David Hurst
Born 1926 · Age 99
Anglo-German actor and theatre producer (born Heinrich Theodor Hirsch), known for stage, film and television roles including Rudolph the headwaiter in Hello, Dolly!; Kindertransport refugee who built a long international acting career in the UK, US and Austria/Germany.
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Life & Career Timeline
Taken to the UK via Kindertransport
After Kristallnacht and Nazi persecution, he was one of nearly 10,000 Jewish children rescued by the British Kindertransport to the United Kingdom (1938–1939).
Separated from his mother
Separated from his mother at age 12 during the Kindertransport; he never saw her again.
Placed in Northern Ireland manor home
Housed in a manor in Northern Ireland and lived with other emigrant children under the care of an estate manager's family.
First stage experience in Belfast repertory theatre
Gained his first stage experience performing at a repertory theatre in Belfast (name change to David Hurst occurred during this period).
Changed name from Heinrich Hirsch to David Hurst
Adopted the professional name 'David Hurst' while performing in Belfast repertory theatre.
Joined the British Army (WWII)
Enlisted in the British Army during World War II; because of his German background he was assigned to entertain troops rather than front-line service.
Assigned to Entertainments National Service Association (ENSA)
Served with ENSA during World War II performing as an actor and comedian for troops.
West End stage performance: Wolfgang Winkel
Performed the role of Wolfgang Winkel in the West End (role later reprised on film in 1949). Date for West End staging is prior to the 1949 film release.
First film role: The Perfect Woman
Feature film debut as Wolfgang Winkel in The Perfect Woman (role previously performed on the West End).
Film: Tony Draws a Horse
Appeared in the film Tony Draws a Horse (role: Ivan).
Numerous early TV appearances (1950s–1960s)
Throughout the 1950s and 1960s he appeared in many television anthology series and dramatic programs (e.g., Armstrong Circle Theatre, DuPont Show of the Month, Kraft Television Theatre).
Film: Smart Alec
Appeared in the film Smart Alec (role: Poppi).
Multiple 1952 film appearances
Appeared in So Little Time (Blumel/Baumann), Old Mother Riley Meets the Vampire (Mugsy), Venetian Bird (Minelli) and Top Secret (Professor Deutsch).
Films: Rough Shoot & Always a Bride
Appeared in Rough Shoot (Lex) and Always a Bride (Beckstein).
Broadway appearances summary
Had multiple Broadway credits across his career including A Midsummer Night's Dream (1954), Look After Lulu! (1959), Camelot (1960), Henry IV (1973), Dracula (1977) — total Broadway shows referenced as five in theatre databases.
Theatre: A Midsummer Night's Dream (Broadway)
Performed in the Broadway production (ensemble) 21 Sept – 17 Oct 1954.
Films: River Beat & Mad About Men
Appeared in River Beat (Paddy McClure) and Mad About Men (Signor Mantalini).
West End: Wonderful Town (London) & multiple films
Appeared in the London production of Wonderful Town and in films One Good Turn, As Long as They're Happy, and All for Mary.
Visiting professor roles (undated)
Served as a visiting professor at Yale, Boston University and Carnegie Mellon at various times during his career (dates not specified in sources).
Film: The Intimate Stranger (uncredited)
Appeared (uncredited) in The Intimate Stranger.
Moved to the United States
Relocated to the US; based mainly in California while performing frequently on Broadway.
Film: After the Ball
Appeared in the 1957 film After the Ball (role: Perelli).
Broadway: Look After Lulu! (The Policeman)
Performed on Broadway as The Policeman; run 3 March – 4 April 1959.
Award: Clarence Derwent Award
Received the Clarence Derwent Award (recognizing promising supporting performances).
Theatre: Under the Sycamore Tree (Cricket Theatre)
Performed as The Scientist at the Cricket Theatre (7 March – 10 April 1960).
Created Merlyn in Camelot (Original Broadway)
Originated the role of Merlyn in the original Broadway production of Camelot opposite Richard Burton (3 Dec 1960 – 5 Jan 1963).
