Charles Korvin, born Géza Korvin Kárpáthy, was a multifaceted artist with a diverse range of talents and accomplishments. As a Hungarian-born actor, he began his career in Paris, where he studied at the Sorbonne and worked as a photographer for Yvon, a famous French postcard company. His experiences as a photographer led to his involvement in the CBC documentary film project "Heart of Spain," which he co-directed and photographed during the Spanish Civil War.
Korvin's acting career spanned decades, with notable performances on stage and screen. He made his Broadway debut in 1943 as Géza Korvin, playing a Russian nobleman in the play "Dark Eyes." He later changed his stage name to Charles Korvin and worked steadily throughout the 1940s, appearing in three films with actress Merle Oberon.
However, his film career was halted in the early 1950s after he was blacklisted and refused to testify before the HUAC. Korvin turned to television, starring in early productions for Playhouse 90, Studio One, and US Steel Hour. He also appeared in Disney's Zorro and The Honeymooners, and starred as Inspector Duval in the UK/US television series Interpol Calling.
In addition to his acting career, Korvin was a talented chef and enjoyed cooking and entertaining with friends and fellow part-time residents in Klosters, Switzerland. He and his wife, Anne, were part-time residents in Klosters for more than 25 years, where they would often host dinner parties for their friends, including Julia Child, Greta Garbo, and Deborah Kerr.
Korvin's friendship with Julia Child was particularly notable, as she considered him to be one of the greatest amateur chefs she had ever met. In a 1978 interview with Dick Cavett, Child named Korvin as her favorite amateur chef, praising his culinary skills and enthusiasm. Throughout his life, Korvin remained a versatile and talented artist, leaving a lasting impact on the world of entertainment and beyond.
