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Walter Slezak

Walter Slezak

Actor · Died April 21, 1983, aged 80 · Vienna, Austria

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.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
May 3, 1902
Died
April 21, 1983 (aged 80)
From
Vienna, Austria
Works as
Actor
Titles
34 on MovieCove · 86 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 38 days to Oct 27Down 18% in 30 days

What are Walter Slezak's films like?

Across their 31 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Morality.

Genres

Adventure10 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 59th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Adventure movies
Comedy10 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 53rd percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Drama8 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 51st percentile
: browse their Drama movies
Action2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 60th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Action movies

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Bonds
40%
Morality
23%
Power
15%
Self
14%
Society
5%
Survival
3%
Romantic love9 titles, browse their movies with this themeDeception8 titles, browse their movies with this themeLoyalty7 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds6 titles, browse their movies with this themeFreedom6 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity3 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice3 titles, browse their movies with this themeGreed4 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 31 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Light: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their light movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

Light 21 · Serious 5 · Dark 5

Stylized: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their stylized movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

A split, not a type: Grounded 14 · Stylized 11 · Heightened 6

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

Gentle 11 · Charged 17 · Intense 3

Shifting: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their shifting movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

A split, not a type: Steady 16 · Shifting 15 · Whiplash 0

Some laughs: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their some laughs movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

Straight-faced 12 · Some laughs 13 · Funny 6

Even-paced: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their even-paced movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

A split, not a type: Slow burn 16 · Even-paced 14 · Relentless 1

Casual: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their casual movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 21 · Engaged 10 · Full focus 0

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 29 · Open-ended 1 · Ambiguous 1

Roles they play

21 analyzed roles

Usually the Shadow: 12 of 21 analyzed roles.

Shadow
12 of 21
Threshold guardian
3 of 21
Trickster
3 of 21
Hero
1 of 21
Ally
1 of 21
Mentor
1 of 21
Show the 21 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
13
Warm
9
Joyful
9
Romantic
9
Absurd
8
Other
26

How their films linger

Feel-good21 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun17 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 3 with a twist

  • Happy21
  • Bittersweet10

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Walter Slezak's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 8 of their 34 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (6).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Walter Slezak's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

86 credits, 34 with a MovieCove page; 13 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • The Love Boat(1977)

    Show 2 episodes · as Marcel Locksmith

    Midcredits score: 20th percentile of all shows

  • The Mysterious House of Dr. C. (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    as Dr. Coppelius

  • Treasure Island(1972)

    as Squire Trelawney

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films

  • Assignment: Vienna (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    Show 1 episode · as Tandler

  • Black Beauty(1971)

    as Hackenschmidt

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all films

  • The Juggler of Notre Dame (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1970)

    as The Innkeeper

  • A Hundred-Odd Years from Now (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    Actor

  • Dr. Coppelius (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1968)

    as Dr. Coppelius

  • Heidi(1968)

    as Father Richter

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films

  • The Legend of Robin Hood (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1968)

    as Friar Tuck

  • The Caper of the Golden Bulls(1967)

    as Antonio Gonzales

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films

  • Congress of Love (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1966)

    as Der 'Ewige Wiener'

  • Batman(1966)

    Show 2 episodes · as The Clock King

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all shows

  • A Very Special Favor(1965)

    as Etienne

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films

  • 24 Hours to Kill(1965)

    as Malouf

    Midcredits score: 11th percentile of all films

  • Emil and the Detectives(1964)

    as Baron

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films

  • Wonderful Life (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1964)

    as Lloyd Davis

  • A Cry of Angels (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1963)

    Actor

  • The Wonderful World of the Brothers Grimm(1962)

    as Stossel

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • Dr. Kildare (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    Show 1 episode · as Dr. Max Jurgens

  • Cain's Hundred (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    Show 1 episode · as Arnie Grote

  • Come September(1961)

    as Maurice Clavell

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all films

  • Outlaws (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1960)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • The Chevy Mystery Show (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1960)

    Show 18 episodes · as Host

  • The Dow Hour of Great Mysteries (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1960)

    Show 1 episode · as Count Fosco

  • The Miracle (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)

    as Flaco

  • Startime (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)

    Show 1 episode · as Joseph

  • Rawhide (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)

    Show 1 episode · as Lazio Tzgorni

  • A Doll's House(1959)

    as Presenter

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • 77 Sunset Strip (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1958)

    Show 4 episodes · as Oskar Pauker

  • Pinocchio (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1957)

    as Gepetto

  • Alcoa Theatre (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1957)

    Show 1 episode · as Finch

  • Ten Thousand Bedrooms(1957)

    as Papa Martelli

    Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all films

  • Telephone Time (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1956)

    Show 1 episode · as Henri Charpentier

  • THe Good Fairy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1956)

    as Max Sporum

  • The 20th Century Fox Hour (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1955)

    Show 1 episode · as Emil Markheim

  • The Steel Cage (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1954)

    as Louis, the Prison Chef, segment "The Chef"

  • The Loretta Young Show(1953)

    Show 1 episode · as Emil Kronsteidt

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all shows

  • White Witch Doctor (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1953)

    as Huysman

  • Call Me Madam (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1953)

    as August Tantinnin

  • Confidentially Connie(1953)

    as Emil Spangenberg

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all films

  • Omnibus (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1952)

