Erland van Lidth
Biography
Erland van Lidth was an actor, opera singer and wrestler who was born in Hilversum and moved to the United States in 1958. He later earned a degree in computer science and electrical engineering from MIT, where he was a heavyweight wrestling runner-up in the 1976 NCAA Division III championships. A casting director noticed the 340-pound athlete at the New York Athletic Club, leading to his role as Terror, leader of the Fordham Baldies, in The Wanderers (1979). He became best known for playing Grossberger in Stir Crazy (1980), alongside Richard Pryor and Gene Wilder, and he also appeared in Alone in the Dark (1982) and The Running Man (1987) with Arnold Schwarzenegger. In that final film he played Dynamo, a stalker who sang Wagner and electrocuted victims. Outside film he sang with the Amato Opera and taught computer programming at Manhattan Community College.
34years old at death
- Born Hilversum
- Died New York City
- Star sign: GeminiThe sign runs May 21 to June 20
- Also credited as Erland Van Lidth De Jeude and Erland Philip Peter Van Lidth De Jeude
Movie Career
- Films
- 4
- Career span
- 8 years1979 to 1987
Every film, newest first
- 1987The Running ManIMDb rating 6.6
- 1982Alone in the DarkIMDb rating 6.0
- 1980Stir CrazyIMDb rating 6.7
- 1979The WanderersIMDb rating 7.3
Genres
Share
Did you know?!
A change of course
Van Lidth kept up careers in film and information technology. He also sang often with the Amato Opera in New York, studied to become a Heldenbaritone and taught computer programming at Manhattan Community College.
A change of course
After he graduated, van Lidth worked as a computer professional in Manhattan. He was also an alternate on the wrestling team in the heavyweight division at the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal.
Own stunts
Van Lidth also stood out on the wrestling team, finishing as the heavyweight runner-up in the 1976 NCAA Division III. He was successful in stage productions too, notably playing Miles Gloriosus in A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum.
Erland van Lidth movies on Netflix
Worked with
Erland van Lidth made one film with each of them. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.
Films together
Lin Shaye's page
Donald Pleasence's page
Jack Palance's page
Martin Landau's page
Barry Corbin's page
Arnold Schwarzenegger's page
All films by Paul Michael Glaser
All films by Sidney Poitier
All films by Philip Kaufman
Online
Official profiles and reference pages.