen career spanning more than three decades. A prominent heartthrob in the Golde ...

and on American television in both daytime and prime time.

Early life

Perschy was born in

Eisenstadt Eisenstadt (; hu, Kismarton; hr, Željezni grad; ; sl, Železno, Bavarian language, Austro-Bavarian: ''Eisnstod'') is a city in Austria, the state capital of Burgenland. It had a recorded population on 29 April 2021 of 15,074. In the Habsburg ...

Burgenland Burgenland (; hu, Őrvidék; hr, Gradišće; Austro-Bavarian: ''Burgnland;'' Slovene: ''Gradiščanska'') is the easternmost and least populous state of Austria. It consists of two statutory cities and seven rural districts, with a total of ...

Austria Austria, , bar, Östareich officially the Republic of Austria, is a country in the southern part of Central Europe, lying in the Eastern Alps. It is a federation of nine states, one of which is the capital, Vienna, the most populous ...

and moved to

Vienna en, Viennese , iso_code = AT-9 , registration_plate = W , postal_code_type = Postal code , postal_code = , timezone = CET , utc_offset = +1 , timezone_DST ...

at the age of 17 to study acting.

Career

After completing her education, she moved to

Germany Germany,, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It is the second most populous country in Europe after Russia, and the most populous member state of the European Union. Germany is situated betwe ...

for more training, leading to a film career. Her first major success came with ''

Nasser Asphalt ''Nasser Asphalt'' (''Wet Asphalt'') is a 1958 West-German thriller starring Horst Buchholz and featuring Gert Fröbe, written by Will Tremper and directed by Frank Wisbar. Plot The young journalist Bachmann (Horst Buchholz) is released from pri ...

'' where she played together with

Horst Buchholz Horst Werner Buchholz (4 December 1933 – 3 March 2003) was a German actor who appeared in more than 60 feature films from 1951 to 2002. During his youth, he was sometimes called "the German James Dean". He is perhaps best known in English- ...

. Her acting career would eventually take her — by way of

France France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of Overseas France, overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic Ocean, Atlantic, Pacific Ocean, Pac ...

Italy Italy ( it, Italia ), officially the Italian Republic, ) or the Republic of Italy, is a country in Southern Europe. It is located in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, and its territory largely coincides with the homonymous geographical re ...

and the

United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Europe, off the north-western coast of the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotland, Wales and North ...

— to

Hollywood Hollywood usually refers to: * Hollywood, Los Angeles, a neighborhood in California * Hollywood, a metonym for the cinema of the United States Hollywood may also refer to: Places United States * Hollywood District (disambiguation) * Hollywood, ...

. Perschy played in a number of American films, her most notable roles being in the 1962

biopic A biographical film or biopic () is a film that dramatizes the life of a non-fictional or historically-based person or people. Such films show the life of a historical person and the central character's real name is used. They differ from docudra ...

Freud Sigmund Freud ( , ; born Sigismund Schlomo Freud; 6 May 1856 – 23 September 1939) was an Austrian neurologist and the founder of psychoanalysis, a clinical method for evaluating and treating pathologies explained as originating in conflicts in ...

'', the 1964

comedy, ''

Man's Favorite Sport? ''Man's Favorite Sport?'' is a 1964 American comedy film starring Rock Hudson and Paula Prentiss and directed and produced by Howard Hawks. Hawks intended the film to be an homage to his own 1938 screwball classic ''Bringing Up Baby'' with Kat ...

'', and the 1964 hit war movie ''

633 Squadron ''633 Squadron'' is a 1964 British / American war film directed by Walter Grauman and starring Cliff Robertson, George Chakiris, and Maria Perschy. The plot, which involves the exploits of a fictional World War II British bomber squadron, was ...

''. Perschy's career in America eventually declined and by the late 1970s her only US appearances were brief roles in TV shows such as ''

Hawaii Five-O Hawaii Five-O or Hawaii Five-0 may refer to: * ''Hawaii Five-0'' (2010 TV series), an American action police procedural television series * ''Hawaii Five-O'' (1968 TV series), an American police procedural drama series produced by CBS Productio ...

'' and ''

General Hospital ''General Hospital'' (often abbreviated as ''GH'') is an American daytime television soap opera. It is listed in ''Guinness World Records'' as the list of longest-running television shows by category, longest-running American soap opera in pro ...

