Eric Portman's distinctive delivery, coupled with his refined and somewhat intimidating demeanor, led many to mistakenly believe he was of German or Austrian descent. However, the truth is that this talented actor was a true Brit, born, raised, and educated in the English town of Halifax, West Yorkshire.
Portman's acting career began on the stage in 1923, where he specialized in the works of William Shakespeare and George Bernard Shaw. His first foray into film came in 1935, when he appeared in the Tod Slaughter melodrama Maria Marten, or the Murder in the Red Barn, playing a Gypsy in a rather unexpected role.
As the years went by, Portman became a favorite of renowned filmmakers Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger, leading to one of his most iconic roles: the determined Nazi commander of a German U-boat sunk off the coast of Canada in 49th Parallel (1941). In this film, he portrayed a commander who tries to lead his crew across Canada to reach the safety of the United States, which was not yet involved in the war at the time.
The following year, Portman demonstrated his versatility in the film One of Our Aircraft Is Missing (1942),where he played an RAF officer who finds himself stranded in Nazi-occupied Holland.
Over the next 25 years, Portman remained a prolific actor, taking on a wide range of roles, from villain to hero, in both thrillers and dramas. After appearing in Deadfall (1968),he retired from the screen, apart from a few television projects in the following years.
Sadly, Portman's life was cut short when he passed away in 1969 due to heart problems.
