John Steiner


John Steiner was an English actor. Tall, thin and gaunt, he attended the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art and performed on-stage for the Royal Shakespeare Company, but was best known to audiences for his roles in Italian films, several of which became cult classics.

Early life and acting career

Steiner was born in Chester, Cheshire on 7 January 1941. He attended the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art and joined the Royal Shakespeare Company. He acted in the role of Monsieur Dupere in Peter Brook's production of Marat/Sade. He reprised the role when the play was transferred to Broadway, and again for the 1967 film adaptation.
On television, he played Grey Wyler, a psychology student in The Death Game, a 1967 episode of The Saint. He found work primarily in films including and the original Bedazzled with Peter Cook and Dudley Moore.
In 1969, Steiner played a part in the Spaghetti Western Tepepa, and also appeared opposite Franco Nero in White Fang, directed by Lucio Fulci. In 1971 he starred in the television series Hine. In 1979 he featured in the leading role of Leo in a television production of Design for Living by Noël Coward.
He found himself in demand in Italy and moved there, appearing in a great number of Italian exploitation and B-films including police actioners, westerns, war films, nazisploitation, sci-fi adventure films, and horror films, such as Mario Bava's Shock, Dario Argento's Tenebrae, and Ruggero Deodato's Body Count. He also became a favourite of famed Italian filmmaker Tinto Brass, featuring in Salon Kitty, the infamous Caligula, Action, and Paprika. 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, 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 and became the basis for the character Bob Elkin in Schlesinger's semi-autobiographical film Sunday [Bloody Sunday (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

Marat/Sade – Monsieur DupereBedazzled – TV Announcer Work Is a Four-Letter Word – AnthonyTepepa – Doctor Henry PriceThe Thirteen Chairs – Stanley Duncan El bosque del lobo – RobertA Girl Called Jules – LucianoMay Morning – Roderick StantonL'asino d'oro: processo per fatti strani contro Lucius Apuleius cittadino romano – AristomeneBali – Arthur GlennThe Case Is Closed, Forget It – BiroSlap the Monster on Page One – Ingegner MontelliThe Police Serve the Citizens? – LambroMassacre in Rome – Col. DollmannBlack Holiday – ScagnettiWhite Fang – Charles 'Beauty' SmithMorel's Invention – MorelChallenge to White Fang – Beauty Smith / Charles ForthThe [Last Day of School Before Christmas] – Il TenenteI Don't [Want to Be Born] – Tommy MorrisWaves of Lust – Giorgio / HusbandViolent Rome – Franco Spadoni 'Chiodo'Dracula in the Provinces – Count DragulescuSalon Kitty – BiondoLe guêpier – FisherMark Strikes Again – Paul HenkelDeported Women of the SS Special Section – Herr ErnerBloody Payroll – FaustoPlot of Fear – HoffmannVon Buttiglione Sturmtruppenführer – SchweinShock – Bruno BaldiniMannaja – VallerThe Criminals Attack, The Police Respond – RufyGangbuster – KillerAntonio Gramsci: The Days of Prison – LaurinGoodbye & Amen – Donald GraysonL'Amour en question – Tom HastingsCaligula – LonginusAction – The ManagerThe Last Hunter – Major William CashCar Crash – KirbyThe Salamander – Captain RoditiHunters of the Golden Cobra – Captain David FranksTenebrae – Christiano BertiYor, the Hunter from the Future – OverlordDagger Eyes – IvanovThe Ark of [the Sun God] – Lord DeanI due carabinieri – Crazy Man on TrainA.D. – Simon the MagusCut and Run – VladoCommando Leopard – SmithyThe Berlin Affair – Oskar EngelhartTroppo forte – Mr. AdamsOperation Nam – James WalcottBody Count – Dr. OlsenSummer Night – Frederick, Fulvia's loverLone Runner – SkormJulia and Julia – AlexNight of the Sharks – Rosentski – DuclaudStriker – KariasinAppointment in Liverpool Sinbad of the Seven Seas – JaffarMassacre Play – DaniloPaprika – Principe Ascanio