Karel Stepanek, a Czechoslovakian-born actor, was predominantly regarded as a German actor due to his extensive film work in Germany prior to World War II, under the name Karl Stepanek.
Born in Czechoslovakia, Stepanek fled to England in 1940, where he specialized in portraying Teutonic villains, often staying away from out-and-out Nazi roles, yet his predilection for wearing black uniforms and barking out guttural commands left little doubt as to the political preferences of his screen characters.
One of his most typical characterizations could be found in the 1946 POW drama, The Captive Heart, where Stepanek showcased his versatility as an actor. He also registered well as a friendlier foreigner in the 1949 film, The Fallen Idol.
Throughout his career, Karel Stepanek continued to commute between London and Hollywood, often taking on roles that perpetuated World War II, frequently on the wrong side. Some of his notable films from the 1960s include Sink the Bismarck! (1960),I Aim at the Stars (1960),and Operation Crossbow (1965).
