Steven Berkoff- Biography

Also Credited As:

Leslie Steven Berks

About Steven Berkoff

Born in London and trained at the Webber-Douglas Academy and in France, Berkoff has been appearing on stage since the late 1950s, usually in his own original or adapted works, which include "Kvetch" and "Prisoner in Rio" and versions of Kafka's "The Trial" and "Metamorphosis".

Berkoff made his screen debut in Stanley Kubrick's "A Clockwork Orange" (1971) and was also featured in the director's "Barry Lyndon" (1975). His feature career blossomed in the 80s with turns as generally unscrupulous characters, such as in "Octopussy" (1983). He is perhaps best known as the arch-villain of "Beverly Hills Cop" (1984), as Adolf Hitler in the TV epic "War and Remembrance" (ABC, 1988) and as the rival gangster who gets it between the eyes in "The Krays" (1990). He wrote, directed and played multiple roles in "Decadence" (1993), an adaptation of his play focusing on grotesque British aristocrats.

Partners

Companion

Clara Fisher. German

Wife

Shelley Lee. married in August 1976; divorced

Family

Father

Alfred Berks. changed family surname from Berkovitch

Mother

Pauline Berks.

Education

Webber-Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art

Ecole Jacques Le Coq, Paris

Career Milestones

Born in the East End of London

During WWII, was evacuated to Luton before spending one year in the U.S. and then returning to England

Founded London Theatre Group

1959

Stage debut in Arthur Miller's "A View from the Bridge"

1971

Film acting debut in "A Clockwork Orange," directed by Stanley Kubrick

1975

Played featured role in Kubrick's "Barry Lyndon"

1979

London stage directing debut, "Hamlet"

1984

Co-starred as villain Victor Maitland in "Beverly Hills Cop"

1987

Wrote and directed the off-Broadway play "Kvetch"

1993

Feature directorial debut (also starred), "Decadence"

1999

Wrote the semi-autobiographical play "East"; premiered at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival

2000

Appeared at Joe's Pub in NYC in the one-person show "Shakespeare's Villains: A Masterclass in Evil"

2002

Returned to NYC stage in "Berkoff Is Back"; also directed

2003

Starred in the comedy feature "Nine Dead Gay Guys"

2004

Appeared in the WWII drama "Head in the Clouds" opposite Charlize Theron and Penélope Cruz

2006

Cast in the HBO movie "Pu-239"

2011

Joined the cast of David Fincher directed "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo," based on the novel by Stieg Larsson

2011

Portrayed Girolamo Savonarola, an influential priest in Florence who preaches against the corruption in the church on Showtime's "The Borgias"