    Show 1 episode · as Major Paul Petkoff · as Toine

  • Hallmark Hall of Fame (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1951)

    Show 1 episode · as George Frederic Handel · as Mr. Reallybig

  • Schlitz Playhouse of Stars (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1951)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • People Will Talk(1951)

    as Barker

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films

  • Bedtime for Bonzo(1951)

    as Professor Hans Neumann

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films

  • Danger (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1950)

    Show 7 episodes · Actor

  • Abbott and Costello in the Foreign Legion(1950)

    as Sgt. Axmann

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films

  • Spy Hunt (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1950)

    as Doctor Stahl

  • The Yellow Cab Man(1950)

    as Dr. Byron Dokstedder

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films

  • Robert Montgomery Presents (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1950)

    Show 1 episode · as Krisons Ringo

  • The Inspector General(1949)

    as Yakov

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films

  • Suspense (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1949)

    Show 3 episodes · as Dr. Potterton / Richard Morley · as Frank Cadwallader

  • Studio One (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1948)

    Show 2 episodes · as Adrian Van Dyke · as Lev Simon

  • The Pirate(1948)

    as Don Pedro Vargas

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all films

  • Riffraff(1947)

    as Eric Molinar

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films

  • Born to Kill(1947)

    as Matthew Arnett

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films

  • Sinbad, the Sailor(1947)

    as Melik

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films

  • Cornered (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1945)

    as Melchior Incza

  • The Spanish Main(1945)

    as Don Juan Alvarado

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films

  • Salome, Where She Danced(1945)

    as Dimitrioff

    Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all films

  • The Princess and the Pirate(1944)

    as La Roche

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all films

  • Till We Meet Again(1944)

    as Vitrey, The Mayor

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films

  • Step Lively(1944)

    as Joe Gribble

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films

  • Lifeboat(1944)

    as Willi

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all films

  • The Fallen Sparrow (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1943)

    as Dr. Christian Skaas

  • This Land Is Mine(1943)

    as Major Erich von Keller

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films

  • Once Upon a Honeymoon(1942)

    as Baron Franz Von Luber

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all films

  • Spione im Savoy-Hotel (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1932)

    as Kurt

  • Eros in Ketten (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1929)

    Actor

  • Osudné noci (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1929)

    Actor

  • Almenrausch und Edelweiss (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1928)

    as Mentel

  • Ledige Mütter (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1928)

    Actor

  • The Long Intermission (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1927)

    as Ottokar

  • The Ways of Love Are Strange (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1927)

    Actor

  • Die Lorelei (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1927)

    Actor

  • The Right to Live (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1927)

    Actor

  • Addio giovinezza!(1927)

    Actor

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Ehegeheimnisse (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1926)

    Actor

  • Junges Blut (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1926)

    as Oberprimaner

  • Aus des Rheinlands Schicksalstagen (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1926)

    as Walter Thiermann

  • Grüß mir das blonde Kind am Rhein (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1926)

    Actor

  • O alte Burschenherrlichkeit (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1925)

    Actor

  • Mein Leopold (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1924)

    Actor

  • Michael (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1924)

    as Michael

  • Sodom and Gomorrah(1922)

    as Eduard Harber - Student am Cambridge-Lyzeum / Ein Goldschmied von Galiläa

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all films

Career shape

Star power in the 98th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 85 titles from 1922 to 1977; peak year 1972.

Biggest box office

Lifeboat (1944)

$99 worldwide

Highest rated

Lifeboat (1944)

Midcredits 95th

Most popular right now

The Pirate (1948)

Film career

19221977

Peak 1972 · steadily prominent in film for years. Top draw in 9 MovieCove titles. Film roles by billing, audience size and rating; 25+ votes. A show carries a single first-air date, so shows are not on the curve.

  • 1924Screen debut· Michael
  • 1924First top-billed film· Michael

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting85 of 85: 85 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score57th

By decade

1920s17 · acting1930s1 · acting1940s17 · acting1950s25 · acting1960s19 · acting1970s6 · acting

Billing

usually 3rd · top billed in 10% of 20 roles
2449

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30; the columns are the share of top-billed roles in each era, 5-year spans from the year on the label, merged until each holds at least 5 roles.

How do Walter Slezak's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 57th percentile, the median of all 31; across their 31 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 59th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

59thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 31

Approval · how many liked their films

55thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 31

Reach · how many have seen their films

53rdpercentile
Typical film, the median of 31

Midcredits score across 34 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up8
  • 50th to 74th12
  • 25th to 49th11
  • Below 25th3

Shape of the crowd

17 of their 34 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved3
  • Crowd Pleaser17
  • Broadly Agreed3
  • Mixed11

Most divisive · actor

A Doll's House (1959)

79th percentile spread · 18% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Lifeboat (1944)

Midcredits 95th · 85% liked

Reviewers score the acting 66/100 in their films, across 30 reviewed titles; fans 74, detractors 43. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Who does Walter Slezak work with?

People who share at least 2 of Walter Slezak's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Maria Rohm shares the most, 3.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers, cinematographers and editors

Producers