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Walter Jack Gotell (born Walter Jacques Goettel; 15 March 1924 – 5 May 1997) was a German-born British actor. He was well known for his role as General Gogol, head of the
KGB The Committee for State Security (, ), abbreviated as KGB (, ; ) was the main security agency of the Soviet Union from 1954 to 1991. It was the direct successor of preceding Soviet secret police agencies including the Cheka, Joint State Polit ...
, in the Roger Moore era of the
James Bond The ''James Bond'' franchise focuses on James Bond (literary character), the titular character, a fictional Secret Intelligence Service, British Secret Service agent created in 1953 by writer Ian Fleming, who featured him in twelve novels ...
film seriesTom Vallanc
Obituary: Walter Gotell
''The Independent'', 20 June 1997.
as well as having played the role of Morzeny, a villain, in '' From Russia With Love''. He also appeared as Gogol in the final part of '' The Living Daylights'' (1987), Timothy Dalton's debut Bond film.


Early life

Gotell was born Walter Jacques Goettel in
Bonn Bonn () is a federal city in the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia, located on the banks of the Rhine. With a population exceeding 300,000, it lies about south-southeast of Cologne, in the southernmost part of the Rhine-Ruhr region. This ...
in 1924, to
Jewish Jews (, , ), or the Jewish people, are an ethnoreligious group and nation, originating from the Israelites of History of ancient Israel and Judah, ancient Israel and Judah. They also traditionally adhere to Judaism. Jewish ethnicity, rel ...
parents Margarete Wilhelmine (née Cohn) and Jakob Goettel. He was raised mainly in Berlin. Due to rising antisemitism and the growing influence of
Nazism Nazism (), formally named National Socialism (NS; , ), is the far-right totalitarian socio-political ideology and practices associated with Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party (NSDAP) in Germany. During Hitler's rise to power, it was fre ...
, Gotell and his family immigrated to the United Kingdom in 1938, and he was naturalised as a British citizen in 1948. Gotell became interested in acting during
secondary school A secondary school, high school, or senior school, is an institution that provides secondary education. Some secondary schools provide both ''lower secondary education'' (ages 11 to 14) and ''upper secondary education'' (ages 14 to 18), i.e., b ...
, and he began acting in repertory theatre as a teenager.


Career

Due to a shortage of young actors during
World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...
, Gotell began working in films starting in 1942. His bilingualism saw him cast as Nazi German villains and military men, such as in '' We Dive at Dawn'' (1943). He began to have more established roles by the early 1950s, appearing in '' The African Queen'' (1951), '' The Red Beret'' (1953) for Albert R. Broccoli, '' Ice Cold in Alex'' (1958), '' The Guns of Navarone'' (1961), '' The Road to Hong Kong'' (1962), '' Lord Jim'' (1965), '' Black Sunday'' (1977), '' The Boys from Brazil'' (1978) and ''
Cuba Cuba, officially the Republic of Cuba, is an island country, comprising the island of Cuba (largest island), Isla de la Juventud, and List of islands of Cuba, 4,195 islands, islets and cays surrounding the main island. It is located where the ...
'' (1979). His first role in the
James Bond film series James may refer to: People * James (given name) * James (surname) * James (musician), aka Faruq Mahfuz Anam James, (born 1964), Bollywood musician * James, brother of Jesus * King James (disambiguation), various kings named James * Prince Ja ...
was in 1963, when he played the henchman Morzeny in '' From Russia with Love''. From the late 1970s, he played the recurring role of
KGB The Committee for State Security (, ), abbreviated as KGB (, ; ) was the main security agency of the Soviet Union from 1954 to 1991. It was the direct successor of preceding Soviet secret police agencies including the Cheka, Joint State Polit ...
General Anatol Gogol in the series, beginning with '' The Spy Who Loved Me'' (1977). Gotell gained the role of Gogol because of his resemblance to the former head of Soviet secret police Lavrentiy Beria. The character returned in '' Moonraker'' (1979), '' For Your Eyes Only'' (1981), '' Octopussy'' (1983), '' A View to a Kill'' (1985), and '' The Living Daylights'' (1987). As the
Cold War The Cold War was a period of global Geopolitics, geopolitical rivalry between the United States (US) and the Soviet Union (USSR) and their respective allies, the capitalist Western Bloc and communist Eastern Bloc, which lasted from 1947 unt ...
neared its end, the role of leader of the KGB was seen to change attitudes to the West – from direct competitor to collaborator. Gotell is one of a few actors to have played a villain and a Bond ally in the film series (others being Charles Gray, Richard Kiel and Joe Don Baker). Throughout his career, Gotell also made numerous guest appearances in television series including '' Danger Man'', '' Knight Rider'', '' The A-Team'', ''
Airline An airline is a company that provides civil aviation, air transport services for traveling passengers or freight (cargo). Airlines use aircraft to supply these services and may form partnerships or Airline alliance, alliances with other airlines ...
'', '' Airwolf'', ''
The X-Files ''The X-Files'' is an American science fiction on television, science fiction drama (film and television), drama television series created by Chris Carter (screenwriter), Chris Carter. The original series aired from September 10, 1993, to Ma ...
'', '' Scarecrow and Mrs. King'', ''
MacGyver Angus "Mac" MacGyver is the title character and the protagonist in the TV series ''MacGyver''. He is played by Richard Dean Anderson in the MacGyver (1985 TV series), 1985 original series. Lucas Till portrays a younger version of MacGyver in Mac ...
'', '' Star Trek: The Next Generation'', '' Miami Vice'', '' Cagney & Lacey'' and '' The Saint'' among others. He played Chief Constable Cullen in '' Softly, Softly: Task Force'' (1969–75). Other television roles included that of Sam Baker, a
KGB The Committee for State Security (, ), abbreviated as KGB (, ; ) was the main security agency of the Soviet Union from 1954 to 1991. It was the direct successor of preceding Soviet secret police agencies including the Cheka, Joint State Polit ...
agent in the hard-hitting British police drama '' The Professionals (1978) – '' the episode titled "The Female Factor".


