Paul Konrad Müller was a Swiss actor, who spent the majority of his career in Italy. His motion picture acting career spanned a period of 51 years, with over 230 film roles between 1948 and 2004.
Occupation
film actor, television actor, stage actor, voice actor
Paul Konrad Müller (11 March 1923 – 2 September 2016) was a Swiss actor, who spent the majority of his career in working in Italian cinema. His motion picture acting career spanned a period of 51 years, with over 230 film and television roles between 1948 and 2004.
Contents
Early life and education
Müller was born in Neuchâtel in 1923, to upper-class Swiss and French parents active in the Salvation Army. Due to his parents' work, he moved frequently during his childhood, raised at various points in Bern and Brussels, and finally settling in Paris in 1934. He originally trained to be a typographer, before enrolling in the Conservatoire national supérieur d'art dramatique in 1941.
Career
Theatre
Müller had different engagements at theatres in Paris, including the Théâtre Pigalle and Salle Pleyel. After the liberation of Paris in 1944, he enlisted in the French Army, and served for two years in Indochina, shortly before the First Indochina War took place there. He caught malaria during that time and, in consequence of the disease, was left hard of hearing in one of his ears.
He was discharged in 1947, and had different engagements at theatres and touring companies not only in France, but also in the French part of Allied-occupied Germany and in Florence, e. g. "Tournée Spectacles Moyses", Teatro della Pergola, under the direction of Georges Douking.
Film
Müller's first film role came at age 25 in Ruy Blas (1948), directed by Pierre Billon. However, his career took off after he relocated to Italy, and found himself working with preeminent directors like Roberto Rossellini, Pietro Germi, Mario Bava, Sergio Corbucci, Michelangelo Antonioni, Riccardo Freda and Alessandro Blasetti. During the 1950s, he established himself as a respected and in-demand character actor in Italian cinema, typically cast as villains or other malefactors. In 1954, he had the lead role in the West German film Verrat an Deutschland, a biopic of Soviet spy Richard Sorge.
Beginning with 1957's I Vampiri, Müller became a fixture in the horror film genre. He was notably one of the frequent collaborators of Spanish cult director Jesús Franco, appearing in 15 of his films during the 1960s and '70s. He also appeared in films under the direction of René Clément, Michael Curtiz, Richard Fleischer, Jean-Pierre Mocky and many others.
In 2009, the German distributor Anolis published a 2-disc DVD Collector's Edition of I Vampiri. That item includes, inter alia, three different versions of the first Italian horror movie of the sound era and an exclusive interview with Müller about his career ("C'est la Vie – Paul Müller erzählt").
Death
Müller died in Tivoli, Lazio on 2 September 2016, at the age of 93.
Selected filmography
Ruy Blas (dir. Pierre Billon, 1948)
Une grande fille toute simple (dir. Jacques Manuel, 1948)
Buried Alive (dir. Guido Brignone, 1949), as Count Federico De Rossi
Fabiola (dir. Alessandro Blasetti, 1949)
William Tell (dir. Giorgio Pastina and Michał Waszyński, 1949), as Gessler
Il bacio di una morta (dir. Guido Brignone, 1949), as Hans
Sicilian Uprising (dir. Giorgio Pastina, 1949), as Duke de Saint-Rémy, Governor of Palermo
Il falco rosso (dir. Carlo Ludovico Bragaglia, 1949), as Baron Goffredo
Romanticismo (dir. Clemente Fracassi, 1949), as Cesky
Toto Looks for a Wife (dir. Carlo Ludovico Bragaglia, 1950), as Carlo
The Transporter (dir. Giorgio Simonelli, 1950)
The Black Captain (dir. Giorgio Ansoldi and Alberto Pozzetti, 1951), as Giuliano
Four Ways Out (dir. Pietro Germi, 1951), as Guido Marchi
Revenge of the Pirates (dir. Primo Zeglio, 1951), as Espinosa
Stasera sciopero (dir. Mario Bonnard, 1951), as The mad man
Repentance (dir. Mario Costa, 1952), as Berardo Morelli
