Karlsen, John


The iconic Performers of the Italian Genre cinema
Pic-List (list with profile pictures)
User avatar
PeplumParadise
Moderator
Posts: 31097
Joined: 05.02.19
Location: Spain
Name: Nick
Contact:

Karlsen, John

Post by PeplumParadise » 09/03/2021, 21:35

John Karlsen 1976 1.jpg
John Karlsen in Annuario degli attori 1976
John Karlsen 1976 2.jpg
In Annuario degli attori 1976
John Karlsen was a tall character and bit-part actor who first appeared in several Italian productions in 1958 and who then maintained an Italian film career for almost the next 50 years.

John was born on board a ship travelling from London to Singapore, which was diverted to Australia, on October 20th 1919 (most sites erroneously give his birth place as New Zealand, though one would suppose his nationality was registered as Australian - his parents nationality is unknown). He died, having presumably moved to New Zealand following his belated retirement from acting, in Auckland on July 5th 2017, at the age of 97. A number of sources report his full name as being Charles John Karlsen, a name he was credited under on one occasion.

Little is known of John's life before his arrival in Italy. He spent some time working as a stage actor in Britain, where he had his own repertory company. He first came to Italy to direct a play, where he was discovered by a casting director. He was 39 when his Italian film-career began, but looked somewhat older due to his already-white and receding hair (dyed black on occasion) and gaunt facial features. His looks barely changed for the rest of his career. His appearance tended to get him regularly cast in the roles of butlers, teachers, scientists, doctors, nazis and priests, usually of the more sinister variety. He also directed plays in Rome and worked regularly as a dubbing artist for English-language versions of Italian films.

While his is a quite well-known face, it could be quite possible that there are still a few unknown roles to be discovered.

Some of his biographical details are confirmed by this 2004 interview on wantedinrome.com.

Filmography

1958
  1. Le bellissime gambe di Sabrina .... Security guard at jewellery store (uncredited)
  2. The Naked Maja .... Inquisitor (credited)
  3. Totò nella luna .... Dr. John Forrester (uncredited)

    1959
  4. The Four Just Men (TV series) - ep. 1: "The Battle of the Bridge" .... Second sentry (credited)

    1961
  5. Barabba .... Man in the crowd calling for Barabbas' release (uncredited)
  6. Francis of Assisi .... Brother Morico (uncredited)
  7. Il planeta degli uomini spenti .... United Commission representative (uncredited)
  8. Lycanthropus .... Creepy-looking man at the autopsy and funeral (uncredited)
  9. Una vita difficile .... University professor (uncredited)

    1962
  10. Le sette spade del vendicatore .... Actor (uncredited)
  11. Maciste all'inferno .... Burgomeister (credited)
  12. Marcia o crepa .... Man escorting Ben Bled (uncredited)
  13. Ponzio Pilato .... Senator (uncredited)
  14. Sodoma e Gomorra .... Hebrew (uncredited)
  15. Totò e Peppino divisi a Berlino .... Greta's companion (uncredited)

    1963
  16. 8½ .... Car driver / Priest (uncredited)
  17. Cleopatra .... Egyptian high priest (uncredited)
  18. Il boom .... Doctor (credited)
  19. Le ore dell'amore .... Gay party guest (uncredited)
  20. Totò contro i quattro .... The owner of the villa (uncredited)

    1964
  21. Cleopazza (credited?) .... role?
  22. La cripta e l'incubo .... Franz Kamstein (uncredited)

    1965
  23. Crack in the World .... Dr. Reynolds (credited)
  24. Due mafiosi contro Goldginger .... Commodore Stevenson (credited)
  25. Le bambole .... Alfonso (credited)

    1966
  26. Agente 3S3, massacro al sole .... Mikhailovic's Boss (credited as "John Karsten")
  27. El Greco .... Prosecutor (credited)
  28. Francesco di Assisi (TV) .... Old man by the river (credited as "John Karsen")
  29. Il gioco delle spie .... Mr. Corvin (credited)
  30. Il Natale che quasi non fu .... Blossom (credited)
  31. Io, io, io.... e gli altri .... Producer (credited as "Charles John Karlsen")
  32. Modesty Blaise .... Oleg (credited)
  33. Requiem per un agente segreto .... Franco (credited)
  34. The She Beast .... Count Von Helsing (credited)

