Stefan Kalipha (born Stephen Siegfried Behrendt, 1940) is a Trinidad-born British actor who has been active since about 1970. He played Ramon, the Cigar Factory Foreman in the film Cuba (1979), Daoud in The Curse of King Tut's Tomb and Fat Larry in Babylon (both 1980). He also appeared as Hector González, a Cuban hitman, in the James Bond film For Your Eyes Only (1981). Kalipha's other film roles include Wali Dad in The Crucifer of Blood (1991) and Buldeo in The Jungle Book (1994).
Stefan Kalipha | |
|---|---|
| Born | Stephen Siegfried Behrendt 1940 (age 83–84) |
| Other names | Stephen Kalipha |
| Alma mater | East 15 Acting School |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1970–present |
| Family | Horace Ové (cousin) |
His television roles include Quiller, episode: "Objective Caribbean" and Tales of the Unexpected, episode: "The Finger of Suspicion".
Early life
editStefan Kalipha was born Stephen Siegfried Behrendt in Trinidad in 1940[1] and spent his childhood in Port of Spain. He is of Indian, African, Portuguese, and German descent. He grew up with fellow creatives Horace Ové, his cousin, and Mustapha Matura, his best friend. Kalipha moved to England in 1959 and studied at East 15 Acting School. He took on his grandfather's name Kalipha.[2]
Career
editTelevision
editIn 1970, Kalipha played the part of Casey in an episode of the drama series Callan, entitled "Amos Green Must Live". The role was of a disenfranchised young black man in London who had reached a tipping point about working, even though he had "five A levels and five O levels".
In 1977, Kalipha played the part of Reverend Henry Paul in a television series pilot called Meadowlark. It was a sitcom, based in Brixton, about a black married couple who were sharing their flat with an Irish woman. The 36-minute pilot, which also starred Oscar James, Joan Ann Maynard and Nina Baden-Semper, was never broadcast.[3]
Kalipha was Stanley in the 1985 BBC TV production of Mustapha Matura's play Playboy of the West Indies, a role he repeated at the Court Theatre, Chicago in 1988.[4][5]
In 1992, Kalipha had a recurring role as Jonathan Phelps in the series Prime Suspect.[6]
In 2015, he appeared as Tobias in The Bastard Executioner.[7]
Film
editKalipha's character Hector Gonzalez in the 1981 James Bond film For Your Eyes Only masquerades as a plane pilot who has the intention of killing British agent Sir Timothy Havelock and his family.[8][9] In 1983, Kalipha appeared as the Data School Instructor in Superman III.[10] In 1989, he played the part of the Hatay tank gunner in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade.[11]
Stage
editAs Ahmed, an efficient tour agent smoothing over the repercussions of violence among holidaymakers in a Moroccan tour villa, Kalipha appeared on stage in E. A. Whitehead's Mecca, presented at the Open Space Theatre, London, in 1977.[12]
Personal life
editKalipha lives in Primrose Hill, London.[2]
Filmography and theatre
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1971 | The Rivals of Sherlock Holmes | Rameau | Episode: The Affair of the Tortoise |
| 1972 | Ace of Wands | Drum | 3 episodes |
| 1977 | Jesus of Nazareth | Melchior's Aide | Uncredited, Miniseries |
| Black Joy | Sharp Eddie | ||
| Mecca | Ahmed | Open Space Theatre | |
| 1979 | Cuba | Ramon, Cigar Factory Foreman | |
| A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square | Ibrahim | ||
| 1980 | The Curse of King Tut's Tomb | Daoud | |
| Babylon | Fat Larry | ||
| 1981 | For Your Eyes Only | Hector Gonzalez | |
| 1982 | Young Sherlock: The Mystery of the Manor House | The Munshi | Episode: A Singular Thorn (Uncredited) |
| 1983 | Superman III | Data School Instructor | |
| 1985 | Water | Cuban #1 | |
| Playboy of the West Indies | Stanley | BBC TV | |
| 1987 | Born of Fire | Bilal | |
| Playing Away | Louis | ||
| 1988 | Playboy of the West Indies | Stanley | Court Theatre (Chicago) |
| Tales of the Unexpected | Chief Inspector Aziz | Episode: The Finger of Suspicion | |
| 1989 | Scandal | Hanif | |
| Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade | Hatay Tank Gunner | ||
| 1991 | The Bill | Curtiss | Episode: Every Mother's Son |
| 1993-2017 | Casualty | Joseph Watson/Javed Barazani | 2 episodes |
| 1994 | The Jungle Book | Buldeo | |
| 1996 | Gulliver's Travels | Laputa Intellectual | Miniseries |
| 2000 | Arabian Nights | Abu Nouz | Miniseries |
| 2002 | Ali G Indahouse | Iranian Delegate | |
| The Sum of All Fears | Arab Gravedigger | ||
| 2006 | The Ten Commandments | Chief Minister | Miniseries |
| The Nativity Story | Saint Caspar | ||
| Gate to Heaven | Schlepper | ||
| 2011 | Mesocafé | Saleem | |
| 2015 | River | Omari Tadros | Miniseries (2 episodes) |
| 2016 | Alice Through the Looking Glass | Maharaja | Uncredited |
| 2019 | Aladdin | Imam | |
| Men in Black: International | Antique Shopkeeper | ||
| The Good Liar | Roger | Uncredited |
References
edit- ^ The Encyclopedia of British Film: Fourth edition, edited by Brian McFarlane - Page 1974 Kalipha Stefan (aka Stephen)
- ^ a b Cobbinah, Angela (17 March 2022). "Stefan Kalipha: 'I felt acting was my destiny'". Camden New Journal. Retrieved 19 March 2023.
- ^ The British Television Pilot Episodes Research Guide 1936-2015, By Christopher Perry - Page 146 MEADPWLARK
- ^ "Playboy of the West Indies". bufvc.ac.uk. British Universities Film and Video Council. Retrieved 28 December 2020.
- ^ Smith, Sid (22 April 1988). "Playboy of the West Indies is just lovely". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 28 December 2020.
- ^ TV Guide - Stefan Kalipha, Credits
- ^ TV.com - The Bastard Executioner, The Bastard Executioner Cast, Guest Stars.
- ^ Bond Villains Comic Con - Hector Suarez (Stefan Kalipha)
- ^ Cawthorne, Nigel (2012), "Von Hammerstein, Major Gonzales, Aris Kristatos and friends", A Brief Guide to James Bond, Constable & Robinson.
- ^ Turner Classic Movies - Superman III(1983), FULL CREDITS, Cast
- ^ Stefan Kalipha, Credits m TV Guide.
- ^ Morley-Priestman, Anne (21 July 1977). "Mecca". The Stage.