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Viva il cinema! (dir. Giorgio Baldaccini and Enzo Trapani, 1952)
La voce del sangue (dir. Pino Mercanti, 1952), as Count Franco Sampieri
Abracadabra (dir. Max Neufeld, 1952), as Alfredo
Lieutenant Giorgio (dir. Raffaello Matarazzo, 1952), as Count Stefano di Monserrato
Brothers of Italy (dir. Fausto Saraceni, 1952), as Luigi Staffi
I sette dell'Orsa maggiore (dir. Duilio Coletti, 1953), as Enemy agent
The Blind Woman of Sorrento (dir. Giacomo Gentilomo, 1953), as Carlo Basileo
Anna's Sin (dir. Camillo Mastrocinque, 1953), as Alberto
I misteri della giungla nera (dir. Ralph Murphy and Gian Paolo Callegari, 1954), as Suyodhana
La prigioniera di Amalfi (dir. Giorgio Cristallini, 1954), as Baron Cangemi
Two Nights with Cleopatra (dir. Mario Mattoli, 1954), as Tortul
Public Opinion (dir. Maurizio Corgnati and Goffredo Alessandrini, 1954), as Carlo Leone
La vendetta dei Tughs (dir. Ralph Murphy and Gian Paolo Callegari, 1954), as Suyodhana
Schiava del peccato (dir. Raffaello Matarazzo, 1954), as Voyager
Journey to Italy (dir. Roberto Rossellini, 1954), as Paul Dupont
Verrat an Deutschland (dir. Veit Harlan, 1955), as Richard Sorge
Suonno d'ammore (dir. Sergio Corbucci, 1955), as Carmelo
Tom Toms of Mayumba (dir. Gian Gaspare Napolitano, 1955), as Dr. Assar
Agguato sul mare (dir. Pino Mercanti, 1955), as Baron Staratta
Lacrime di sposa (dir. Sante Chimirri, 1956), as Toni Icardi
Incatenata dal destino (dir. Enzo Di Gianni, 1956), as Piero
Checkpoint (dir. Ralph Thomas, 1956), as Petersen
The Adventures of Arsène Lupin (dir. Jacques Becker, 1957), as Rudolf von Kraft
I Vampiri (dir. Riccardo Freda and Mario Bava, 1957), as Joseph Signoret
Pirate of the Half Moon (dir. Giuseppe Maria Scotese, 1957), as Charles V
Il Conte di Matera (dir. Luigi Capuano, 1958), as Filiberto
Story of a Poor Young Man (dir. Marino Girolami, 1958), as Bevallan
Quando gli angeli piangono (dir. Marino Girolami, 1958)
Slave Women of Corinth (dir. Mario Bonnard, 1958), as L'Asiatico
The Naked Maja (dir. Henry Koster, 1958), as The French ambassador
Captain Falcon (dir. Carlo Campogalliani, 1958), as Rusca
Sheba and the Gladiator (dir. Guido Brignone, 1959), as High Priest
Un canto nel deserto (dir. Marino Girolami, 1959), as Rudi
Due selvaggi a corte (dir. Ferdinando Baldi, 1959), as Count Sarzese
Signé Arsène Lupin (dir. Yves Robert, 1959), as Attaché at the embassy in Rome
Purple Noon (dir. René Clément, 1960), as The blind man
La strada dei giganti (dir. Guido Malatesta, 1960), as Count Monza
Queen of the Pirates (dir. Mario Costa, 1960), as Duke Zulian
The Conqueror of the Orient (dir. Tanio Boccia, 1960), as Sultan Dakar
Minotaur, the Wild Beast of Crete (dir. Silvio Amadio, 1960), as Medico di Corte
La grande vallata (dir. Angelo Dorigo, 1961)
The Wastrel (dir. Michael Cacoyannis, 1961)
Legge di guerra (dir. Bruno Paolinelli, 1961), as Interpreter
Capitani di ventura (dir. Angelo Dorigo, 1961), as Count Falcino
Pontius Pilate (dir. Irving Rapper and Gian Paolo Callegari, 1962), as Mehlik
Avenger of the Seven Seas (dir. Domenico Paolella, 1962), as Hornblut
Lasciapassare per il morto (dir. Mario Gariazzo, 1962), as The fourth accomplice
It Happened in Athens (dir. Andrew Marton, 1962), as Priest
Women of Devil's Island (dir. Domenico Paolella, 1962), as Lefèvre
Attack of the Normans (dir. Giuseppe Vari, 1962), as Thomas
Street of Temptation (dir. Imo Moszkowicz, 1962), as Dr. Salvatori
Torpedo Bay (dir. Charles Frend and Bruno Vailati, 1963), as Police Commander
Goliath and the Sins of Babylon (dir. Michele Lupo, 1963), as King Rukus of Cafaus
Kali Yug: Goddess of Vengeance (dir. Mario Camerini, 1963), as Botanist Alamian
Desert Raiders (dir. Tanio Boccia, 1964), as Yussuf
Cover Girls (dir. José Bénazéraf, 1964), as Enrico
Da Istanbul ordine di uccidere (dir. Carlo Ferrero, 1965)
Fall of the Mohicans (dir. Mateo Cano, 1965), as Colonel Munro
Nightmare Castle (dir. Mario Caiano, 1965), as Dr. Stephen Arrowsmith
Von Ryan's Express (die. Mark Robson, 1965), as Capt. Josef Sonneberg (uncredited)
