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John Steiner

John Steiner

Actor · Died July 31, 2022, aged 81 · Chester, Cheshire, England, UK

John Steiner (born 7 January 1941 in Chester) is an English actor. Tall, thin and gaunt, Steiner attended the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts and worked for a few years at the BBC. Steiner featured in a lead role in a television production of Design for Living by Noel Coward. Later he found further work primarily in films. In the late 1960s, Steiner was hired to play a part in the spaghetti western Tepepa. He found himself in demand in Italy and relocated there, specializing in playing villains in a great number of Italian B-movies and exploitation films. John Steiner has appeared in various genres of movies, including horror films and police actioners. He also became a favorite of famed Italian filmmaker Tinto Brass featuring in Salon Kitty alongside Ingrid Thulin and Helmut Berger. Steiner was in very steady demand until the late 1980s. As the Italian film industry dwindled, Steiner retired from acting in 1991 and relocated to California, where he became a real estate agent. In the late 1990s a special magazine was started by Cranston McMillan's Also Press. Titled, John Steiner the zine was dedicated to Steiner's film, TV and stage work, featured reviews and helping fans trace prints of his more obscure Italian work, the publication triggered new interest in the happily retired star. Selling mainly in mainland Europe and the USA the zine ran until successfully 2005. A special large format issue ended the run. McMillan remains the best authority on John Steiner and has promised that his long awaited definitve work on the actors career will be with publishers soon. Steiner has recently contributed to DVD extras on some of his films and given interviews about his Italian work. Description above from the Wikipedia article John Steiner, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
January 7, 1941
Died
July 31, 2022 (aged 81)
From
Chester, Cheshire, England, UK
Works as
Actor
Titles
34 on MovieCove · 86 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 37 days to Oct 26Down 5% in 30 days

What are John Steiner's films like?

Across their 30 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Morality and Power.

Genres

Drama10 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 29th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Action8 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 14th percentile
: browse their Action movies
Adventure4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 29th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Adventure movies
Horror3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 10th percentile
: browse their Horror movies

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Morality
28%
Power
24%
Survival
20%
Bonds
13%
Self
8%
Society
4%
Ideas
3%
Justice11 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival7 titles, browse their movies with this themeCorruption5 titles, browse their movies with this themeFreedom4 titles, browse their movies with this themeRevenge4 titles, browse their movies with this themeLoyalty4 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love3 titles, browse their movies with this themeOppression2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 30 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Serious: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their serious movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

A split, not a type: Light 7 · Serious 9 · Dark 14

Stylized: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their stylized movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

Grounded 11 · Stylized 14 · Heightened 5

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

Gentle 0 · Charged 16 · Intense 14

Shifting: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their shifting movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

Steady 10 · Shifting 13 · Whiplash 7

Straight-faced: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their straight-faced movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

Straight-faced 20 · Some laughs 9 · Funny 1

Even-paced: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their even-paced movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 10 · Even-paced 16 · Relentless 4

Engaged: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their engaged movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 10 · Engaged 18 · Full focus 2

Affecting: How much it costs you emotionally; whether you need recovery time. Browse their affecting movies.
Demand · Emotional cost
easyheavy

A split, not a type: Easy watch 12 · Affecting 8 · Heavy 10

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 21 · Open-ended 6 · Ambiguous 3

Roles they play

17 analyzed roles

Usually the Shadow: 9 of 17 analyzed roles.

Shadow
9 of 17
Threshold guardian
3 of 17
Shapeshifter
2 of 17
Ally
2 of 17
Trickster
1 of 17
Show the 17 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
25
Thrilling
11
Dread
7
Melancholic
8
Absurd
8
Other
12

How their films linger

Fun11 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling11 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking10 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 8 with a twist

  • Happy11
  • Bittersweet8
  • Tragic8
  • Ambiguous3

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch John Steiner's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 22 of their 34 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (17).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for John Steiner's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

