- Born
- Died
- Birth nameMihály Várkonyi
- Height1.78 m
- Handsome Hollywood character player Victor Varconi was born into a farming family on the Hungarian/Rumanian border. Christened Mihály Várkonyi, his career, following training at Budapest's commercial college and dramatic school, thrived for a time on the Transylvanian stage, where he played leads in such productions as "Liliom" at the Hungarian National Theatre in Budapest. His rising popularity as a matinée idol led to film roles, and he made his debut in Sárga csikó (1914) ["The Yellow Colt"]. He had changed his marquee name to the more internationally friendly Michael Varkonyi by the time he branched out into German/Austrian co-productions such as Arme Violetta (1920) ["Camille"] opposite Pola Negri.
In 1924, during Europe's constant political upheaval, Varconi arrived on American soil and sought fame and fortune as a Hollywood actor. Based on his exceptional work as the "Angel of the Lord" in the German/Austrian film Le sixième commandement (1922), Cecil B. DeMille gave him his American film debut opposite established star Leatrice Joy in Triomphe (1924), billed now as Victor Varconi. He proceeded to work for DeMille on a number of silent films, including Souvent femme varie (1924), Le tourbillon des âmes (1924), Le batelier de la Volga (1926) and Le Roi des rois (1927) as Pontius Pilate. Elegant and impeccably mannered in style and nature, Varconi went on to share the screen with some of silent film's loveliest and most talented ladies, including Agnes Ayres, Marie Prevost, Jetta Goudal and Phyllis Haver. Of note is his portrayal of cuckolded husband Amos opposite Haver's flashy jailbird Roxie Hart in the silent Chicago (1927). His last major silent role was that of Lord Horatio Nelson in La Divine Lady (1928) co-starring Oscar-nominated Corinne Griffith as Emma (Lady) Hamilton.
The Hungarian Varconi had a decent voice for sound but his noticeably thick accent completely altered the course of his career. Instead of romantic leading man status, he regressed slightly to suave ethnic character roles -- often playing foreign or royal dignitaries, continental cads or cultivated villains. The forced move probably added years to his Hollywood life. World War II utilized his talents playing nefarious Axis commanders in spy intrigue and war dramas. In Hitler et sa clique (1944) he was quite skillful portraying real-life Nazi bigwig and Adolf Hitler confidant Rudolf Hess. Varconi also appeared in many of DeMille's sound epics, such as Une aventure de Buffalo Bill (1936) (as an Indian chief), Les naufrageurs des mers du sud (1942), Les conquérants d'un nouveau monde (1947) and Samson et Dalila (1949).
As his film career faded, Varconi turned more and more to stage work and radio writing. Among his Shakespearean theatre endeavors were roles in "Hamlet," "Romeo and Juliet," "Antony and Cleopatra" and "Richard III." He also moved occasionally into TV in the 1950s, then retired. Varconi published his memoirs, "It's Not Enough to Be Hungarian", shortly before suffering a fatal heart attack at age 85 in 1976.- IMDb mini biography by: Gary Brumburgh / gr-home@pacbell.net
- SpousesAnna Aranyosi(1919 - 1949) (her death)Lili Varconi(? - July 26, 1976) (his death)
- His normal speaking accent sounded almost exactly like that of Transylvanian Bela Lugosi.
- He was the first Hungarian actor to make a film in the United States.
- He worked on the New York City stage and wrote for radio.
- After his successful excursion to the USA he came back to Germany where he played again under the direction of Alexander Korda in the movie "Der Tänzer meiner Frau" (1925) where he played together with Korda's wife Maria Corda. With her he also acted in the two Italian productions.
- On the peak of his career he came to an abrupt end with the transition to the talkies. He no longer did become offers for leading roles. For the time being he acted in German versions of American movies.Nevertheless he managed to appear regular on the screen for the next two decades.
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