Leon Lissek obit

The Australian-born actor Leon Lissek has died at the age of 83 

He was not on the list.

His television roles include appearances in The Sullivans and EastEnders, as well as a cinema appearance in Time Bandits. But those on this forum will best recognise him as one of Krivas's gang in The Professionals episode 'Where The Jungle Ends', and as the caretaker of the villa in Malta visited by Regan and Carter in Sweeney2.

He appeared in over 80 films in his career, which started with Marat/Sade, his film roles include Time Bandits, The Unbearable Lightness of Being, Nicholas and Alexandra, and The Horsemen.

Lissek was also well known for his small screen roles in the TV drama series The Sullivans and EastEnders.

Lissek was born in Australia on 19 January 1939. He started acting at the Kadimah in Melbourne, through his school-days and during his university year (he gave up the law course at Melbourne University about half-way through), when he was part of the Marlowe Society in late 1950s. He went to live in England in 1963.

Lissek played Hans Kauffman on The Sullivans. He also performed on stage. A review of Company, which played in Exeter in 1980, said Lissek was "admirably cast". Lissek, who was Jewish, spoke in defence of performing The Merchant of Venice, which is regarded by some as anti-Semitic.

His wife, Heather Canning, was an actress. They married in 1969; she died in 1996.

 

Actor

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Foyle's War

8.6

TV Series

Isaac Rothstein

2010

1 episode

 

Neve Campbell, Shirley Henderson, Alexandra Maria Lara, Oana Pellea, and Anna Maxwell Martin in I Really Hate My Job (2007)

I Really Hate My Job

5.1

Old Man #1

2007

 

The Battle of Cable Street (2006)

The Battle of Cable Street

7.4

Short

Grandad

2006

 

Song of Songs (2005)

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4.6

Rabbi Berg

2005

 

Frances Tuesday (2004)

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5.4

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Dry Cleaner

2004

 

Alan Davies in The Brief (2004)

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7.4

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Zelinsky

2004

1 episode

 

Summer Phoenix in Suzie Gold (2004)

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5.6

Julius - Nana's Husband

2004

 

Toby Stephens in Cambridge Spies (2003)

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7.4

TV Mini Series

Prof. Bruno Klein

2003

1 episode

 

The Book of Eve (2002)

The Book of Eve

5.2

Sam

2002

 

The Discovery of Heaven (2001)

The Discovery of Heaven

6.8

Hotel Owner

2001

 

Breathtaking (2000)

Breathtaking

5.3

Dr. Horowitz

2000

 

Esther Kahn (2000)

Esther Kahn

6.8

Theatre manager

2000

 

Arabian Nights (2000)

Arabian Nights

7.4

TV Mini Series

Dr. Ezra

2000

2 episodes

 

EastEnders (1985)

EastEnders

4.7

TV Series

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1998

20 episodes

 

The Emissary: A Biblical Epic (1997)

The Emissary: A Biblical Epic

6.7

Annas

1997

 

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For My Baby

4.9

Sam Marx

1997

 

Sean Bean in Sharpe (1993)

Sharpe

8.4

TV Series

Juliot

1997

1 episode

 

McCallum (1995)

McCallum

7.7

TV Series

Alan Konrad

1997

1 episode

 

Anthony Hopkins in Surviving Picasso (1996)

Surviving Picasso

6.3

Testicle

1996

 

Our Friends in the North (1996)

Our Friends in the North

8.6

TV Mini Series

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1996

2 episodes

 

George Baker, Keith Barron, John Castle, and Amanda Redman in Ruth Rendell Mysteries (1987)

Ruth Rendell Mysteries

6.8

TV Series

Professor Cyprian

1996

2 episodes

 

Ian Richardson and Isla Blair in The Final Cut (1995)

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8.0

TV Mini Series

Evanghelos Passolides

1995

2 episodes

 

Tchéky Karyo in Nostradamus (1994)

Nostradamus

5.8

Inquisitor

1994

 

Ann-Margret in Nobody's Children (1994)

Nobody's Children

6.8

TV Movie

Dr. Preda

1994

 

Anthony Hopkins and Kyle MacLachlan in The Trial (1993)

The Trial

6.0

Stairman

1993

 

The Adventures of Young Indiana Jones (2002)

The Adventures of Young Indiana Jones

7.5

TV Series

Sheik Es-Salih

1992

1 episode

 

Screen One (1985)

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6.5

TV Series

Harold Zec

1992

1 episode

 

Morgan Fairchild, Christopher Lee, and Patrick Macnee in Sherlock Holmes and the Leading Lady (1991)

Sherlock Holmes and the Leading Lady

5.7

TV Movie

Stage Door-Keeper

1991

 

Duncan Regehr in Zorro (1990)

Zorro

6.8

TV Series

Don Fernando

1990

1 episode

 

Forgotten Prisoners: The Amnesty Files (1990)

Forgotten Prisoners: The Amnesty Files

5.5

TV Movie

Faruk

1990

 

