Austrian-born Walter Szurovy embarked on his acting career on the esteemed Viennese stage, subsequently taking his talents to Karlsbad, Iglau, Maehrisch Ostrau, and in 1937, the Theater in Prague, Czechoslovakia.
Notable appearances in various European films include Not a Word About Love (1937),a Czech production with a German title "Kein Wort von Liebe", followed by Life's Mirror (1938),released in Germany with the US title "Life's Mirror", and People in the Valley (1938),a collaborative effort between Czech and Austrian filmmakers.
In 1939, Szurovy co-starred alongside Elfriede Datzig in Hotel Sacher, and later appeared in the US film To Have and Have Not (1944),an adaptation of Ernest Hemingway's book, featuring an all-star cast including Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall.
In 1941, Szurovy founded the Polk-Szurovy Agency in Hollywood, a venture that would remain a significant part of his career. From 1947, he served as the personal manager to his wife, Risë Stevens, a renowned Metropolitan Opera star.
In 1950, Szurovy took on a supporting role in the West German film Fall 7:9 (1951). His marriage to Risë Stevens resulted in the birth of their son, Nicolas Surovy, a talented actor who would go on to achieve success in film and television, born in 1946.