Personal life

Gotell was married to actress Yvonne Hills from 1958, until her death in 1974. They had one daughter, Carol, born in 1960. Gotell remarried, to Celeste F. Mitchell, in 1974. Gotell was a businessman as well as an actor, and used his acting salaries to fund his business interests. He managed several engineering firms, and he owned a farm in Ireland.


Death

Gotell died from cancer on 5 May 1997, at the age of 73.


Filmography


Film

* '' The Day Will Dawn'' (1942) as German Soldier (uncredited) * '' The Goose Steps Out'' (1942) as SS Guard (uncredited) * '' Secret Mission'' (1942) as Lieutenant Langfeld (uncredited) * '' Tomorrow We Live'' (1943) as Hans * '' We Dive at Dawn'' (1943) as Luftwaffe Captain (uncredited) * '' Schweik's New Adventures'' (1943) as Captured resistance member * '' The Night Invader'' (1943) * '' Two Thousand Women'' (1944) as German Soldier (uncredited) * '' No Orchids for Miss Blandish'' (1948) as Joe – Nightclub Doorman (uncredited) * '' Cairo Road'' (1950) as Prison Officer * '' The Wooden Horse'' (1950) as The Follower * '' Lilli Marlene'' (1950) as Direktor of Propaganda * '' The Man Who Disappeared'' (1951) as Luzatto * '' The African Queen'' (1951) as the Second Officer of the Königin Luise * '' Desperate Moment'' (1953) as Ravitch's Servant-Henchman * '' The Red Beret'' (1953) as German sentry * '' Albert R.N.'' (1953) as Feldwebel * '' Stryker of the Yard'' (1953) * '' Duel in the Jungle'' (1954) as Jim * '' Above Us the Waves'' (1955) as German Officer on Tirpitz. (uncredited) * '' Dial 999'' (1956) as Policeman (uncredited) * '' 1984'' (1956) as Guard (uncredited) * '' The Man Who Knew Too Much'' (1956) as Matthews, Scotland Yard Patrol Car (uncredited) * '' Ice Cold in Alex'' (1958) as 1st German Officer * '' The Man Inside'' (1958) as Profuno * '' I Was Monty's Double'' (1958) as German Colonel * '' The Bandit of Zhobe'' (1959) as Azhad * '' No Safety Ahead'' (1959) (uncredited) * '' The Treasure of San Teresa'' (1959) as Hamburg inspector * '' Sink the Bismarck!'' (1959) as Signals Officer Miller on the Bismarck (uncredited) * '' Circus of Horrors'' (1960) as Baron Von Gruber (uncredited) * '' The Two Faces of Dr. Jekyll'' (1960) as Heverton – Second Gambler (uncredited) * '' A Circle of Deception'' (1960) as Phoney Jules Ballard * '' The Guns of Navarone'' (1961) as Oberleutnant Muesel * '' The Devil's Daffodil'' (1961) as Oberinspektor Whiteside / Supt. Whiteside * '' Road to Hong Kong'' (1962) as Dr. Zorbb (3rd Echelon scientist) * '' The Devil's Agent'' (1962) as Dr. Ritter * '' The Longest Day'' (1962) as German Officer (uncredited) * '' 55 Days at Peking'' (1963) as Capt. Hoffman * '' These Are the Damned'' (1963) as Major Holland * '' Lancelot and Guinevere'' (1963) as Cedric * '' From Russia with Love'' (1963) as Morzeny * '' Lord Jim'' (1965) as Captain of Patna * '' The Spy Who Came in From The Cold'' (1965) as Holten (uncredited) * '' Attack on the Iron Coast'' (1968) as Van Horst * '' Cry Wolf'' (1969) * '' The File of the Golden Goose'' (1969) as George Leeds * '' Our Miss Fred'' (1972) as Schmidt * '' Endless Night'' (1972) as Constantine * '' Black Sunday'' (1977) as Colonel Riat * '' The Spy Who Loved Me'' (1977) as General Anatol Gogol * '' The Assignment'' (1977) as Frankenheimer * '' March or Die'' (1977) as Col. Lamont * '' The Stud'' (1978) as Ben Khaled * '' The Boys from Brazil'' (1978) as Mundt * '' The Word'' (1978) as Hennig * '' The London Connection'' (1979) as Simmons * '' Moonraker'' (1979) as General Anatol Gogol * ''
Cuba Cuba, officially the Republic of Cuba, is an island country, comprising the island of Cuba (largest island), Isla de la Juventud, and List of islands of Cuba, 4,195 islands, islets and cays surrounding the main island. It is located where the ...
'' (1979) as Don Jose Pulido * ''Flygnivå 450'' (1980) as Herbert Anchell * '' For Your Eyes Only'' (1981) as General Anatol Gogol * '' The Scarlet and the Black'' (1983) as SS-Obergruppenführer Max Helm ( Karl Wolff) * '' Octopussy'' (1983) as General Anatol Gogol * ''Kalabaliken i Bender'' (1983) as Storvesiren * '' Memed My Hawk'' (1984) as Sgt. Asim * '' A View to a Kill'' (1985) as General Anatol Gogol * '' KGB: The Secret War'' (1985) as Nicholai * ''
Basic Training Military recruit training, commonly known as basic training or boot camp, refers to the initial instruction of new military personnel. It is a physically and psychologically intensive process, which resocializes its subjects for the unique dema ...
'' (1985) as Nabokov * '' The Living Daylights'' (1987) as General Anatol Gogol * '' Sleepaway Camp II: Unhappy Campers'' (1988) as Uncle John * '' Wings of Fame'' (1990) as Receptionist * '' Puppet Master III: Toulon's Revenge'' (1991) as General Müeller * '' Prince Valiant'' (1997) as Erik the Old (final film role)


