Vladek Sheybal (born Władysław Rudolf Zbigniew Sheybal; 12 March 1923 – 16 October 1992) was a Polish character actor, singer and director of both television and stage productions. He was well known for his portrayal of the chess grandmaster Kronsteen in the James Bond film From Russia with Love (1963), a role for which he had been personally recommended by his friend Sean Connery, and as Otto Leipzig in Smiley's People (1982). He also had notable recurring roles as Dr. Douglas Jackson in Gerry Anderson's UFO, Captain Ferreira in the NBC miniseries Shōgun and as Gen. Bratchenko in the 1984 version of Red Dawn. He became a naturalised British citizen, but remained "fiercely proud of his homeland and its culture". (Via Wikipedia)
- Origin
- Zgierz, Lódzkie, Poland
- Born
- March 12, 1923
- Died
- October 16, 1992 (32 years ago, at 69)