John Steiner, Caligula actor, dies at 81

John Steiner, British actor who appeared in Tinto Brass’ Caligula And in other Italian films, directors Lucio Fulci, Mario Bava and Dario Argento died. He was 81 years old.

Steiner died Sunday at Desert Regional Medical Center in Palm Springs from injuries sustained in a two-vehicle accident near La Quinta, the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department said. desert sun Newspaper.

A lanky Steiner played Treasurer Longinus opposite Malcolm McDowell as the depraved Roman Emperor in erotica. Caligula (1979), one of the few films he made with Brass.

For Fulci, he played tycoon Beau Smith white fang (1973) and A challenge for the White Fang (1974) and Bloodthirsty Dracula in the provinces (1975).

Also appeared in Bava. shock (1977) and Argentina Dingy (1982), where his character received an ax blow to the head.

Born on January 7, 1941, in Chester, England, Steiner studied at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art. He worked with Ian Richardson on Broadway in 1965 with the Royal Shakespeare Company. Persecution and murder of Marat by the inmates of the Charenton Asylum led by the Marquis de Sade.

He met with director Peter Brook for the film adaptation of the play in 1967 and later had small roles in Stanley Donen’s film. dizzy (1967) and Peter Hall work is a 4 letter word (1968), starring David Warner, before achieving success in Italy.

Steiner left acting in the early 1990s to become a real estate agent in Beverly Hills, eventually working for Engel & Völkers. An official there confirmed his death.