The Lunatic View (Lucille Lortel Theatre)
Performed in The Lunatic View at the Lucille Lortel Theatre (November 1962).
Theatre: A Month in the Country (Maidman Playhouse)
Played Ignaty Ilyitch Shpigelsky at the Maidman Playhouse (1963–1964, 48 performances).
Recognition in theatre press
Obie Award recognition increased his profile in American off-Broadway theatre circles.
Award: Obie Award for A Month in the Country
Awarded an Obie by The Village Voice for his off-Broadway performance in A Month in the Country.
Theatre: Electra (New York Shakespeare Festival)
Performed as Paedagogus in Electra at the Delacorte Theater (5–29 August 1964).
TV: The Man from U.N.C.L.E. appearances (mid-1960s)
Guest roles on The Man from U.N.C.L.E. (two episodes in 1965 & 1968 as different doctors/scientists).
TV: Mission: Impossible appearance (1967)
Guest-starred in Mission: Impossible (episode: 'The Astrologer').
Film appearance: How to Steal the World (archive footage)
Credit appears (archive footage) in How to Steal the World (1968).
Starred in Hello, Dolly! (film) as Rudolph
Played Rudolph the headwaiter in the film Hello, Dolly! alongside Barbra Streisand and Walter Matthau — his most notable American film role.
TV: Star Trek episode 'The Mark of Gideon' (Hodin)
Appeared in Star Trek (Original Series) as Hodin in the episode 'The Mark of Gideon'.
Film: The Maltese Bippy
Appeared as Dr. Charles Strauss in The Maltese Bippy (1969).
TV: Mission: Impossible (second appearance, 1969)
Appeared on Mission: Impossible again (episode: 'The Test Case' as Dr. Oswald Beck).
Film: Kelly's Heroes (Col. Dankhopf)
Appeared in Kelly's Heroes as Col. Dankhopf (1970).
TV: Dark Shadows (Justin Collins)
Appeared in Dark Shadows as Justin Collins (3 episodes).
Broadway: Henry IV (Dr. Dionysius Genoni)
Performed in Henry IV on Broadway, run 28 April – 28 May 1973.
TV: Serpico appearance
Guest appearance in the TV series Serpico (episode: 'The Indian').
Broadway: Dracula (Abraham Van Helsing) replacement
Performed as Abraham Van Helsing in the Broadway production of Dracula (20 Oct 1977 – 6 Jan 1980) as a replacement.
Film: The Boys from Brazil (Strasser)
Appeared in The Boys from Brazil (1978).
TV: Nero Wolfe (TV film/broadcast)
Appeared in a Nero Wolfe TV film (Fritz).
Worked in German–American co-productions; visited East Berlin
In the 1980s he appeared in several German-American co-productions and visited his half-brother Wolfgang Heinz in East Berlin; decided to remain in Germany and worked with director George Tabori.
Final film/TV film role: Skokie (Sol Goldstein)
Played Sol Goldstein in the TV film Skokie (listed as his final film role in some sources, 1981 in filmography; Skokie broadcast 1981).
Worked with George Tabori in Vienna and Berlin
Collaborated with fellow emigrant and Actors Studio colleague George Tabori in Vienna and Berlin after deciding to remain in Germany.
Theatre: The Faithful Brethren of Pitt Street (Orpheum Theatre)
Performed as Joseph Knaitsch at the Orpheum Theatre (5–20 November 1988; 20 performances).
Award nominations: Helen Hayes & Olivier (Incommunicado)
Listed (per theatre databases) as a nominee for the Helen Hayes Award and Olivier Award (Outstanding Lead Actor, Non-Resident Production) for Incommunicado (1990).
Joined Burgtheater Vienna
Began working at the Burgtheater in Vienna (from 1991).
Returned to Berlin and retired from acting
Returned to live in Berlin in 2000 and retired from acting.
Career span milestone
Recorded years active as an actor/theatre producer: 1948–2000.
Credited in a late project (reported)
Some sources (Fandango) list a later credit (The Transporter, 2002) as a most recent project — attribution uncertain; included for completeness with low confidence.
Death in Berlin
Died in Berlin after suffering a stroke and pneumonia.
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