''. While shooting in

Spain , image_flag = Bandera de España.svg , image_coat = Escudo de España (mazonado).svg , national_motto = ''Plus ultra'' (Latin)(English: "Further Beyond") , national_anthem = (English: "Royal March") , i ...

in 1971, Perschy suffered a burn injury from an accident that required several operations before she could resume her career. Perschy returned to her native Austria in 1985 and continued to perform in a series of plays and TV series. In 1972, she filmed ''Castle of Fu Manchu'' with

Christopher Lee Sir Christopher Frank Carandini Lee (27 May 1922 – 7 June 2015) was an English actor and singer. In a long career spanning more than 60 years, Lee often portrayed villains, and appeared as Count Dracula in seven Hammer Horror films, ultimat ...

and Richard Greene. When it aired on television in New York City four years later, ''The New York Times'' noted that the film would be " ll worth viewing, if it's as sharp and fast as others in this new series".Television This Week
(Channel 5, November 14, 3:00 p.m.). New York, New York: ''The New York Times'', November 14, 1976.

Death

On 3 December 2004, Perschy died of cancer in Vienna.

Selected filmography

* ' (1956) * ''Roter Mohn'' (1956) - Extra (uncredited) * ''

'' (1958) - Bettina * ''Der schwarze Blitz'' (1958) - Gretl Mittermayr * ' (1958) - Afra * ''

Il moralista ''The Moralist'' (Italian: ''Il moralista'') is a 1959 Italian comedy film directed by Giorgio Bianchi. Starring Alberto Sordi and Vittorio de Sica, it satirises both the upholders of traditional sexual morality and the exploiters selling sex in ...

'' (1959) - Monique * ''

Of Course, the Motorists ''Of Course, the Motorists'' (german: Natürlich die Autofahrer) is a 1959 West German comedy film directed by Erich Engels and starring Heinz Erhardt, Maria Perschy and Erik Schumann.Hake p. 120 The film's sets were designed by the art director ...

'' (1959) - Karin Dobermann * '' Call Girls of Rome'' (1960) - Claudia * ''

The Hero of My Dreams ''The Hero of My Dreams'' (german: Der Held meiner Träume) is a 1960 West German romantic comedy film directed by Arthur Maria Rabenalt and starring Carlos Thompson, Heidi Brühl and Peter Vogel.Bock & Bergfelder p.382 It was shot at the Bavar ...

'' (1960) - Franziska Kleinschmidt * ''

Love in Rome ''Un amore a Roma'' (internationally released as ''Love in Rome'') is a 1960 Italian romantic drama film directed by Dino Risi.Paolo D'Agostini, ''Dino Risi'', Editrice Il castoro, 1995 Plot Marcello (Baldwin), a young writer, loves Anna (Demonge ...

'' (1960) - Eleonora Curtatoni * ''Ordered to Love'' (1961) - Doris Korff * ''Wenn beide schuldig werden'' (1962) - Josi * ''

Melody of Hate ''Melody of Hate'' (German: ''Haß ohne Gnade'') is a 1962 West German thriller film directed by Ralph Lothar and starring Maria Perschy, Horst Frank and Dietmar Schönherr.Bock & Bergfelder p.131 Cast * Maria Perschy as Claudia / Martina * Horst ...

'' (1962) - Claudia / Martina * ''

The Password Is Courage ''The Password Is Courage'' is a 1962 British comedy-drama war film from Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, based on John Castle's 1954 World War II memoir of the same name. Written, produced, and directed by Andrew L. Stone, the film stars Dirk Bogarde, Mar ...

'' (1962) - Irena * ''

'' (1962) - Magda (uncredited) * ' (1963) - Ann Barry * ''

'' (1964) - Hilde Bergman * ''

'' (1964) - Isolde 'Easy' Mueller * ''

Mystery of the Red Jungle ''Mystery of the Red Jungle'' (german: Weiße Fracht für Hongkong, french: Le mystère de la jongue rouge, it, Da 077: criminali ad Hong Kong, also known as ''Operation Hong Kong'') is a 1964 German-French-Italian adventure-spy film directed by ...

'' (1964) - Claudia Laudon * ''Der Chef wünscht keine Zeugen'' (1964) - Ginny Desmond * ''

'' (1964) - Hilde Bergman * ''

Secret of the Sphinx ''Secret of the Sphinx'' ( it, La sfinge sorride prima di morire - Stop Londra) is a 1964 film, directed by Duccio Tessari, which stars Tony Russel, Salah Zulfikar, Maria Perschy, Ivan Desny, and Manuela Kent. Plot The story unfurls like an Ita ...

'' (1964) - Hélène Blomberg * ''Extraconiugale'' (1964) - Eva (segment "La moglie svedese") * ''

The Bandits of the Rio Grande ''The Bandits of the Rio Grande'' (German: ''Die Banditen vom Rio Grande'') is a 1965 West German western film directed by Helmuth M. Backhaus and starring Harald Leipnitz, Maria Perschy and Wolfgang Kieling.Crossing Frontiers: Intercultural Pers ...