86 credits, 34 with a MovieCove page; 4 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Fascism on a Thread- The Strange Story of Nazisploitation Cinema(2019)

    as Herr Ermer

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films

  • The Voysey Inheritance (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)

    as Trenchard Voysey

  • Paprika(1991)

    as Prince Ascanio Del Bardo

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all films

  • Sinbad of the Seven Seas(1989)

    as Jaffar

    Midcredits score: 8th percentile of all films

  • Massacre Play (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    as Danilo

  • Big Man (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    Show 1 episode · as Zebra

  • Appuntamento a Liverpool (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    as British Police Inspector

  • The Commander (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    as Duclaud

  • Night of the Sharks(1988)

    as Rosentski

    Midcredits score: 3rd percentile of all films

  • Striker (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    as Kariasin

  • Julia and Julia (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    as Alex

  • Portami la luna (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    as Walfredo

  • The Lone Runner(1986)

    as Skorm

    Midcredits score: 2nd percentile of all films

  • Summer Night with Greek Profile, Almond Eyes and Scent of Basil (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    as Frederick, Fulvia's lover

  • Body Count(1986)

    as Dr. Olsen

    Midcredits score: 10th percentile of all films

  • Cobra Mission(1986)

    as James Walcott

    Midcredits score: 14th percentile of all films

  • Troppo forte(1986)

    as Mike Adams

    Midcredits score: 63rd percentile of all films

  • Commando Leopard (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    as Smithy

  • The Berlin Affair(1985)

    as Oskar Engelhart

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films

  • Cut and Run(1984)

    as Vlado

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all films

  • Un caso d'incoscienza (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    as Milton Tennyson

  • A.D. (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    Show 5 episodes · as Simon der Magier

  • I due carabinieri (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    as Crazy man on the train

  • The Ark of the Sun God (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    as Lord Dean

  • Dagger Eyes(1983)

    as Ivanov

    Midcredits score: 28th percentile of all films

  • Yor: The Hunter from the Future(1983)

    as Overlord

    Midcredits score: 10th percentile of all films

  • The World of Yor (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    Show 2 episodes · as Il Supremo

  • Tenebrae(1982)

    as Christiano Berti

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all films

  • The Hunters of the Golden Cobra(1982)

    as Captain David Franks

    Midcredits score: 14th percentile of all films

  • Car Crash (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    as Kirby

  • The Salamander(1981)

    as Captain Roditi

    Midcredits score: 28th percentile of all films

  • The Last Hunter(1980)

    as Major William Cash

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films

  • The Little Archimedes (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    as Alfred

  • Action(1980)

    as The Manager

    Midcredits score: 14th percentile of all films

  • Caligula(1979)

    as Longinus

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all films

  • Design for Living (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    as Leo

  • Question of Love (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    as Tom Hastings

  • The Sandbaggers(1978)

    Show 1 episode · as Trevor D'Arcy

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all shows

  • Il prigioniero (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    Actor

  • Goodbye & Amen (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    as Donald Grayson

  • Antonio Gramsci: The Days of Prison (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    as Laurin

  • Gangbusters (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    as Killer

  • The Criminals Attack. The Police Respond (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    as Rudy

  • A Man Called Blade(1977)

    as Valler

    Midcredits score: 63rd percentile of all films

  • Shock(1977)

    as Bruno Baldini

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films

  • Von Buttiglione Sturmtruppenführer (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    as Schwein

  • La Gabbia (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    as Il professore

  • Deported Women of the SS Special Section (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    as Herr Erner

  • Mark Strikes Again (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    as Paul Henkel

  • Plot of Fear(1976)

    as Hoffmann

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all films

  • The Hornet's Nest (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    as Fisher

  • Violent Milan (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    as Fausto

  • Salon Kitty(1976)

    as Biondo

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all films

  • Sharon's Baby(1975)

    as Tommy Morris

    Midcredits score: 7th percentile of all films

  • Il cav. Costante Nicosia demoniaco, ovvero Dracula in Brianza (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    as Count Dragulescu

  • Violent Rome (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    as Franco "Chiodo" Spadoni

  • Waves of Lust(1975)

    as Giorgio

    Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all films

  • The Last Day of School Before Christmas (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    as Lieutenant