Don Camillo in Moscow (dir. Luigi Comencini, 1965), as Russian priest
Lady Morgan's Vengeance (dir. Massimo Pupillo, 1965), as Sir Harold Morgan
Thompson 1880 (dir. Guido Zurli, 1966), as Jameson Brady
Silenzio: Si uccide (dir. Guido Zurli, 1967), as Theotocritos
Three Supermen in Tokyo (dir. Bitto Albertini, 1968)
Uno di più all'inferno (dir. Giovanni Fago, 1968), as George Ward
Stuntman (dir. Marcello Baldi, 1968), as Lamb
Bootleggers (dir. Alfio Caltabiano, 1969), as Pythagoras
Malenka (dir. Amando de Ossorio, 1969), as Dr. Albert
Venus in Furs (dir. Jesús Franco, 1969), as Hermann
How Did a Nice Girl Like You Get Into This Business? (dir. Will Tremper, 1970), as The Director
Eugenie… The Story of Her Journey into Perversion (dir. Jesús Franco, 1970), as Monsieur de Mistival
Eugenie de Sade (dir. Jesús Franco, shot in 1970 and released in 1973), as Albert Radeck de Franval
Count Dracula (dir. Jesús Franco, 1970), as Dr. Seward
Angeli senza paradiso (dir. Ettore Maria Fizzarotti, 1970), as Hermann Fux
The Devil Came from Akasava (dir. Jesús Franco, 1971), as Dr. Henry
Vampyros Lesbos (dir. Jesús Franco, 1971), as Dr. Steiner
X312 - Flight to Hell (dir. Jesús Franco, 1971), as John Somers
Love Hate (dir. Jean-Pierre Mocky, 1971), as Ernest Cavalier
Lady Frankenstein (dir. Mel Welles, 1971), as Dr. Charles Marshall
She Killed in Ecstasy (dir. Jesús Franco, 1971), as Dr. Franklin Houston
Gang War in Naples (dir. Pasquale Squitieri, 1972), as L'onorevole
Life Is Tough, Eh Providence? (dir. Giulio Petroni, 1972), as Mr. Summitt
Treasure Island (dir. John Hough, 1972), as Blind Pew
Tragic Ceremony (dir. Riccardo Freda, 1972), as Doctor
Maria Rosa la guardona (dir. Marino Girolami, 1973)
Studio legale per una rapina (dir. Tanio Boccia, 1973), as Albert
The Edifying and Joyous Story of Colinot (dir. Nina Companeez, 1973), as Brother Hugo
A Virgin Among the Living Dead (dir. Jesús Franco, 1973), as Ernesto Pablo Reiner
The Arena (dir. Steve Carver, 1974), as Lucilius
Miracles Still Happen (dir. Giuseppe Maria Scotese, 1974), as Juliane's father
Kidnap (dir. Giovanni Fago, 1974), as Jimmy
Un linceul n'a pas de poches (dir. Jean-Pierre Mocky, 1974), as Minecci
Heroes in Hell (dir. Joe D'Amato, 1974), as German Soldier
Furia nera (dir. Demofilo Fidani, 1975)
Une vierge pour Saint-Tropez (dir. Georges Friedland, 1975), as Mr. Witson
Frauengefängnis a.k.a. Barbed Wire Dolls (dir. Jesús Franco, 1976), as Carlos Costa
Tutto suo padre (dir. Maurizio Lucidi, 1976), as Stringer
Mark Strikes Again (dir. Stelvio Massi, 1976), as Austrian inspector
A Woman at Her Window (dir. Pierre Granier-Deferre, 1976), as Hotel manager
The Witness (dir. Jean-Pierre Mocky, 1978), as Maurisson's brother-in-law
The Perfect Crime (dir. Giuseppe Rosati, 1978), as Gibson
Derrick – Season 6, Episode 7: "Lena" (TV, 1979), as Mr. Witte
Fantozzi contro tutti (dir. Neri Parenti and Paolo Villaggio, 1980), as Visconte Cobram
Camera d'albergo (dir. Mario Monicelli, 1981), as Hans
Sogni mostruosamente proibiti (dir. Neri Parenti, 1982), as The hotel butler
Nana, the True Key of Pleasure (dir. Dan Wolman, 1983), as Xavier
The Practice of Love (dir. Valie Export, 1985), as French Industrialist
The Two Lives of Mattia Pascal (dir. Mario Monicelli, 1985), as Thief in Monte Carlo
Fracchia contro Dracula (dir. Neri Parenti, 1985), as The employer of Fracchia
Let's Hope It's a Girl (dir. Mario Monicelli, 1986), as Priest
Salome (dir. Claude d'Anna, 1986), as Doctor
Meglio baciare un cobra (dir. Massimo Pirri, 1986), as Fontaine
The Commander (dir. Antonio Margheriti, 1988), as Carbalo
Fantozzi va in pensione (dir. Neri Parenti, 1988), as Duke Count Francesco Maria Barambani
La bottega dell'orefice (dir. Michael Anderson, 1989), as Driver
Fantozzi alla riscossa (dir. Neri Parenti, 1990), as Duke Count Francesco Maria Barambani
Paprika (dir. Tinto Brass, 1991), as Milvio
Le comiche 2 (dir. Neri Parenti, 1991), as the Colonel
Li chiamarono... briganti! (dir. Pasquale Squitieri, 1999), as Bishop of Melfi
