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Leon Lissek
Leon Lissek
	Lissek as Bruno di Marco in EastEnders
Born	19 January 1939; Australia
Died	13 January 2022 (aged 82); Slough, Berkshire, England
Nationality	British
Occupation	Actor
Years active	1959–2010
Television	EastEnders (1998)
Spouse	Heather Canning (m. 1969; died 1996)

Leon Lissek (19 January 1939 – 13 January 2022) was an Australian-born British actor.

He appeared in over 80 films in his career, which started with Marat/Sade, his film roles include Time Bandits, The Unbearable Lightness of Being, Nicholas and Alexandra, and The Horsemen.

Lissek was also well known for his small screen roles in the TV drama series The Sullivans and EastEnders.

Biography

Lissek was born in Australia on 19 January 1939.^[1] He started acting at the Kadimah in Melbourne, through his school-days and during his university year (he gave up the law course at Melbourne University about half-way through), when he was part of the Marlowe Society in late 1950s. He went to live in England in 1963.^[2]

Lissek played Hans Kauffman on The Sullivans.^[3] He also performed on stage. A review of Company, which played in Exeter in 1980, said Lissek was "admirably cast".^[4] Lissek, who was Jewish, spoke in defence of performing The Merchant of Venice, which is regarded by some as anti-Semitic.^[5]^[6]

Personal life

His wife, Heather Canning, was an actress. They married in 1969; she died in 1996.^[7]^[8] Lissek's death was announced by the entertainment union Equity in June 2022; he had died in Slough,^[9] Berkshire, in January aged 82.^[10]

Selected TV and filmography

Marat/Sade (1967) as Lavoisier
The Avengers (1968) as Taxi Driver in episode The Forget Me Knot
Journey to the Unknown (1968) as Matakitas
Tell Me Lies (1968) as Guest
Special Branch (1970) as Hoffman
The Last Valley (1970) as Czeraki
Countess Dracula (1971) as Sergeant of Bailiffs
The Horsemen (1971) as Chikana Proprietor
Nicholas and Alexandra (1971) as Avdeyev
The Sullivans (1976) as Hans Kaufman
Sweeney 2 (1978) as Cardona Alexandros
The Famous Five (1978) as Hunchy
The Professionals (1978), one episode- Where The Jungle Ends as Pole
Shogun (1980) as Father Sebastio
Time Bandits (1981) as 1st Refugee
The Island of Adventure (1982) as Jo
Ever Decreasing Circles (1984) Christmas special- The Party as Mr.X
Eleni (1985) as Antoni
Personal Services (1987) as Mr. Popozogolou
Noble House (1988) as Christian Toxe
Whoops Apocalypse (1988) as Politburo Member
The Unbearable Lightness of Being (1988) as Bald Man in Bar
Bloodmoon (1990) as Myles Sheffield
The Trial (1993) as Stairman
Nostradamus (1994) as Inquisitor
EastEnders (1998) as Bruno di Marco
Arabian Nights (2000) as Dr. Ezra
Suzie Gold (2004) as Julius
Clouds Over the Hill (2011) as Jacob Schiff

References

^ "Fantasticks premiere". The Australian Jewish News. 26 October 1962. p. 6. Retrieved 1 August 2021.
^ Erlich, Rita (21 January 1977). "Lawyer, Grocer And—Jewishness". The Australian Jewish News. p. 3. Retrieved 1 August 2021.
^ Bowden, Robert (31 March 1980). "'Sullivans' a New Soap Opera from 'Down Under'". Tampa Bay Times. p. 58. Retrieved 12 January 2021.
^ Howe, David. "Company". The Stage and Television Today. Iss. 5185, (28 August 1980): 23. Via Proquest.
^ Gilam, Abraham (3 January 1990). "Two Leon Lisseks Meet: Actor says Shakespeare's 'Merchant of Venice' Merits Performance". St. Louis Jewish Light. p. 11. Retrieved 12 January 2021.
^ Gillam, Abraham (3 January 1990). "Lissek, part 2". St. Louis Jewish Light. p. 13. Retrieved 12 January 2021.
^ Courtis, Brian (15 August 1979). "Hans Looks in on His Old Haunts". The Age. p. 2. Retrieved 12 January 2021.
^ Corlett, William. "Obituaries: Heather Canning." The Stage. London Iss. 6010, (20 June 1996): 38. Via Proquest.
^ "DOR Q1/2022 in SLOUGH (321-1A)". GRO Online Indexes. General Register Office for England and Wales. Entry Number 523326821. Retrieved 12 March 2024.
^ "The Equity Spring/Summer 2022 Journal". issuu. 21 June 2022. p. 43. Retrieved 24 June 2022.