Sandor Elès, a Hungarian-born actor, was born on June 15, 1936, in Budapest, Hungary. His early life was marked by tragedy as he was orphaned during World War II. Seeking a better life, he emigrated to the United Kingdom in 1956, fleeing the Hungarian Revolution against the former USSR.
Elès began his acting career on the stage, eventually transitioning to television, where he appeared in a wide range of roles. He worked on several popular ITC series, including Danger Man, The Baron, The Saint, and Jason King. His television credits also included appearances in The Avengers and The Professionals.
Despite being cast in generic "foreigner" roles, Elès often played Frenchmen. One of his most notable film roles was as the enigmatic Paul in the 1971 thriller And Soon the Darkness. He also had significant parts in the Hammer Horror movies Countess Dracula (1971) and The Evil of Frankenstein (1964).
In addition to his film work, Elès spent four years playing the scheming restaurant manager, Paul Ross, in the popular UK soap opera Crossroads. In 1996, he returned to his cultural roots by narrating the Bartók opera, Bluebeard's Castle. The concert performances, conducted by Bernard Haitink and featuring the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, were recorded for CD.
Throughout his career, Elès was known for his versatility and ability to adapt to a wide range of roles. Despite his passing on September 1, 2002, his legacy continues to be celebrated by fans of his work.
