Walter Slezak
ActingAbout Walter Slezak
Walter Slezak (3 May 1902 – 21 April 1983) was a portly Austrian character actor who appeared in numerous Hollywood films. Slezak often portrayed villains or thugs, most notably the German U-boat captain in Alfred Hitchcock's 1944 Lifeboat, but occasionally he got to play lighter roles, as in 1962's The Wonderful World of the Brothers Grimm. He also played a cheerfully corrupt and philosophical private detective in the 1947 film noir Born to Kill and appeared as Squire Trelawney in the 1972 version of Treasure Island.
Career Statistics & Market Influence
Analyzing the cinematic journey of Walter Slezak reveals a career defined by diverse artistic exploration. With a total of 50 major appearances, the actor has established a significant footprint in global cinema.
Genre Dominance: Drama
The majority of Walter Slezak's filmography leans towards the Drama genre. Audience data suggests that viewers respond most favorably to this persona, though their versatility has allowed for successful crossovers into other categories.
The "Box Office" Signature
With a 18% Success Ratio (movies rated above 6.5), Walter Slezak remains a reliable draw for studios. Their peak performance was recorded in Lifeboat, which continues to be the benchmark for their career rating-wise.
Best Walter Slezak Movies Ranked
Must-watch hits from Walter Slezak's career based on audience ratings.
Complete Filmography & Success Status
Tracking the career evolution and box office verdicts of Walter Slezak.
| Year | Movie | Character | Success | More |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1976 | The Mysterious House of Dr. C. | Dr. Coppelius | Flop | Similar → |
| 1972 | Treasure Island | Squire Trelawney | Average | Similar → |
| 1971 | Black Beauty | Hackenschmidt | Average | Similar → |
| 1970 | The Juggler of Notre Dame | The Innkeeper | Average | Similar → |
| 1969 | A Hundred-Odd Years from Now | - | Flop | Similar → |
| 1968 | Dr. Coppelius | Dr. Coppelius | Hit | Similar → |
| 1968 | Heidi | Father Richter | Average | Similar → |
| 1967 | The Caper of the Golden Bulls | Antonio Gonzales | Average | Similar → |
| 1966 | Congress of Love | Der 'Ewige Wiener' | Flop | Similar → |
| 1965 | A Very Special Favor | Etienne | Average | Similar → |
| 1965 | Twenty-Four Hours to Kill | Malouf | Flop | Similar → |
| 1964 | Emil and the Detectives | Baron | Average | Similar → |
| 1964 | Wonderful Life | Lloyd Davis | Flop | Similar → |
| 1962 | The Wonderful World of the Brothers Grimm | Stossel | Average | Similar → |
| 1961 | Come September | Maurice Clavell | Hit | Similar → |
| 1959 | The Miracle | Flaco | Hit | Similar → |
| 1957 | Pinocchio | Gepetto | Flop | Similar → |
| 1957 | Ten Thousand Bedrooms | Papa Martelli | Flop | Similar → |
| 1954 | The Steel Cage | Louis, the Prison Chef, segment "The Chef" | Flop | Similar → |
| 1953 | White Witch Doctor | Huysman | Average | Similar → |
| 1953 | Call Me Madam | August Tantinnin | Average | Similar → |
| 1953 | Confidentially Connie | Emil Spangenberg | Flop | Similar → |
| 1951 | People Will Talk | Prof. Barker | Hit | Similar → |
| 1951 | Bedtime for Bonzo | Professor Hans Neumann | Average | Similar → |
| 1950 | Bud Abbott and Lou Costello in the Foreign Legion | Sgt. Axmann | Average | Similar → |
| 1950 | Spy Hunt | Doctor Stahl | Average | Similar → |
| 1950 | The Yellow Cab Man | Dr. Byron Dokstedder | Average | Similar → |
| 1949 | The Inspector General | Yakov | Hit | Similar → |
| 1948 | The Pirate | Don Pedro Vargas | Average | Similar → |
| 1947 | Riff-Raff | Eric Molinar | Average | Similar → |
| 1947 | Born to Kill | Matthew Arnett | Hit | Similar → |
| 1947 | Sinbad the Sailor | Melik | Average | Similar → |
| 1945 | Cornered | Melchior Incza | Average | Similar → |
| 1945 | The Spanish Main | Don Juan Alvarado | Average | Similar → |
| 1945 | Salome, Where She Danced | Dimitrioff | Flop | Similar → |
| 1944 | The Princess and the Pirate | La Roche | Hit | Similar → |
| 1944 | Till We Meet Again | Vitrey, The Mayor | Average | Similar → |
| 1944 | Step Lively | Joe Gribble | Average | Similar → |
| 1944 | Lifeboat | Willi | Hit | Similar → |
| 1943 | The Fallen Sparrow | Dr. Christian Skaas | Average | Similar → |
| 1943 | This Land Is Mine | Major Erich von Keller | Hit | Similar → |
| 1942 | Once Upon a Honeymoon | Baron Franz Von Luber | Average | Similar → |
| 1932 | Spione im Savoy-Hotel | Kurt | Flop | Similar → |
| 1927 | Addio giovinezza! | - | Average | Similar → |
| 1926 | Aus des Rheinlands Schicksalstagen | Walter Thiermann | Flop | Similar → |
| 1926 | Grüß mir das blonde Kind am Rhein | - | Flop | Similar → |
| 1925 | O alte Burschenherrlichkeit | - | Flop | Similar → |
| 1924 | Mein Leopold | - | Flop | Similar → |
| 1924 | Michael | Michael | Average | Similar → |
| 1922 | Sodom and Gomorrah | Eduard Harber - Student am Cambridge-Lyzeum / Ein Goldschmied von Galiläa | Average | Similar → |
Walter Slezak - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best movie of Walter Slezak?
According to audience ratings, the best movie starring Walter Slezak is "Lifeboat" with a rating of 7.4/10.
How many movies has Walter Slezak acted in?
Walter Slezak has been featured in at least 50 major films throughout their career.
What are some other popular movies by Walter Slezak?
Other notable films include "This Land Is Mine", "People Will Talk", and "Dr. Coppelius".