George Pastell (born Georgiou Pastellides; 13 March 1923 – 4 April 1976) was a Cypriot actor, known for playing various character roles in British films and television during the 1950s and 1960s.
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Early life and education
Born to a French mother of Indian origin and a Greek father, Pastell began his career spending two years in banking. Aged 21, he joined the Greek National Theatre. Leaving Cyprus a few years later with only £50 in his pocket, Pastell came to England, scarcely able to speak much English. However, he studied the language by taking evening classes at the Pitman School and soon graduated from the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art.
Acting career
He made his film debut in Give Us This Day (1949), credited as Nino Pastellides, and played villains in film and television. He was often cast by Hammer Film Productions as Eastern characters such as Mehemet Bey in The Mummy (1959), the High Priest of Kali in The Stranglers of Bombay (1960), Inspector Etienne in Maniac (1963), and Hashmi Bey in The Curse of the Mummy's Tomb (1964).
His exotic looks often saw him cast in spy films of the '60s such as From Russia with Love (1963); Licensed to Kill (1965); A Man Could Get Killed (1966); That Riviera Touch (1966); and Deadlier Than the Male (1967). He also appeared in the films Tiger Bay, The Angry Hills (1959), The Siege of Sidney Street (1960), Konga, The Frightened City (1961), On the Beat (1962), The Moon-Spinners (1964), The Long Duel (1967) and The Magus (1968).
He also appeared as the villain in the '60s television series Danger Man; The Avengers (1966 episode "Honey For the Prince"); Doctor Who; The Champions; The Saint; and Department S.
Pastell's stage acting credits included the King of Siam in the musical The King and I, first as a replacement on the original West End production, and then in the UK national tour (1956-57). He starred as Wang Chi Yang in the 1960-62 West End run of Flower Drum Song.
Other work
At the suggestion of his wife, backing singer Gloria George (of The Ladybirds), Pastell went into the recording business. In 1968 with his partner Alexander Dembeniotis and help from a couple of bankers, the Duboff Brothers, he took over Recorded Sound Studio to make it a more commercially viable studio. The place would go on to house consoles and equipment created by electronics engineer Rupert Neve. Pastell acted as studio manager and by 1971, the studio was renamed Nova Sound after being acquired by a group named Scotia Investments.
Personal life
Pastell married singer Gloria George in 1958. In the latter years of his life, the couple moved to the United States, with residences in Miami and Manhattan.
Death
He died in Miami on 4 April 1976 from a heart attack.