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John Hollis

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John Hollis
Born
Bertie Wyn Hollis

(1927-11-12)12 November 1927
Fulham, London, England
Died18 October 2005(2005-10-18) (aged 77)
London, England
OccupationActor
Years active1959–1999
Spouse(s)
(m. 1953⁠–⁠1965)

Sheila Forrester
(m. 1966⁠–⁠2005)

John Hollis (12 November 1927 – 18 October 2005) was a British actor of TV and film. He is known for his uncredited appearance as Ernst Stavro Blofeld in the James Bond film For Your Eyes Only, as well as for his appearances in the Superman films, Casino Royale, The Dirty Dozen, Flash Gordon, and The Empire Strikes Back.

Early life

John Hollis was born Bertie Wyn Hollis in southwest London in 1927.

Career

He played the role of Lobot in The Empire Strikes Back and the German porter at the chateau in The Dirty Dozen. He appeared in the Christopher Reeve Superman films Superman and Superman II as an elder of Krypton, and in Superman IV: The Quest for Peace as a Russian General.

He also played the role of Ernst Stavro Blofeld in the cold open of the 1981 James Bond film For Your Eyes Only, going uncredited due to the controversy over the film rights and characters of Thunderball. In this sequence, his character was famously lifted from a wheelchair and dropped to his death down a chimney stack by Bond (Roger Moore)[1] after he had attempted to kill Bond by using a remote control link to Bond's MI6 helicopter.[2]

Hollis' other film work included minor roles in Captain Kronos – Vampire Hunter for Hammer Films and Gene Wilder's The Adventure of Sherlock Holmes' Smarter Brother. In television, Hollis took the role of Sondergaard in the Jon Pertwee era of Doctor Who in the story The Mutants, and appeared in The Avengers episode The Cybernauts as a sensei and also in The Tomorrow People. He also appeared as "Kaufmann" with a young Julie Christie in the BBC classic 'lost series' A for Andromeda.

John Hollis was a versatile character actor for BBC Radio. Notable roles include Magwitch in Great Expectations, Leonard Bast in Howards End, Conan Doyle's Inspector Lestrade and Shakespeare's Bardolph. He also took part in some commercial recordings, in parts as various as the March Hare in Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and the Murderer of the Duke of Clarence in Richard III.

He broadcast his own recollections of a cockney childhood, for the BBC in the 1970s.

Selected filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
1967 Casino Royale Fred (Temple Priest) Uncredited
The Dirty Dozen German Porter at Chateau Uncredited
1968 On the Run Baldy
1971 Creatures the World Forgot Masked Attacker Uncredited
Freelance Hartley
1973 Ghost in the Noonday Sun Kanaris
1974 Captain Kronos – Vampire Hunter Barman
1975 The Adventure of Sherlock Holmes' Smarter Brother Moriarty's Gunman
1978 Superman 4th Elder (Krypton Council)
1980 The Empire Strikes Back Lobot (Lando's aide)
Flash Gordon Klytus Observer No. 2
Superman II Krypton Elder
1981 For Your Eyes Only Ernst Stavro Blofeld Uncredited
1986 Valhalla Hymer English version, Voice
1987 Superman IV: The Quest for Peace Russian General

Television

Year Title Role Notes
1962 The Andromeda Breakthrough Kaufman 6 episodes
1963–67 The Saint Maximillian Tordoff/West 2 episodes
1963–68 The Avengers Various 4 episodes
1972 Doctor Who: The Mutants Sondergaard 4 episodes
1980 Blake's 7 Lorn 1 episode, Powerplay
1981 The Day of the Triffids Alf 1 episode
1984 Badger Girl Mr Barker 8 episodes

References

  1. ^ "John Hollis (Bald Man With White Cat)". James Bond multimedia. 2000. Archived from the original on 11 September 2010. Retrieved 11 September 2010.
  2. ^ "Ernst Stavro Blofeld (John Hollis)". James Bond MM. 2000. Retrieved 23 February 2016.