Bloodmoon (1990)

Bloodmoon

4.6

Myles Sheffield

1990

 

Screen Two (1985)

Screen Two

6.3

TV Series

Yershov

1990

1 episode

 

Jonathan Hyde in Shadow of the Noose (1989)

Shadow of the Noose

8.4

TV Mini Series

Count Festetics

1989

1 episode

 

Margaret Whitton in A Fine Romance (1989)

A Fine Romance

8.6

TV Series

Hans

1989

1 episode

 

Twist of Fate (1989)

Twist of Fate

7.3

TV Mini Series

Ginzberg

1989

2 episodes

 

Young Toscanini (1988)

Young Toscanini

6.1

M° Superti

1988

 

Melba (1988)

Melba

8.6

TV Mini Series

Strakosch

1988

2 episodes

 

Noble House (1988)

Noble House

7.6

TV Mini Series

Christian Toxe

1988

4 episodes

 

Lena Olin in The Unbearable Lightness of Being (1988)

The Unbearable Lightness of Being

7.3

Bald Man in Bar

1988

 

Personal Services (1987)

Personal Services

6.3

Mr. Popozogolou

1987

 

God's Outlaw (1986)

God's Outlaw

6.8

Herman Rincke

1986

 

Whoops Apocalypse (1986)

Whoops Apocalypse

6.0

Politburo Member

1986

 

The Fools on the Hill (1986)

The Fools on the Hill

7.2

TV Movie

Isaac Shoenberg

1986

 

Eleni (1985)

Eleni

6.9

Antoni

1985

 

Richard Briers, Peter Egan, and Penelope Wilton in Ever Decreasing Circles (1984)

Ever Decreasing Circles

7.3

TV Series

Mr. X

1984

1 episode

 

Pierce Brosnan and Stephanie Zimbalist in Remington Steele (1982)

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7.3

TV Series

Smuggler

1984

1 episode

 

David Suchet in Freud (1984)

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7.6

TV Mini Series

Wittels

1984

1 episode

 

Squaring the Circle (1984)

Squaring the Circle

7.4

TV Movie

3rd. Witness

1984

 

Alan Howard and Irene Worth in The Tragedy of Coriolanus (1984)

The Tragedy of Coriolanus

7.4

TV Movie

Third Citizen

1984

 

Hugh Lloyd in Jury (1983)

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TV Series

Sam Dorfman

1983

1 episode

 

Enemies of the State

6.6

TV Movie

Vaclav Benda

1983

 

John Gielgud, Rutger Hauer, Ian Holm, Blythe Danner, Derek Jacobi, Robert Vaughn, Trevor Howard, and Renée Soutendijk in Inside the Third Reich (1982)

Inside the Third Reich

7.3

TV Movie

(uncredited)

1982

 

David Bowie in Baal (1982)

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6.6

TV Movie

Mjurk

1982

 

A Fine Romance (1981)

A Fine Romance

7.1

TV Series

Waiter

1982

1 episode

 

The Island of Adventure (1981)

The Island of Adventure

7.7

Jo

1981

 

Stratford Johns in Tales from the Thousand and One Nights (1981)

Tales from the Thousand and One Nights

TV Movie

1981

 

Take a Letter Mr. Jones..... (1981)

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6.4

TV Series

Roberto

1981

1 episode

 

Time Bandits (1981)

Time Bandits

6.9

1st Refugee

1981

 

Richard Chamberlain and Yôko Shimada in Shogun (1980)

Shogun

8.1

TV Mini Series

Father Sebastio

1980

5 episodes

 

Shogun (1980)

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7.9

TV Movie

Father Sebastio

1980

 

The Dybbuk

TV Movie

3rd Batlon

Man on crutches

1980

 

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Return of the Saint

6.7

TV Series

Pancho

1979

2 episodes

 

The Saint and the Brave Goose (1979)

The Saint and the Brave Goose

6.7

Pancho

1979

 

Thank You, Comrades

TV Movie

2nd Owner

1978

 

The Famous Five (1978)

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7.4

TV Series

Hunchy

1978

2 episodes

 

James Ellis and John Slater in Z Cars (1962)

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7.0

TV Series

Ernie

Max

1975–1978

2 episodes

 

Sweeney 2 (1978)

Sweeney 2

6.6

Cardona Alexandros

1978

 

Julia Foster, Patrick Newell, and John Stride in Wilde Alliance (1978)

Wilde Alliance

7.5

TV Series

Hank

1978

1 episode

 

Lewis Collins, Gordon Jackson, and Martin Shaw in The Professionals (1977)

The Professionals

8.0

TV Series

Pole

1978

1 episode

 

Lorraine Bayly, Paul Cronin, Susan Hannaford, Andrew McFarlane, Richard Morgan, and Steven Tandy in The Sullivans (1976)

The Sullivans

6.9

TV Series

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1976–1977

68 episodes

 

Barry Foster in Van der Valk (1972)

