Actor. He was a 20th century Polish-born English character actor, who was also a singer and a director. Wladyslaw Sheybal was born in Zgierz, near Lodz in Poland, the son of a university professor. During World War II, he was imprisoned in a concentration camp and escaped twice, only to be captured again. His first major acting role was in 1957 as "The Composer" in Andzej Wajda's "Kanal," which was set during the Warsaw Uprising of 1944. In 1958, he fled Soviet-occupied Poland and arrived in England, unable to speak a word of English, and knowing no one. He soon became a naturalize British subject. He found a job washing dishes in the kitchen of a drama college and soon progressed to teaching acting to the students, who had recognized him from "Kanal." From there, he had several opportunities to appear on the stage. His first film appearance was in the role of Kronsteen in the 1963 James Bond series, "From Russia With Love". Later, he appeared in many of Ken Russell's films, as well as John Boorman's "Leo the Last," usually portraying Eastern Europeans, although he ventured even further East in the Nicol Williamson film of "Mountbatten, the Last Viceroy," in which he played Mohammed Ali Jinnah, the first leader of Pakistan.
Actor. He was a 20th century Polish-born English character actor, who was also a singer and a director. Wladyslaw Sheybal was born in Zgierz, near Lodz in Poland, the son of a university professor. During World War II, he was imprisoned in a concentration camp and escaped twice, only to be captured again. His first major acting role was in 1957 as "The Composer" in Andzej Wajda's "Kanal," which was set during the Warsaw Uprising of 1944. In 1958, he fled Soviet-occupied Poland and arrived in England, unable to speak a word of English, and knowing no one. He soon became a naturalize British subject. He found a job washing dishes in the kitchen of a drama college and soon progressed to teaching acting to the students, who had recognized him from "Kanal." From there, he had several opportunities to appear on the stage. His first film appearance was in the role of Kronsteen in the 1963 James Bond series, "From Russia With Love". Later, he appeared in many of Ken Russell's films, as well as John Boorman's "Leo the Last," usually portraying Eastern Europeans, although he ventured even further East in the Nicol Williamson film of "Mountbatten, the Last Viceroy," in which he played Mohammed Ali Jinnah, the first leader of Pakistan.
Bio by: Iain MacFarlaine
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