'' (1965) - Helen * ''African Gold'' (1965) - Helena Hanson * ''

Kiss Kiss, Kill Kill ''Kiss Kiss, Kill Kill'' (german: Kommissar X – Jagd auf Unbekannt, it, 12 donne d'oro, also known as ''Hunting The Unknown'' and ''Kiss Kiss... Kill Kill'') is a Eurospy film written and directed by Gianfranco Parolini who also wrote lyrics ...

'' (1966) - Joan Smith * ''

Seven Vengeful Women ''Seven Vengeful Women'' (Spanish: ''Las siete magníficas'', Italian: ''7 donne per una strage'') is a 1966 western film directed by Rudolf Zehetgruber and Sidney W. Pink.Weisser p.207 It stars Anne Baxter, Maria Perschy and Gustavo Rojo. It wa ...

'' (1966) - Ursula * ''

The Desperate Ones ''The Desperate Ones'' or ''Beyond the Mountains'' (Spanish: ''Más allá de las montañas'') is a 1967 American-Spanish dramatic adventure film directed by Alexander Ramati and starring Maximilian Schell, Irene Papas and Raf Vallone.Goble p.86 ...

'' (1967) - Marusia * ''

Five Golden Dragons ''Five Golden Dragons'' is a 1967 international co-production comedy action film set in Hong Kong and photographed in Techniscope on location in September 1966 at the Tiger Balm Pagoda and Shaw Brothers studios. It was directed by Jeremy Summe ...

'' (1967) - Margret * '' A Witch Without a Broom'' (1967) - Mariana * '' Spy Today, Die Tomorrow'' (1967) - Lu Forrester * ''

The Castle of Fu Manchu ''The Castle of Fu Manchu'' (german: Die Folterkammer des Dr. Fu Man Chu, lit=The Torture Chamber of Dr. Fu Manchu, es, El castillo de Fu-Manchu) is a 1969 film and the fifth and final Dr. Fu Manchu film with Christopher Lee portraying the ti ...

'' (1969) - Marie / Ingrid * '' Dr. Fabian: Laughing Is the Best Medicine'' (1969) - Dr. Inge Vollmer * ''El último día de la guerra'' (1970) - Elena Truppe * ''

Murders in the Rue Morgue "The Murders in the Rue Morgue" is a short story by Edgar Allan Poe published in ''Graham's Magazine'' in 1841. It has been described as the first modern detective story; Poe referred to it as one of his "tales of ratiocination". C. Auguste Du ...

'' (1971) - Genevre * ''The Leo Chronicles'' (1972) * ''Hunchback of the Morgue'' (1973) - Frieda * ''El espectro del terror'' (1973) - María * ''

The Ghost Galleon ''The Ghost Galleon'' also known as ''El buque maldito'', is a 1974 Spanish horror film written and directed by Amando de Ossorio and starring Jack Taylor. It has numerous alternate titles, including ''The Blind Dead 3'', ''Horror of the Zombies ...

'' (1974) - Lillian * ''Los fríos senderos del crimen'' (1974) - Jane * ''

Blue Eyes of the Broken Doll ''Los Ojos Azules de la Muñeca Rota'' (''The Blue Eyes Of The Broken Doll'') is a 1973 Spanish horror-giallo film directed by Carlos Aured and starring Paul Naschy (who also wrote the film), Diana Lorys, Maria Perschy, and Eva Leon. The film ...

'' (1974) - Ivette * ''Dites-le avec des fleurs'' (1974) - La femme de Klaus * ''La noche de la furia'' (1974) - Jill * ''Exorcismo'' (1975) - Patricia * ''La Diosa salvaje'' (1975) - Isabel von Marnix * ' (1975) - Miss Stella Larsen * ''My Husband Prefers Virgins'' (1975) - Luisa * ''Las protegidas'' (1975) - Sra. de Aguirre * ''El límite del amor'' (1976) - Madre Superiora * ''The People Who Own the Dark'' (1976) - Lily * ''Batida de raposas'' (1976) - Mercedes * '' The Standard'' (1977) - Mordax * ''

'' (1978, Episode: "Sleeper") - Sonya * ''

Les Morfalous Les Morfalous (literally ''The Greedy-Guts'', in French argot ; English title: ''The Vultures'') is a 1984 French adventure film, starring Jean-Paul Belmondo and directed by Henri Verneuil, featuring the French Foreign Legion during the Second Wor ...

'' (1984) - Pamela Windsor * ' (1990) - Ruth Olsen

References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Perschy, Maria 1938 births 2004 deaths Austrian film actresses Austrian television actresses 20th-century Austrian actresses Deaths from cancer in Austria People from Eisenstadt