    1967
  35. ...4 ..3 ..2 ..1 ...morte .... Crest (credited as "John Karlesen")
  36. Faccia a faccia .... School director (uncredited)
  37. I barbieri di Sicilia .... Nazi chemist (uncredited)
  38. Troppo per vivere... poco per morire .... Photographer in nightclub (uncredited)

    1968
  39. Fenomenal e il tesoro di Tutankamen .... Professor Micklewitz (credited)
  40. Galileo .... Priest who understands the importance of science (credited)
  41. L'oro di Londra .... Ed (credited)
  42. Più tardi Claire, più tardi... .... Priest (uncredited)
  43. Tre passi nel delirio .... Schoolmaster (uncredited)

    1969
  44. Fellini Satyricon .... Man riding in carriage (uncredited)
  45. Femina ridens .... Manservant (uncredited)
  46. Femmine insaziabili .... Fletcher (uncredited)
  47. Vedo nudo .... Psychiatrist (uncredited)

    1970
  48. Mademoiselle De Sade e i suoi vizi .... Marquis Foro (credited)

    1971
  49. La bestia uccide a sangue freddo .... Professor Osterman (credited)
  50. Stanza 17-17 palazzo delle tasse, ufficio imposte .... Safe salesman (uncredited)
  51. Storie dell'anno mille (TV mini-series) - ep. 1 .... Priest (credited)

    1972
  52. Che?.... Edward (uncredited)
  53. Cool Million (TV series) Ep. 1: "Mask of Marcella" .... Werner (credited)
  54. Fratello sole, sorella luna .... Cardinal (uncredited)

    1973
  55. Polvere di stelle .... Nazi commander (uncredited)
  56. Società a responsabilità molto limitata .... Hospital patient (uncredited)

    1974
  57. Il bacio .... Friedrich (uncredited)

    1975
  58. Conviene far bene l'amore .... British agent (uncredited)
  59. Il messia .... Calaphas (credited)
  60. Le orme .... Alfredo Laurenti (credited as "John Carlsen")
  61. Prete, fai un miracolo .... Bishop Ritter (credited - role unconfirmed)
  62. The Count of Monte-Cristo .... Barrois (uncredited)

    1976
  63. Il Casanova di Federico Fellini .... Lord Talou (credited)
  64. San Pasquale Baylonne protettore delle donne .... Wedding guest (uncredited)

    1979
  65. I contrabbandieri di Santa Lucia .... Man at the police meeting (credited)
  66. Mani di velluto .... President of the insurance company (uncredited)
  67. The Black Stallion .... Archaeologist (credited as "John Karlson")

    1980
  68. L'avvertimento .... Ferdinando Violante (credited)
  69. Sam & Sally (TV series) - season 2, ep. 3: "I collezionisti" .... Von Trapp (credited)

    1981
  70. Camera d'albergo .... Shaving priest (uncredited)
  71. The Borgias (TV mini-series) - ep. 7 .... Bishop Francesco Soderini (credited)

    1982
  72. Pronto... Lucia .... Doctor (credited)

    1983
  73. La chambre des dames (TV mini-series) - ep. 2 .... Sires Vives Yehel (credited)
  74. Marco Polo (TV mini-series) - ep. 8 .... Judge (credited as "John Karsen")
  75. The Winds of War (TV mini-series) - ep. 2: "The Storm Breaks" .... Reverend Glenville (credited)

    1984
  76. Dagobert .... Doctor (credited)
  77. Waterfront (TV mini-series) - eps. 1 & 2 .... Professor Arnaldo Chieri (uncredited)

    1986
  78. Asilo di polizia .... Museum guide (credited)

    1987
  79. I Love N.Y. .... Butler (credited)
  80. La monaca di Monza .... Don Carlo (credited)

    1988
  81. Il piccolo diavolo .... Priest from Anzio (credited)
  82. La partita .... Sir Candioni (credited)
  83. Stradivari .... Grand chamberlain (credited)

