Victor Varconi

Biography

Victor Varconi was a Hungarian actor who first found success in silent films in his homeland, Germany and Austria before moving to the United States and continuing in sound films. Born in Kisvárda, Austria-Hungary, he trained at the Actor Art High School in Budapest and acted with the National Theatre there in Shakespearean plays and works by Molnar such as Liliom and The Wolf. He then worked with a Hungarian film company and U.F.A. in Berlin. Under contract to Cecil B. DeMille, he played Pontius Pilate in The King of Kings (1927) and, that same year, Amos Hart in Chicago (1927). His Hungarian accent reportedly hurt his popularity after sound arrived, and he took smaller parts, often as Hispanic characters. He also worked on the New York stage, wrote for radio, and appeared in British and Italian films. He died in 1976.

85years old at death

Born March 31, 1891Kisvárda
Died June 6, 1976Santa Barbara
Star sign: AriesThe sign runs March 21 to April 19

Movie Career

Films: 15
Career span: 32 years1927 to 1959

Genres

Drama53%, 8 films
Romance47%, 7 films
Adventure27%, 4 films
Comedy27%, 4 films
History27%, 4 films

First and latest

Did you know?!

A first
Varconi holds the distinction of being the first known Hungarian actor to appear in a film made in the United States.
Early training
Varconi went to a commercial school in Hungary and then worked as a solicitor for an insurance company. Once acting interested him, he studied at the Actor Art High School in Budapest and moved on to act with the National Theatre there.
A change of course
Varconi's popularity reportedly declined when sound films arrived, partly because of his Hungarian accent, and he took smaller parts, often playing Hispanic characters.

Victor Varconi movies on Netflix

The Atomic Submarine1959IMDb rating 5.1as Clifford Kent
The Man Who Turned to Stone1957IMDb rating 5.3as Dr. Myer
Unconquered1947IMDb rating 6.9as Captain Simeon Ecuyer
For Whom the Bell Tolls1943IMDb rating 6.8as Primitivo
My Favorite Blonde1942IMDb rating 7.0as Miller
Strange Cargo1940IMDb rating 6.9as Fisherman
The Story of Vernon and Irene Castle1939IMDb rating 6.9as Grand Duke
Dancing Pirate1936IMDb rating 5.2as Don Balthazar
The Plainsman1936IMDb rating 6.8as Painted Horse
Roberta1935IMDb rating 7.0as Ladislaw
Safe in Hell1931IMDb rating 6.9as General Emmanuel Jesus Maria Gomez
The Black Camel1931IMDb rating 6.6as Robert Fyfe
The Divine Lady1928IMDb rating 6.1as Horatio Nelson
Chicago1927IMDb rating 7.3as Amos Hart
The King of Kings1927IMDb rating 7.3as Pontius Pilate - Governor of Judea

Best known for

The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.

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For Whom the Bell Tolls1943 Adventure, Drama, History, Romance, Waras Primitivo
IMDb rating 6.811K votes
The Divine Lady1928 Drama, History, Romance, Waras Horatio Nelson
IMDb rating 6.11.1K votes
Roberta1935as Ladislaw
IMDb rating 7.04.0K votes
The Black Camel1931as Robert Fyfe
IMDb rating 6.61.9K votes
Safe in Hell1931as General Emmanuel Jesus Maria Gomez
IMDb rating 6.92.4K votes
Chicago1927as Amos Hart
IMDb rating 7.3667 votes
The Atomic Submarine1959as Clifford Kent
IMDb rating 5.12.2K votes
The Plainsman1936as Painted Horse
IMDb rating 6.82.7K votes

Most often with

Cecil B. DeMille directed three of these films. Gary Cooper appears in three of them, more than any other actor. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.

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Gary Cooper

Fred Astaire

Ginger Rogers

Porter Hall

Luis Alberni

Montagu Love

Cecil B. DeMilleDirector, 3 films

Films together

Gary Cooper3 films together, 1936 to 1947
Gary Cooper's page
- Unconquered1947IMDb rating 6.9Varconi as Captain Simeon EcuyerCooper as Captain Christopher Holden
- For Whom the Bell Tolls1943IMDb rating 6.8Varconi as PrimitivoCooper as Robert Jordan
- The Plainsman1936IMDb rating 6.8Varconi as Painted HorseCooper as Wild Bill Hickok
Fred Astaire2 films together, 1935 to 1939
Fred Astaire's page
- The Story of Vernon and Irene Castle1939IMDb rating 6.9Varconi as Grand DukeAstaire as Vernon Castle
- Roberta1935IMDb rating 7.0Varconi as LadislawAstaire as Huck Haines
Ginger Rogers2 films together, 1935 to 1939
Ginger Rogers's page
- The Story of Vernon and Irene Castle1939IMDb rating 6.9Varconi as Grand DukeRogers as Irene Castle
- Roberta1935IMDb rating 7.0Varconi as LadislawRogers as Scharwenka
Porter Hall2 films together, 1936 to 1947
Porter Hall's page
- Unconquered1947IMDb rating 6.9Varconi as Captain Simeon EcuyerHall as Leach
- The Plainsman1936IMDb rating 6.8Varconi as Painted HorseHall as Jack McCall
Luis Alberni2 films together, 1935 to 1936
Luis Alberni's page
- Dancing Pirate1936IMDb rating 5.2Varconi as Don BalthazarAlberni as Pamfilo
- Roberta1935IMDb rating 7.0Varconi as LadislawAlberni as Voyda
Montagu Love2 films together, 1927 to 1928
Montagu Love's page
- The Divine Lady1928IMDb rating 6.1Varconi as Horatio NelsonLove as Capt. Hardy
- The King of Kings1927IMDb rating 7.3Varconi as Pontius Pilate - Governor of JudeaLove as Roman Centurion
Cecil B. DeMilleDirector, 3 films, 1927 to 1947
All films by Cecil B. DeMille
- Unconquered1947IMDb rating 6.9Varconi as Captain Simeon Ecuyer
- The Plainsman1936IMDb rating 6.8Varconi as Painted Horse
- The King of Kings1927IMDb rating 7.3Varconi as Pontius Pilate - Governor of Judea
Also two films together5 more actors
- H.B. WarnerThe Divine Lady (1928) and The King of Kings (1927)
- May RobsonChicago (1927) and The King of Kings (1927)
- Julia FayeChicago (1927) and The King of Kings (1927)
- Sam AppelDancing Pirate (1936) and Safe in Hell (1931)
- Robert EdesonChicago (1927) and The King of Kings (1927)
When several people share the same number of films, the ones with the most films on Netflix are in the chart.

Online

Official profiles and reference pages.

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