Stefan Kalipha Explained

Stefan Kalipha
Birth Name:Stephen Siegfried Behrendt
Birth Place:Trinidad
Other Names:Stephen Kalipha
Occupation:Actor
Alma Mater:East 15 Acting School
Years Active:1970–present
Family:Horace Ové (cousin)

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).

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

Early life

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

Television

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

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

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

Kalipha lives in Primrose Hill, London.[2]

Filmography and theatre

YearTitleRoleNotes
1971The Rivals of Sherlock HolmesRameauEpisode: The Affair of the Tortoise
1972Ace of Wands Drum3 episodes
1977Jesus of Nazareth Melchior's AideUncredited, Miniseries
Black Joy Sharp Eddie
MeccaAhmedOpen Space Theatre
1979Cuba Ramon, Cigar Factory Foreman
A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square Ibrahim
1980The Curse of King Tut's Tomb Daoud
Babylon Fat Larry
1981For Your Eyes Only Hector Gonzalez
1982 The Munshi Episode: A Singular Thorn (Uncredited)
1983Superman III Data School Instructor
Rowspan=21985Water Cuban #1
Playboy of the West IndiesStanleyBBC TV
1987Born of Fire Bilal
Playing Away Louis
1988Playboy of the West IndiesStanleyCourt Theatre (Chicago)
Tales of the Unexpected Chief Inspector AzizEpisode: The Finger of Suspicion
1989Scandal Hanif
Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade Hatay Tank Gunner
1991The Bill CurtissEpisode: Every Mother's Son
1993-2017CasualtyJoseph Watson/Javed Barazani 2 episodes
1994The Jungle Book
1996Gulliver's TravelsLaputa IntellectualMiniseries
2000Arabian NightsAbu NouzMiniseries
2002Ali G Indahouse Iranian Delegate
The Sum of All Fears Arab Gravedigger
2006The Ten Commandments Chief MinisterMiniseries
The Nativity StorySaint Caspar
Gate to Heaven Schlepper
2011MesocaféSaleem
2015RiverOmari TadrosMiniseries (2 episodes)
2016Alice Through the Looking GlassMaharaja Uncredited
2019AladdinImam
Antique Shopkeeper
The Good LiarRogerUncredited

Notes and References

  1. The Encyclopedia of British Film: Fourth edition, edited by Brian McFarlane - Page 1974 Kalipha Stefan (aka Stephen)
  2. Web site: Stefan Kalipha: 'I felt acting was my destiny'. Camden New Journal. Angela. Cobbinah. 17 March 2022. 19 March 2023.
  3. The British Television Pilot Episodes Research Guide 1936-2015, By Christopher Perry - Page 146 MEADPWLARK
  4. Web site: Playboy of the West Indies . bufvc.ac.uk . . 28 December 2020.
  5. Web site: Smith . Sid . Playboy of the West Indies is just lovely . . 22 April 1988. 28 December 2020.
  6. [TV Guide]
  7. [TV.com]
  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]
  11. https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/stefan-kalipha/credits/175186/ Stefan Kalipha, Credits
  12. News: Morley-Priestman . Anne . Mecca . . 21 July 1977.