Gerhard Paul Stern, known professionally as Gordon Sterne (16 January 1923 – 4 April 2017), was a German‑born English actor whose career spanned over five decades in theatre, television and film.
Early life and education
- Born in Essen, Germany, to a family of Jewish descent.
- Emigrated from Nazi‑occupied Germany in 1941, settling with his parents in Windsor, Ontario, Canada.
- Studied economics at the University of Western Ontario.
- Enlisted in the Canadian Army in 1944, serving as an infantry sergeant.
Training and early career
- Relocated to New York City in 1945 where he attended the Dramatic Workshop, training under Erwin Piscator alongside contemporaries such as Rod Steiger, Bea Arthur, Walter Matthau, Tony Curtis and Harry Belafonte.
- Began acting work in the United States on radio, television, summer‑stock theatre and off‑Broadway productions.
Move to Britain
- Moved to Britain in 1956 and became a regular character actor in British stage productions, television series and films for more than fifty years.
- His fluency in German (and French) enabled him to perform in touring productions such as Drop Dead Darling in Germany and with the English Theatre in Vienna.
Selected filmography
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1958 | Battle of the V‑1 | Margraaf |
| 1960 | Sink the Bismarck! | German Officer (uncredited) |
| 1961 | The Guns of Navarone | German Officer (uncredited) |
| 1963 | From Russia with Love | SPECTRE Helicopter Pilot (uncredited) |
| 1981 | An American Werewolf in London | Mr. Kessler |
| 1984 | The Razor’s Edge | Doctor |
| 1986 | Highlander | Dr. Willis Kennedy |
| 2001 | Fourplay | Actor in “Color of My Life” |
Death
Gordon Sterne died on 4 April 2017 in Westminster, London, England, at the age of 94.
Legacy
Sterne is remembered for his versatility as a character actor, particularly his contributions to British genre cinema and television during the mid‑20th century.