    1989
  84. Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure .... Evil Duke (credited)
  85. Blaues Blut (TV series) - ep. 5: "Dunkle Pfade" .... Sir Thomas Milton (credited)
  86. La chiesa .... Heinrich (credited)
  87. Valentina (TV series) - ep. 11: "Caduta angeli" .... Rolandi (credited)

    1990
  88. Roger Corman's Frankenstein Unbound .... Parson (credited)
  89. Stasera a casa di Alice .... Saverio's father-in-law (credited as "John Charles Karlsen")

    1991
  90. Il conte Max .... Butler (credited)

    1993
  91. E.T.A. Hoffmanns Der Sandmann .... Spalanzini (credited)
  92. Killer Rules (TV movie) .... Lord Elston (credited)

    1999
  93. Svitati .... Dr. Caputo (credited)

    2003
  94. The Order .... Eden's manservant (credited)

    2007
  95. Il nascondiglio .... (credit only)

English-language dubbing filmography
  • Gli invincibili tre (1964) - voice of King Igos (Carlo Tamberlani)
  • La rivincita di Ivanhoe (1965) - voice of the Prior of Essex (Nando Tamberlani)
  • Le spie uccidono in silenzio (1966) - voice of Professor Bergson (Jesús Tordesillas)
  • A doppia faccia (1969) - voice of Inspector Stevens (Günther Stoll)
  • Fellini - Block notes di un regista (1969) - voice of The Professor (Professor Genius)
  • La battaglia di El Alamein (1969) - voice of General Auchinleck (James Mishler)
  • Concerto per pistola solista (1970) - voice of Peter the butler (Ballard Berkeley)
  • Gli occhi freddi della paura (1971) - voice of Hawkins (Leon Lenoir)
  • 7 scialli di seta gialla (1972) - voice of Burton (Umberto Raho)
  • Cosa avete fatto a Solange? (1972) - voice of Mr. Erickson (Giancarlo Badessi)
  • L'età di Cosimo de Medici (1972) (TV mini-series) - voice of Pope Nicholas V (John Bartha)
  • Zambo, il dominatore della foresta (1972) - voice of Professor Woodward (Attilio Dottesio)
  • Amarcord (1973) - voice of The lawyer (Luigi Rossi)
  • La morte negli occhi del gatto (1973) - voice of Priest (Franco Ressel)
  • Roma drogata: la polizia non può intervenire (1975) - voice of Giovanni (Umberto Raho)
  • California (1977) - voice of Full (Franco Ressel)
  • Il cinico, l'infame, il violento (1977) - voice of Di Maggio's accountant (Dante Cleri)
  • Il mondo porno di due sorelle (1979) - voice of Andy (Daniele Dublino)
  • John Travolto... da un insolito destino (1979) - voice of Hotel manager (Giulio Farnese)
  • L'infermiera nella corsia dei militari (1979) - voice of Ottavio (Gino Pagnani)
  • Un'ombra nell'ombra (1979) - voice of Paul (Frank Finlay)
  • Bakterion (1982) - voice of Vince (Miguel Herrera)
  • Tempi di guerra (1987) - voice of Nazi officer (Demeter Bitenc)

More John!
There are still a few movies where John is credited by various online sources that I have been unable to find, so if anybody has images of him in the films below you know what to do.
  • Un affare tranquillo (a.k.a. Un commerce tranquille) (1964) as Priest [IMDb]
  • Caro dolce amore (a.k.a. Honey Sweet love) (1994) as Sir John Atherton [ANICA]

Kein Karlsen!
Movies where John is credited as appearing somewhere online, but does not appear. There always has to be one!.
  • Io piaccio (1955) ANICA as Doctor. It is similar-looking Renato Navarrini in the role
  • La ciociara (1960) Mentioned in the interview. Johan says he has searched for Karlsen without success
  • It Happened in Athens (1962) IMDb as King of Greece. It is not John in the role.
  • Amarcord (1973) IMDb, mentioned in the trivia section on IMDb (but not the filmography). John does not appear, though he did do some dubbing for the English version
Attachments
screenshot38.jpg
John Karlsen in La bestia uccide a sangue freddo (1971)
Last edited by PeplumParadise on 23/03/2024, 0:27, edited 31 times in total.

