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
The Sea Hawk
(1940)
Gen. Aguirre
The King of Kings
(1927)
Pontius Pilate - Governor of Judea
Strange Cargo
(1940)
Fisherman
Reap the Wild Wind
(1942)
Lubbock
Unconquered
(1947)
Captain Simeon Ecuyer
Suez
(1938)
Victor Hugo
The Story of Vernon and Irene Castle
(1939)
Grand Duke
Full Filmography
Acting
The Yellow Foal
(1914)
The Undesirable
(1915)
Miklós
Bánk bán
(1915)
Havasi Magdolna
(1916)
Mágnás Miska
(1917)
Baracs (as Várkonyi Mihály)
The Wolf
(1917)
A tanítónö
(1917)
A skorpió
(1918)
Hotel Imperial
(1918)
Arme Violetta
(1920)
Sodom and Gomorrah
(1922)
Priester des Lyzeums - Engel des Herrn
Das Blut
(1922)
Herren der Meere
(1922)
Young Medardus
(1923)
Medardus Klähr
Avalanche
(1923)
George Vandeau
Changing Husbands
(1924)
Oliver Evans
Feet of Clay
(1924)
Bookkeeper
Triumph
(1924)
William Silver
L'uomo più allegro di Vienna
(1925)
Her Dancing Partner
(1925)
The Volga Boatman
(1926)
Prince Dimitri
The Last Days of Pompeii
(1926)
Glauco
Silken Shackles
(1926)
Chicago
(1927)
Amos Hart
The Forbidden Woman
(1927)
Col. Gautier
The Little Adventuress
(1927)
George La Fuente
The Angel of Broadway
(1927)
Jerry Wilson
The King of Kings
(1927)
Pontius Pilate - Governor of Judea
Fighting Love
(1927)
The Divine Lady
(1928)
Horatio Nelson
Tenth Avenue
(1928)
Bob Peters
Sinners' Parade
(1928)
Al Morton
Eternal Love
(1929)
Lorenz Gruber
Captain Thunder
(1930)
El Captain Thunder
The Cult of the Body
(1930)
Czeslaw
The Warsaw Citadel
(1930)
Mein Herz gehört Dir...
(1930)
The Black Camel
(1931)
Robert Fyfe
Safe in Hell
(1931)
General Emmanuel Jesus Maria Gomez
Men in Her Life
(1931)
Count Ivan Karloff
Doctors' Wives
(1931)
Dr. Kane Ruyter
The Rebel
(1932)
The Doomed Battalion
(1932)
Artur Franchini
The Song You Gave Me
(1933)
Karl Linden
When London Sleeps
(1934)
Stephen Ronsart
Roberta
(1935)
Ladislaw
Mister Dynamite
(1935)
Jarl Dvorjak
A Feather in Her Hat
(1935)
Paul Anders
Dancing Pirate
(1936)
Don Balthazar (Monterey Captain of the Guards)
The Plainsman
(1936)
Painted Horse
Big City
(1937)
Paul Roya
Men in Exile
(1937)
Gomez
Trouble in Morocco
(1937)
Kamaroff
King of the Newsboys
(1938)
Wire Arno
Suez
(1938)
Victor Hugo
Submarine Patrol
(1938)
Italian Naval Chaplain Vanzano
The Story of Vernon and Irene Castle
(1939)
Grand Duke
Mr. Moto Takes a Vacation
(1939)
Paul Borodoff
Everything Happens at Night
(1939)
Cavas
Disputed Passage
(1939)
Dr. LaFerriere
Strange Cargo
(1940)
Fisherman
The Sea Hawk
(1940)
Gen. Aguirre
Pound Foolish
(1940)
Victor Lestrade
Federal Fugitives
(1941)
Otto Lieberman
Forced Landing
(1941)
Hendrick Van Deuren
Reap the Wild Wind
(1942)
Lubbock
My Favorite Blonde
(1942)
Miller
They Raid by Night
(1942)
Col. Otto von Ritter
For Whom the Bell Tolls
(1943)
Primitivo
Undercover: How to Operate Behind Enemy Lines
(1943)
Enemy Security Officer
The Hitler Gang
(1944)
Rudolph Hess
Scotland Yard Investigator
(1945)
Jules
Where There's Life
(1947)
Finance Minister Zavitch
Unconquered
(1947)
Captain Simeon Ecuyer
Pirates of Monterey
(1947)
Capt. Cordova
Samson and Delilah
(1949)
Lord of Ashdod
The Man Who Turned to Stone
(1957)
Dr. Myer
The Atomic Submarine
(1959)
Clifford Kent