Television

* ''
Sherlock Holmes Sherlock Holmes () is a Detective fiction, fictional detective created by British author Arthur Conan Doyle. Referring to himself as a "Private investigator, consulting detective" in his stories, Holmes is known for his proficiency with obser ...
'' – episode – "The Man Who Disappeared (pilot)" (1951) as Luzatto * '' The Saint'' – episode – "The Hi-jackers" (1964) as Hans Lasser * '' Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color'' – 3 episodes – (1964 & 1979) as Benton / Simmons * ''
Sherlock Holmes Sherlock Holmes () is a Detective fiction, fictional detective created by British author Arthur Conan Doyle. Referring to himself as a "Private investigator, consulting detective" in his stories, Holmes is known for his proficiency with obser ...
'' – episode – "Wisteria Lodge" (1968) as Henderson * '' The Zoo Gang'' – episode – "Revenge: Post-Dated" (1974) as Boucher * '' Softly, Softly: Task Force'' (1969–1975) – 55 episodes – as Chief Constable Arthur Cullen * '' Hallelujah!'' as Lt. Colonel Henderson * '' The Professionals'' (6 January 1978), Series 1, episode 2 "The Female Factor" – as Baker * '' Scarecrow and Mrs. King'' – episode – "Service Above and Beyond" (1983) as Kurt Hollander * '' Airwolf'' – episode – "Fight Like a Dove" (1984) as Oberst Helmut Krüger / Hans Daubert * '' Fantasy Island'' – episode – "Bojangles and the Dancer/Deuces Are Wild" (1984) as Edward C. Bass / Charles Childress * '' The A-Team'' – episode – "Where Is the Monster When You Need Him?" (1985) as Ramon DeJarro *'' Spenser for Hire'' – episode – "A Madness Most Discreet" (1986) as Max Claus * '' Knight Rider'' – episode – "Knight Sting" (1985) as Simon Carascas * ''
MacGyver Angus "Mac" MacGyver is the title character and the protagonist in the TV series ''MacGyver''. He is played by Richard Dean Anderson in the MacGyver (1985 TV series), 1985 original series. Lucas Till portrays a younger version of MacGyver in Mac ...
'' – episode – "GX-1" (1987) as Starkoss * '' Miami Vice'' – episode – "When Irish Eyes Are Crying" (1986) as Max Klizer * '' Star Trek: The Next Generation'' – episode – " Home Soil" (1988) as Kurt Mandl * ''
MacGyver Angus "Mac" MacGyver is the title character and the protagonist in the TV series ''MacGyver''. He is played by Richard Dean Anderson in the MacGyver (1985 TV series), 1985 original series. Lucas Till portrays a younger version of MacGyver in Mac ...
'' – episode – "Gold Rush" (1989) as General Barenov * ''
The X-Files ''The X-Files'' is an American science fiction on television, science fiction drama (film and television), drama television series created by Chris Carter (screenwriter), Chris Carter. The original series aired from September 10, 1993, to Ma ...
'' – episode – " Paper Clip" (1995) as Victor Klemper


Other appearances

* ''Inside 'From Russia with Love – Video documentary short (2000) – Himself / Morzeny


References


External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Gotell, Walter 1924 births 1997 deaths Actors from the Rhine Province British male film actors British people of German-Jewish descent British male stage actors British male television actors Emigrants from Nazi Germany to the United Kingdom German male film actors German male stage actors German male television actors Jewish British male actors Jewish German male actors Male actors from Bonn 20th-century British Jews 20th-century British male actors 20th-century German Jews 20th-century German male actors