Stefan Kalipha (born Stephen Siegfried Behrendt, 1940) is a Trinidad-born British actor who has been active since about 1970. He played Ramon, the Cigar Factory Foreman in the film Cuba (1979), Daoud in The Curse of King Tut's Tomb and Fat Larry in Babylon (both 1980). He also appeared as Hector González, a Cuban hitman, in the James Bond film For Your Eyes Only (1981). Kalipha's other film roles include Wali Dad in The Crucifer of Blood (1991) and Buldeo in The Jungle Book (1994).

Stefan Kalipha
Born
Stephen Siegfried Behrendt

1940 (age 83–84)
Other namesStephen Kalipha
Alma materEast 15 Acting School
OccupationActor
Years active1970–present
FamilyHorace Ové (cousin)

His television roles include Quiller, episode: "Objective Caribbean" and Tales of the Unexpected, episode: "The Finger of Suspicion".

Early life

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Stefan Kalipha was born Stephen Siegfried Behrendt in Trinidad in 1940[1] and spent his childhood in Port of Spain. He is of Indian, African, Portuguese, and German descent. He grew up with fellow creatives Horace Ové, his cousin, and Mustapha Matura, his best friend. Kalipha moved to England in 1959 and studied at East 15 Acting School. He took on his grandfather's name Kalipha.[2]

Career

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Television

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In 1970, Kalipha played the part of Casey in an episode of the drama series Callan, entitled "Amos Green Must Live". The role was of a disenfranchised young black man in London who had reached a tipping point about working, even though he had "five A levels and five O levels".

In 1977, Kalipha played the part of Reverend Henry Paul in a television series pilot called Meadowlark. It was a sitcom, based in Brixton, about a black married couple who were sharing their flat with an Irish woman. The 36-minute pilot, which also starred Oscar James, Joan Ann Maynard and Nina Baden-Semper, was never broadcast.[3]

Kalipha was Stanley in the 1985 BBC TV production of Mustapha Matura's play Playboy of the West Indies, a role he repeated at the Court Theatre, Chicago in 1988.[4][5]

In 1992, Kalipha had a recurring role as Jonathan Phelps in the series Prime Suspect.[6]

In 2015, he appeared as Tobias in The Bastard Executioner.[7]

Film

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Kalipha's character Hector Gonzalez in the 1981 James Bond film For Your Eyes Only masquerades as a plane pilot who has the intention of killing British agent Sir Timothy Havelock and his family.[8][9] In 1983, Kalipha appeared as the Data School Instructor in Superman III.[10] In 1989, he played the part of the Hatay tank gunner in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade.[11]

Stage

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As Ahmed, an efficient tour agent smoothing over the repercussions of violence among holidaymakers in a Moroccan tour villa, Kalipha appeared on stage in E. A. Whitehead's Mecca, presented at the Open Space Theatre, London, in 1977.[12]

Personal life

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Kalipha lives in Primrose Hill, London.[2]

Filmography and theatre

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Year Title Role Notes
1971 The Rivals of Sherlock Holmes Rameau Episode: The Affair of the Tortoise
1972 Ace of Wands Drum 3 episodes
1977 Jesus of Nazareth Melchior's Aide Uncredited, Miniseries
Black Joy Sharp Eddie
Mecca Ahmed Open Space Theatre
1979 Cuba Ramon, Cigar Factory Foreman
A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square Ibrahim
1980 The Curse of King Tut's Tomb Daoud
Babylon Fat Larry
1981 For Your Eyes Only Hector Gonzalez
1982 Young Sherlock: The Mystery of the Manor House The Munshi Episode: A Singular Thorn (Uncredited)
1983 Superman III Data School Instructor
1985 Water Cuban #1
Playboy of the West Indies Stanley BBC TV
1987 Born of Fire Bilal
Playing Away Louis
1988 Playboy of the West Indies Stanley Court Theatre (Chicago)
Tales of the Unexpected Chief Inspector Aziz Episode: The Finger of Suspicion
1989 Scandal Hanif
Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade Hatay Tank Gunner
1991 The Bill Curtiss Episode: Every Mother's Son
1993-2017 Casualty Joseph Watson/Javed Barazani 2 episodes
1994 The Jungle Book Buldeo
1996 Gulliver's Travels Laputa Intellectual Miniseries
2000 Arabian Nights Abu Nouz Miniseries
2002 Ali G Indahouse Iranian Delegate
The Sum of All Fears Arab Gravedigger
2006 The Ten Commandments Chief Minister Miniseries
The Nativity Story Saint Caspar
Gate to Heaven Schlepper
2011 Mesocafé Saleem
2015 River Omari Tadros Miniseries (2 episodes)
2016 Alice Through the Looking Glass Maharaja Uncredited
2019 Aladdin Imam
Men in Black: International Antique Shopkeeper
The Good Liar Roger Uncredited

References

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  1. ^ The Encyclopedia of British Film: Fourth edition, edited by Brian McFarlane - Page 1974 Kalipha Stefan (aka Stephen)
  2. ^ a b Cobbinah, Angela (17 March 2022). "Stefan Kalipha: 'I felt acting was my destiny'". Camden New Journal. Retrieved 19 March 2023.
  3. ^ The British Television Pilot Episodes Research Guide 1936-2015, By Christopher Perry - Page 146 MEADPWLARK
  4. ^ "Playboy of the West Indies". bufvc.ac.uk. British Universities Film and Video Council. Retrieved 28 December 2020.
  5. ^ Smith, Sid (22 April 1988). "Playboy of the West Indies is just lovely". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 28 December 2020.
  6. ^ TV Guide - Stefan Kalipha, Credits
  7. ^ TV.com - The Bastard Executioner, The Bastard Executioner Cast, Guest Stars.
  8. ^ Bond Villains Comic Con - Hector Suarez (Stefan Kalipha)
  9. ^ Cawthorne, Nigel (2012), "Von Hammerstein, Major Gonzales, Aris Kristatos and friends", A Brief Guide to James Bond, Constable & Robinson.
  10. ^ Turner Classic Movies - Superman III(1983), FULL CREDITS, Cast
  11. ^ Stefan Kalipha, Credits m TV Guide.
  12. ^ Morley-Priestman, Anne (21 July 1977). "Mecca". The Stage.
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Stefan Kalipha at IMDb