Van der Valk

7.1

TV Series

Frans

1977

1 episode

 

Eliza Fraser (1976)

Eliza Fraser

5.7

Sergeant

1976

 

John Diedrich, Lucky Grills, and Gerda Nicolson in Bluey (1976)

Bluey

7.8

TV Series

Harry French

1976

1 episode

 

Martin Vaughan in Power Without Glory (1976)

Power Without Glory

8.6

TV Mini Series

David Garside

1976

9 episodes

 

Oil Strike North (1975)

Oil Strike North

5.7

TV Series

Randall

1975

1 episode

 

Cathleen Nesbitt, Angharad Rees, and Billie Whitelaw in Ten from the Twenties (1975)

Ten from the Twenties

TV Series

Monsieur Rudolphe

1975

1 episode

 

John Clive and Jenny Hanley in Roberts Robots (1973)

Roberts Robots

6.7

TV Series

Marken

1973–1974

14 episodes

 

Murder on the Orient Express (1974)

Murder on the Orient Express

7.2

Dining Car Steward (uncredited)

1974

 

David Jason in The Top Secret Life of Edgar Briggs (1974)

The Top Secret Life of Edgar Briggs

7.6

TV Series

Novikov

1974

1 episode

 

Brian Keith, John Mills, Barry Morse, and Lilli Palmer in The Zoo Gang (1974)

The Zoo Gang

7.5

TV Series

Pierre

1974

1 episode

 

Not on Your Nellie (1974)

Not on Your Nellie

7.3

TV Series

Rachmaninoff Landlord

1974

1 episode

 

Patrick Stewart, Barry Foster, Gayle Hunnicutt, Charles Kay, and Laurence Naismith in Fall of Eagles (1974)

Fall of Eagles

8.1

TV Mini Series

Police Agent Bayer

1974

1 episode

 

Tales That Witness Madness (1973)

Tales That Witness Madness

5.6

Keoki (segment "Luau")

1973

 

Don Henderson, Diane Keen, Peter Sallis, and Don Warrington in Crown Court (1972)

Crown Court

7.3

TV Series

Edward Lippett

1973

3 episodes

 

The Blockhouse (1973)

The Blockhouse

5.8

Khozek

1973

 

Robert Vaughn, Tony Anholt, and Nyree Dawn Porter in The Protectors (1972)

The Protectors

6.7

TV Series

Pannides

1972

1 episode

 

Norman Bowler, Stratford Johns, David Lloyd Meredith, and Frank Windsor in Softly Softly: Task Force (1969)

Softly Softly: Task Force

7.6

TV Series

Aaron Brook

1972

1 episode

 

Tottering Towers

TV Series

Geko

1971–1972

13 episodes

 

Nicholas and Alexandra (1971)

Nicholas and Alexandra

7.2

Avadeyev

1971

 

Jack Palance, Omar Sharif, and Leigh Taylor-Young in The Horsemen (1971)

The Horsemen

6.2

Chikana Proprietor

1971

 

Ingrid Pitt in Countess Dracula (1971)

Countess Dracula

5.9

Sergeant of Bailiffs

1971

 

The Last Valley (1971)

The Last Valley

7.0

Czeraki

1971

 

The Roads to Freedom (1970)

The Roads to Freedom

8.4

TV Mini Series

Bearded Man

1970

1 episode

 

Underground (1970)

Underground

5.1

Sergeant

1970

 

Special Branch (1969)

Special Branch

7.4

TV Series

Hoffman

1970

1 episode

 

David Ballantyne in The Tingaree Affair (1969)

The Tingaree Affair

TV Mini Series

Torres

1969

7 episodes

 

Joan Crawford in Journey to the Unknown (1969)

Journey to the Unknown

3.1

TV Movie

Andros Matakitas (episode 'Matakitas Is Coming'

1969

 

Stanley Baker, Fiona Lewis, and Tommy Steele in Where's Jack? (1969)

Where's Jack?

6.5

Deeley

1969

 

Thirty-Minute Theatre (1965)

Thirty-Minute Theatre

7.2

TV Series

Warder

1969

1 episode

 

Isadora (1968)

Isadora

6.9

Bohemian (uncredited)

1968

 

Journey to the Unknown (1968)

Journey to the Unknown

7.7

TV Series

Andros Matakitas

1968

1 episode

 

The Avengers (1961)

The Avengers

8.3

TV Series

Taxi Driver

1968

1 episode

 

Alan Arkin in Inspector Clouseau (1968)

Inspector Clouseau

4.7

French Taxi Driver (uncredited)

1968

 

Marat/Sade (1967)

Marat/Sade

7.5

Lavoisier

1967

 

Ninety Nine Per Cent (1963)

Ninety Nine Per Cent

1963

 

You Can't Win 'Em All (1962)

You Can't Win 'Em All

TV Movie

Chalo

1962

 

Quiet Night (1961)

Quiet Night

TV Movie

1961