From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Victor Varconi (born Mihály Várkonyi, 31 March 1891 – 6 June 1976) was a highly successful silent film actor in Hungary. Born in Kisvárda, Austria-Hungary, Varconi was the first Hungarian actor to make a film in the United States. His normal speaking accent sounded almost exactly like that of Transylvanian Bela Lugosi.
He worked under contract to Cecil B. DeMille, and played Pontius Pilate in DeMille's 1927 production of The King of Kings.
Because of his accent, Varconi's popularity waned with the advent of sound films and he was cast in smaller parts, often playing Hispanic characters. He worked on the New York City stage and wrote for radio.
He died from a heart attack in Santa Barbara, California on 6 June 1976 at the age of 85. He was interred at the Calvary Cemetery, East Los Angeles, California, US.
Known For
Samson and Delilah
(1949)
Lord of Ashdod
For Whom the Bell Tolls
(1943)
Primitivo
Unconquered
(1947)
Captain Simeon Ecuyer
The Sea Hawk
(1940)
Gen. Aguirre
Reap the Wild Wind
(1942)
Lubbock
Dancing Pirate
(1936)
Don Balthazar (Monterey Captain of the Guards)
The King of Kings
(1927)
Pontius Pilate - Governor of Judea
Full Filmography
Acting
The Yellow Foal
(1914)
The Undesirable
(1915)
Miklós
Bánk bán
(1915)
Havasi Magdolna
(1916)
Mágnás Miska
(1917)
Baracs (as Várkonyi Mihály)
A tanítónö
(1917)
The Wolf
(1917)
A skorpió
(1918)
Hotel Imperial
(1918)
Arme Violetta
(1920)
Sodom and Gomorrah
(1922)
Priester des Lyzeums - Engel des Herrn
Herren der Meere
(1922)
Das Blut
(1922)
Avalanche
(1923)
George Vandeau
Young Medardus
(1923)
Medardus Klähr
Changing Husbands
(1924)
Oliver Evans
Feet of Clay
(1924)
Bookkeeper
Triumph
(1924)
William Silver
Her Dancing Partner
(1925)
L'uomo più allegro di Vienna
(1925)
The Volga Boatman
(1926)
Prince Dimitri
Silken Shackles
(1926)
The Last Days of Pompeii
(1926)
Glauco
Fighting Love
(1927)
The Forbidden Woman
(1927)
Col. Gautier
Chicago
(1927)
Amos Hart
The King of Kings
(1927)
Pontius Pilate - Governor of Judea
The Angel of Broadway
(1927)
Jerry Wilson
The Little Adventuress
(1927)
George La Fuente
Sinners' Parade
(1928)
Al Morton
The Divine Lady
(1928)
Horatio Nelson
Tenth Avenue
(1928)
Bob Peters
Eternal Love
(1929)
Lorenz Gruber
The Warsaw Citadel
(1930)
The Cult of the Body
(1930)
Czeslaw
Mein Herz gehört Dir...
(1930)
Captain Thunder
(1930)
El Captain Thunder
Safe in Hell
(1931)
General Emmanuel Jesus Maria Gomez
Doctors' Wives
(1931)
Dr. Kane Ruyter
Men in Her Life
(1931)
Count Ivan Karloff
The Black Camel
(1931)
Robert Fyfe
The Rebel
(1932)
The Doomed Battalion
(1932)
Artur Franchini
The Song You Gave Me
(1933)
Karl Linden
When London Sleeps
(1934)
Stephen Ronsart
A Feather in Her Hat
(1935)
Paul Anders
Mister Dynamite
(1935)
Jarl Dvorjak
Roberta
(1935)
Ladislaw
The Plainsman
(1936)
Painted Horse
Dancing Pirate
(1936)
Don Balthazar (Monterey Captain of the Guards)
Trouble in Morocco
(1937)
Kamaroff
Men in Exile
(1937)
Gomez
Big City
(1937)
Paul Roya
Suez
(1938)
Victor Hugo
King of the Newsboys
(1938)
Wire Arno
Submarine Patrol
(1938)
Italian Naval Chaplain Vanzano
Everything Happens at Night
(1939)
Cavas
The Story of Vernon and Irene Castle
(1939)
Grand Duke
Mr. Moto Takes a Vacation
(1939)
Paul Borodoff
Disputed Passage
(1939)
Dr. LaFerriere
Strange Cargo
(1940)
Fisherman
Pound Foolish
(1940)
Victor Lestrade
The Sea Hawk
(1940)
Gen. Aguirre
Federal Fugitives
(1941)
Otto Lieberman
Forced Landing
(1941)
Hendrick Van Deuren
They Raid by Night
(1942)
Col. Otto von Ritter
My Favorite Blonde
(1942)
Miller
Reap the Wild Wind
(1942)
Lubbock
Undercover: How to Operate Behind Enemy Lines
(1943)
Enemy Security Officer
For Whom the Bell Tolls
(1943)
Primitivo
The Hitler Gang
(1944)
Rudolph Hess
Scotland Yard Investigator
(1945)
Jules
Pirates of Monterey
(1947)
Capt. Cordova
Unconquered
(1947)
Captain Simeon Ecuyer
Where There's Life
(1947)
Finance Minister Zavitch
Samson and Delilah
(1949)
Lord of Ashdod
The Man Who Turned to Stone
(1957)
Dr. Myer
The Atomic Submarine
(1959)
Clifford Kent