Stephen Bekassy (born István Békássy; February 10, 1907 – October 30, 1995) was a Hungarian-born American film actor.
Career Bekassy's American stage debut came in Errand for Berenice in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in 1944. His American film debut was in A Song to Remember (1945).
He appeared in films such as Hell and High Water and Prisoner of War in 1954. On television he made two guest appearances on Perry Mason. In 1958 he played art expert Laslo Kovac in "The Case of the Purple Woman," and in 1959 he played murder victim Rick Stassi in "The Case of the Bartered Bikini." In 1958, he guest-starred as Count Razil in the episode "Command Performance" of the CBS situation comedy Mr. Adams and Eve.The Classic TV Archive Mr. Adams and Eve (1957-58) Accessed 12 June 2021 He played Monsieur Brissard, an attendant to the title character of "The Princess" Jennifer (played by Annie Farge, later spelled with an accent over the "e", or as "Fargue") in S4 E15 of "The Rifleman" which aired 7/13/1961.
Personal life Bekassy was born in Nyíregyháza, Hungary. He married Teri Fejes in 1931, but divorced in 1933. In 1936 he married Lívia Neufeld, but soon divorced in 1938. He emigrated to the United States and eventually married Beverly Violet Bidwell (1905 - 1971) on October 8, 1941, in Carson City, Nevada. Beverly Violet Bidwell wrote under the name Hagar Wilde. They later divorced. In 1969 he married Erika Beregi. He subsequently married Hanna Hertelendy (1919–2008), the widow of actor Robert Walker.
During World War II, Bekassy rescued Jewish escapees. He later worked with Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty.
During the Red Scare, Ronald Reagan accused Stephen of being a Communist because he was Hungarian.
Filmography Year Title Role Notes1930 Kacagó asszony 1934 Purple Lilacs Charlie 1935 The Homely Girl Miklós, Éva bátyja 1936 Barátságos arcot kérek Tibor 1937 Tales of Budapest Feri, Annie öccse 1945 A Song to Remember Franz Liszt 1948 Arch of Triumph Alex 1949 Black Magic Viscount de Montagne 1951 Secrets of Monte Carlo Otto Von Herzen 1951 Ten Tall Men Lieutenant Kruger 1952 Woman of the North Country Andre Duclos 1952 The Pathfinder Colonel Brasseau 1953 Fair Wind to Java Lieutenant 1954 Hell and High Water Neuman 1954 Prisoner of War Lieutenant Georgi M. Robovnik 1955 The Racers Race Official Uncredited1955 Interrupted Melody Comte Claude des Vignaux 1955 The Purple Mask Baron De Morleve 1956 Sneak Preview Season 1 Episode 1: "Just Plain Folks"1956 Serenade Russell Hanson Uncredited1957 Calypso Joe Rico Vargas 1958 The Young Lions German Major Uncredited1958 The Light in the Forest Colonel Henry Bouquet 1959 Alfred Hitchcock Presents Dr. Anton Rudell Season 4 Episode 20: "The Diamond Necklace"1960 Beyond the Time Barrier General Karl Kruse 1960 Pepe Jewelry Salesman Uncredited1961 Bachelor Flat Paul Probest, Artist Uncredited1962 Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse Colonel Kleinsdorf
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