Walter Slezak
ActingAbout Walter Slezak
Walter Slezak (3 May 1902 – 21 April 1983) was a portly Austrian character actor who appeared in numerous Hollywood films. Slezak often portrayed villains or thugs, most notably the German U-boat captain in Alfred Hitchcock's 1944 Lifeboat, but occasionally he got to play lighter roles, as in 1962's The Wonderful World of the Brothers Grimm. He also played a cheerfully corrupt and philosophical private detective in the 1947 film noir Born to Kill and appeared as Squire Trelawney in the 1972 version of Treasure Island.
Walter Slezak Movies & Career Overview
The filmography of Walter Slezak reflects a strong mix of popular and critically appreciated roles. Across 50 major appearances, the actor has built a reputation through performances in multiple genres and storytelling styles.
Dominant Genre
A large portion of Walter Slezak's work falls within the Drama genre, where audiences tend to respond most strongly to their on-screen presence.
Success Ratio
Approximately 58% of Walter Slezak's films maintain ratings above 6.5, indicating a consistent level of audience approval.
One of the most highly rated entries in their career remains Mein Leopold, which stands out as a key performance.
Best Walter Slezak Movies Ranked
Must-watch hits from Walter Slezak's career based on audience ratings.
Full Filmography
Every movie Walter Slezak has appeared in, with audience ratings and verdicts.
| Year | Movie | Character | Success | More |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1972 | Treasure Island | Squire Trelawney | Average | Similar → |
| 1971 | Black Beauty | Hackenschmidt | Average | Similar → |
| 1970 | The Juggler of Notre Dame | The Innkeeper | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1968 | Dr. Coppelius | Dr. Coppelius | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1968 | Heidi | Father Richter | Average | Similar → |
| 1967 | The Caper of the Golden Bulls | Antonio Gonzales | Average | Similar → |
| 1965 | A Very Special Favor | Etienne | Average | Similar → |
| 1965 | Twenty-Four Hours to Kill | Malouf | Average | Similar → |
| 1964 | Emil and the Detectives | Baron | Average | Similar → |
| 1962 | The Wonderful World of the Brothers Grimm | Stossel | Average | Similar → |
| 1961 | Come September | Maurice Clavell | Hit | Similar → |
| 1959 | The Miracle | Flaco | Hit | Similar → |
| 1957 | Pinocchio | Gepetto | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1954 | The Steel Cage | Louis, the Prison Chef, segment "The Chef" | Hit | Similar → |
| 1953 | White Witch Doctor | Huysman | Hit | Similar → |
| 1953 | Call Me Madam | August Tantinnin | Average | Similar → |
| 1951 | People Will Talk | Prof. Barker | Hit | Similar → |
| 1951 | Bedtime for Bonzo | Professor Hans Neumann | Average | Similar → |
| 1950 | Bud Abbott and Lou Costello in the Foreign Legion | Sgt. Axmann | Average | Similar → |
| 1950 | Spy Hunt | Doctor Stahl | Average | Similar → |
| 1950 | The Yellow Cab Man | Dr. Byron Dokstedder | Hit | Similar → |
| 1949 | The Inspector General | Yakov | Hit | Similar → |
| 1948 | The Pirate | Don Pedro Vargas | Hit | Similar → |
| 1947 | Riff-Raff | Eric Molinar | Average | Similar → |
| 1947 | Born to Kill | Matthew Arnett | Hit | Similar → |
| 1947 | Sinbad the Sailor | Melik | Average | Similar → |
| 1945 | Cornered | Melchior Incza | Average | Similar → |
| 1945 | The Spanish Main | Don Juan Alvarado | Hit | Similar → |
| 1944 | The Princess and the Pirate | La Roche | Hit | Similar → |
| 1944 | Till We Meet Again | Vitrey, The Mayor | Hit | Similar → |
| 1944 | Step Lively | Joe Gribble | Hit | Similar → |
| 1944 | Lifeboat | Willi | Hit | Similar → |
| 1943 | The Fallen Sparrow | Dr. Christian Skaas | Average | Similar → |
| 1943 | This Land Is Mine | Major Erich von Keller | Hit | Similar → |
| 1942 | Once Upon a Honeymoon | Baron Franz Von Luber | Average | Similar → |
| 1932 | Spione im Savoy-Hotel | Kurt | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1928 | Almenrausch und Edelweiss | Mentel | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1928 | Ledige Mütter | - | Hit | Similar → |
| 1927 | The Long Intermission | Ottokar | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1927 | Liebe geht seltsame Wege | - | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1927 | Die Lorelei | - | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1927 | Addio giovinezza! | - | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1926 | Ehegeheimnisse | - | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1926 | Junges Blut | Oberprimaner | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1926 | Aus des Rheinlands Schicksalstagen | Walter Thiermann | Average | Similar → |
| 1926 | Grüß mir das blonde Kind am Rhein | - | Average | Similar → |
| 1925 | O alte Burschenherrlichkeit | - | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1924 | Mein Leopold | - | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1924 | Michael | Michael | Average | Similar → |
| 1922 | Sodom and Gomorrah | Eduard Harber - Student am Cambridge-Lyzeum / Ein Goldschmied von Galiläa | Average | Similar → |
Walter Slezak - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best movie of Walter Slezak?
According to audience ratings, the best movie starring Walter Slezak is "Mein Leopold" with a rating of 10.0/10.
How many movies has Walter Slezak acted in?
Walter Slezak has been featured in at least 50 major films throughout their career.
What are some other popular movies by Walter Slezak?
Other notable films include "Junges Blut", "The Long Intermission", and "Ehegeheimnisse".