  • Challenge to White Fang(1974)

    as Beauty Smith / Charles Forth

    Midcredits score: 28th percentile of all films

  • Occupations (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    as Terrini

  • Morel's Invention (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    as Morel

  • White Fang(1973)

    as Charles 'Beauty' Smith

    Midcredits score: 43rd percentile of all films

  • Massacre in Rome(1973)

    as SS-Standartenführer Eugen Dollmann

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films

  • The Police Serve the Citizens? (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    as Lambro

  • The Professional (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    as Johnny

  • Holidays (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    as Scagnetti

  • Slap the Monster on Page One(1972)

    as Ing. Montelli

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films

  • The Sextet (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    Show 1 episode · as Simon Tesco

  • The Case Is Closed, Forget It(1971)

    as Piro

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films

  • Hine (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    Show 13 episodes · Actor

  • Bali (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1970)

    as Glenn

  • The Golden Ass (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1970)

    as Aristomene

  • May Morning(1970)

    as Roderick Rodney Stanton

    Midcredits score: 16th percentile of all films

  • A Girl Called Jules (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1970)

    as Luciano

  • The Ancines Woods (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1970)

    as Robert

  • Twelve Plus One (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    as Stanley

  • Department S (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    Show 1 episode · as Hershall

  • Tepepa(1969)

    as Doctor Henry Price

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • Work Is a 4-Letter Word (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1968)

    as Anthony

  • Bedazzled(1967)

    as TV Announcer (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all films

  • Sanctuary (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Marat/Sade(1967)

    as Monsieur Dupere

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all films

  • BBC Play of the Month (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

    Show 1 episode · as Leo · as Trenchard Voysey

  • Alice (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

    Actor

  • The Saint (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)

    Show 1 episode · as Grey Wyler

  • Armchair Theatre (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1956)

    Show 1 episode · as Gooch · as Nigel

Career shape

Star power in the 97th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 85 titles from 1956 to 2014; peak year 1976.

Biggest box office

Yor: The Hunter from the Future (1983)

$2.8M worldwide

Highest rated

Slap the Monster on Page One (1972)

Midcredits 93rd

Most popular right now

Caligula (1979)

Film career

19562014

Peak 1976 · fewer prominent film roles lately. Top draw in 6 MovieCove titles. Film roles by billing, audience size and rating; 25+ votes. A show carries a single first-air date, so shows are not on the curve.

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting85 of 85: 85 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score30th

By decade

1950s1 · acting1960s10 · acting1970s41 · acting1980s31 · acting1990s1 · acting2010s1 · acting

Billing

usually 5th · top billed in 0% of 30 roles
67727782

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30; the columns are the share of top-billed roles in each era, 5-year spans from the year on the label, merged until each holds at least 5 roles.

How do John Steiner's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 30th percentile, the median of all 33; across their 30 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 34th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

34thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 30

Approval · how many liked their films

27thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 30

Reach · how many have seen their films

58thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 30

Midcredits score across 34 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up5
  • 50th to 74th7
  • 25th to 49th12
  • Below 25th10

Shape of the crowd

16 of their 34 titles are Mixed.

  • Universally Loved2
  • Universally Panned2
  • Crowd Pleaser9
  • Broadly Agreed5
  • Mixed16

Most divisive · actor

Action (1980)

82nd percentile spread · 45% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Slap the Monster on Page One (1972)

Midcredits 93rd · 82% liked

Reviewers score the acting 60/100 in their films, across 27 reviewed titles; fans 69, detractors 41. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Is John Steiner's work okay for kids?

Across up to 9 MovieCove titles with content scores, violence & gore, sex & nudity, profanity and frightening / intense run heavier than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore5 titles51–92 · median 83 · severeheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity9 titles43–78 · median 58 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity5 titles36–77 · median 61 · intenseheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs3 titlesmedian 49 · moderateMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense5 titles34–83 · median 80 · intenseheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 39

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted. The band's colour is the severity of their median, named beside it.

Who does John Steiner work with?

People who share at least 2 of John Steiner's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Silvano Ippoliti shares the most, 5.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers, cinematographers and editors

Producers

Mixed roles