Anthony Steel, a British actor, was primarily known for his numerous "matinée idol" roles in the 1950s, particularly in Britain. However, he is perhaps more famously remembered globally as the former husband of the renowned actress Anita Ekberg.
Steel's career in Hollywood never truly took off, and during his marriage to Ekberg, he was often referred to as "Mr. Ekberg," a subtle dig at his lack of success in the film industry following the eventual breakdown of their marriage.
Born in London, Steel was the son of an Indian army officer and was educated at Cambridge University. Prior to pursuing a career in acting, Steel served as a Major in the Grenadier Guards Parachute Regiment during World War II, and he even spent some time in the Special Air Service (S.A.S.),leaving the regiment in 1948.
It wasn't until after the war that Steel decided to venture into acting, starring in films such as Malta Story (1953) for the J. Arthur Rank studio. His career reached its peak in the 1950s, and he was hailed as one of Britain's leading movie stars when he married Ekberg in 1956 and set out to make a name for himself in Hollywood.
However, Steel found the Hollywood film industry unsatisfactory and even hostile, and he eventually turned to making European films in the 1970s and 1980s, including the infamous The Story of O (1975),as well as guest appearances on British television.
Anthony Steel passed away on March 21, 2001, in Northwood, Middlesex, England.
