George Mikell obit

The Great Escape actor George Mikell remembered as ‘the best of gentlemen’ after death at 91

 He was not on the list.

Actor George Mikell, best known for his roles as Nazi baddies in The Guns Of Navarone and The Great Escape, has died at the age of 91.

The Lithuanian-born actor also appeared in Young Winston, The Sea Wolves, Journey To The Far Side Of The Sun and Escape To Victory with Michael Caine and Sylvester Stallone, directed by John Huston.

His agent Thomas Bowington said he died of natural causes after a period of illness.

He added: "Unlike the many grim, cold and sometimes outright sadistic parts he was asked to portray on the big and small screen, they could not have been in further contrast to the man himself.

"He really was gentle George. He told me that he saw the worst of what people can do to each other as a child growing up during World War II.

"He became a man who was always kind and welcoming to people. His warmth, gentle sense of humour, kind and gentle manners really and truly made him the best of gentlemen.

"As an actor, client and friend, he was just like what one would wish the perfect grandfather would be.

"A very sad loss not having George around anymore.

"But in spite of the loss, thinking about George can only make one smile, because he was such a kind and caring man.

"Leaving a legacy of great films behind him for future generations to enjoy.

"And many smiling friends, because we had the privilege and pleasure to know George."

Born Jurgis Mikelaitis on a farm in Bildeniai in Lithuania on April 4 1929, he became interested in acting and drama after moving to Australia, and did various jobs from lumberjack to door-to-door salesman to pay for his studies.

While performing in the play Darkness At Noon, he was spotted by the Old Vic Company in Australia and was asked to join their Australian Shakespeare tour with Katharine Hepburn and Robert Helpmann.

He made his film debut in The One That Got Away in 1957.

Shortly before his death, he was given the Lithuanian Music Theatre and Arts medal of honour by the Lithuanian Embassy.

Brideshead Revisited actor Anthony Andrews and his wife Georgina Simpson, who were friends with Mikell, said: "George was a consummate performer with an unforgettable grace and charm, both on and off screen. A wonderful friend never to be forgotten."

 

Selected filmography 

The One That Got Away (1957) – German Prisoner 

Kill Her Gently (1957) – Lars Svenson 

Sea of Sand (1958) – German Officer 

Operation Bullshine (1959) – German Airman 

Whirlpool (1959) – German Policeman 

The Treasure of San Teresa (1959) – Border guard 

Jackpot (1960) – Carl Stock 

Beyond the Curtain (1960) – Pieter von Seefeldt 

A Circle of Deception (1960) – German Officer (uncredited) 

The Guns of Navarone (1961) – Capt. Sessler 

Highway to Battle (1961) – Brauwitz 

The Primitives (1961) – Claude 

The Password Is Courage (1962) – Necke 

Mystery Submarine (1963) – Lt. Remer 

The Gentle Terror (1963) – Turk 

The Great Escape (1963) – Lt. Dietrich 

The Victors (1963) – Russian Sentry 

Operation Crossbow (1965) – German Officer at V2 Launch 

The Spy Who Came in from the Cold (1965) – Checkpoint Charlie Guard 

Dateline Diamonds (1965) – Paul Verlekt 

Raiders of the Sahara (1965) – Ronald Wayne 

Where the Spies Are (1966) – Assassin 

Sabina V'Hagvarim (1966) 

The Double Man (1967) – Max Gruner 

Attack on the Iron Coast (1968) – Captain Strasser 

Doppelgänger (1969) – Paris Delegate Clavel 

Zeppelin (1971) – German Officer 

Young Winston (1972) – Field Cornet (uncredited) 

Scorpio (1973) – Dor 

The Tamarind Seed (1974) – Major Stukalov 

Sweeney 2 (1978) – Superintendent 

The Sea Wolves (1980) – Ehrenfels Captain 

Escape to Victory (1981) – POW Camp Commander 

Code Name: Emerald (1985) – Major Seltz 

Night of the Fox (1990) – Maj. Hecker