User avatar
PeplumParadise
Moderator
Posts: 31097
Joined: 05.02.19
Location: Spain
Name: Nick
Contact:

Re: John Karlsen

Post by PeplumParadise » 09/03/2021, 21:39

Le bellissime gambe di Sabrina (1958) as Security guard at Jewellery store.

This vehicle for American star Mamie Van Doren was reportedly John's Italian film debut.
karlsen3.jpg
karlsen4.jpg
karlsen6.jpg
karlsen9.jpg
karlsen10.jpg
karlsen.jpg

User avatar
PeplumParadise
Moderator
Posts: 31097
Joined: 05.02.19
Location: Spain
Name: Nick
Contact:

Re: John Karlsen

Post by PeplumParadise » 09/03/2021, 21:42

The Naked Maja (La maja desnuda) (1958) credited, as Inquisitor
karlsen3.jpg
karlsen2.jpg
karlsen.jpg
nm2.jpg
Images upgraded
Last edited by PeplumParadise on 12/06/2021, 22:56, edited 1 time in total.

User avatar
PeplumParadise
Moderator
Posts: 31097
Joined: 05.02.19
Location: Spain
Name: Nick
Contact:

Re: John Karlsen

Post by PeplumParadise » 09/03/2021, 21:46

Totò nella luna (1958) as Dr. John Forrester
screenshot3.jpg
screenshot5.jpg
screenshot7.jpg
screenshot10.jpg

User avatar
PeplumParadise
Moderator
Posts: 31097
Joined: 05.02.19
Location: Spain
Name: Nick
Contact:

Re: John Karlsen

Post by PeplumParadise » 09/03/2021, 21:48

Francis of Assisi (1961) as Brother Morico
karlsen_morico.png
karlsen2.png
karlsen3.png
karlsen4.png

User avatar
PeplumParadise
Moderator
Posts: 31097
Joined: 05.02.19
Location: Spain
Name: Nick
Contact:

Re: John Karlsen

Post by PeplumParadise » 09/03/2021, 21:51

Il planeta degli uomini spenti (1961) as United Commission representative
screenshot9.jpg
screenshot13.jpg
screenshot14.jpg
united commision representative.jpg

User avatar
PeplumParadise
Moderator
Posts: 31097
Joined: 05.02.19
Location: Spain
Name: Nick
Contact:

Re: John Karlsen

Post by PeplumParadise » 09/03/2021, 21:59

Lycanthropus (1961) The best role description I can come up with is Creepy-looking man at the autopsy and funeral, since he is only seen hovering in the background in both scenes without seeming to be there for any particular purpose, though he's probably actually meant to be part of the investigative team!
screenshot2.jpg
screenshot3.jpg
screenshot4.jpg
screenshot5.jpg
screenshot9.jpg

User avatar
PeplumParadise
Moderator
Posts: 31097
Joined: 05.02.19
Location: Spain
Name: Nick
Contact:

Re: John Karlsen

Post by PeplumParadise » 09/03/2021, 22:05

Una vita difficile (1961) as University professor
screenshot17.jpg
screenshot19.jpg
screenshot15.jpg
screenshot18.jpg
screenshot11.jpg

User avatar
PeplumParadise
Moderator
Posts: 31097
Joined: 05.02.19
Location: Spain
Name: Nick
Contact:

Re: John Karlsen

Post by PeplumParadise » 09/03/2021, 22:07

Le sette spade del vendicatore (1962) as Actor
karlsen.jpg
karlsen2.jpg
karlsen3.jpg

User avatar
PeplumParadise
Moderator
Posts: 31097
Joined: 05.02.19
Location: Spain
Name: Nick
Contact:

Re: John Karlsen

Post by PeplumParadise » 09/03/2021, 22:10

Maciste all'inferno (1962) credited, as Burgomeister
karlsen8.jpg
karlsen7.jpg
karlsen9.jpg
karlsen6.jpg
karlsen.jpg
karlsen4.jpg
wc2.jpg

Post Reply