Sandor Elès

From Budapest, Hungary • 1936 - 2002

Sandor Elès (sometimes credited as Sandor Eles, without the grave accent; born Hungarian: Éles Sándor; 15 June 1936 - 1 September 2002) was a Hungarian-born actor. Born at Budapest, Elès was orphaned during World War II , and emigrated to the United Kingdom during the Hungarian Revolution of 1956 against the former USSR. He began his acting career on stage, and went on to appear in a host of television roles. These included the ITC series Danger Man, The Baron, The Saint, and Jason King. He also made appearances in The Avengers and The Professionals. Often cast in generic 'foreigner' roles (diplomats, waiters, desk clerks), he most often played Frenchmen. One of his most memorable film roles was as the mysterious Paul in the Brian Clemens thriller And Soon the Darkness. He also had major roles in the Hammer Horror movies Countess Dracula (1971) and The Evil of Frankenstein (1964) as well as appearing for four years in the 1980s as the scheming restaurant manager, Paul Ross, in the UK soap opera Crossroads. In 1996 Sandor Elès returned to his cultural roots, appearing as the narrator in the Bartók opera, Bluebeard's Castle. The concert performances, given by the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra under Bernard Haitink, were recorded for CD. (Via TMDB)