Alexander Molchanoff, a renowned Russian-born stage and screen actor, was born in Petrograd, Russia in 1921. He was the eldest son of Colonel Paul Molchanoff, a member of the prestigious Semionovsky regiment. In 1924, his family fled Russia via Finland and Germany, ultimately settling in London, where his grandmother owned a residence on Harley Street.
Alexander received his education at Monmouth School, and subsequently became an assistant to the renowned Russian tenor Vladimir Rosing at Covent Garden. Later, he joined the Royal Air Force (RAF),but was invalided out and went on to pursue a career as a stage and film actor under the stage name Richard Marner.
Marner's early success came with his title role in a stage production of Dracula, where he delivered a memorable performance. He continued to work in theatre, but also began appearing in films, with a small part in The African Queen (1951) being one of his first notable roles. He went on to play German and Russian officers in numerous films, including classic movies such as The Dirty Dozen and The Spy Who Came in from the Cold, as well as James Bond's You Only Live Twice.
In addition to his acting career, Marner supplemented his income by working as a sales agent for a costume jewelry manufacturer. In the 1980s, he played the iconic role of Colonel Von Strohm in the British comedy classic "Allo Allo," which remains his most beloved and iconic performance as an actor.
Marner's last film appearance was in The Sum of All Fears, where he portrayed the Russian president.
