Union Films

In a series of pieces, I am trying to encourage other Union Films Bloggers to write about a minor actor they find interesting in the Bond franchise.

Among the minor actors that grace the Bond franchise from time to time, one name in my family is well known: that of Walter Gotell, my Great Uncle-in-law (Grandfather’s Brother’s Wife’s Brother- pretty tenuous as familial ties go…). Described by one relative as an aloof arrogant man, who saw himself as above other people. Nevertheless he played one of the iconic Bond Russians, and a host of other characters in many movies, including several somewhat ironic roles comprising Nazi officers.

Walter Gotell as General Gogol in "A View to a Kill"

Born in Bonn, Germany, he emigrated to the United Kingdom with his jewish family when the Nazi regime came to power. Already fluent in English (along with four other languages), he took up acting, normally as German henchmen- a stereotype that was to carry his career right up until 1995, when in his penultimate role he played Victor Kempler, a secondary role in “The X-Files”.

He played many of these one-off character roles in television series, ranging from Knight Rider to Star Trek. He used the remuneration from his assortment of roles as capital to underpin his business interests.

No Walter Gotell, but it is a car chase from 'The Living Daylights'

In the Bond franchise, Gotell is most recognisable as general Gogol in “The Living Daylights“, “A View To A Kill“, “Octopussy“, “For Your Eyes Only“, “Moonraker“, and “The Spy Who Loved Me“. However, his first role amongst Bond was that of Morzeny (another henchman) in “From Russia With Love“.

Gotell died in 1997 from cancer, shortly after his last picture, “Prince Valiant“, in which he played Erik the Old.

Philip Adler

Philip Adler is a postgraduate student at Southampton University. Though strictly still a student member of the club, he's increasingly feeling like one of the "Old Boys". He watches films as a way to meet up with friends, old and new, and shoots highly focused x-ray beams at crystals to find out what they're made of the rest of the time. An uber-geek, he programs to make extra cash on the side, and when he gets round to it, to help with the Union activities. His favourite film is the Matrix, and he has a wonderful wife.

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