Ferdy Mayne

Ferdy Mayne (born Ferdinand Philip Mayer-Horckel; 11 March 1916 – 30 January 1998) was a German actor. Mayne was born in Mainz, Germany. His German father was the Judge of Mayence, and his half-English mother gave singing lessons. Because his family was Jewish, he was sent to England to protect him from the Nazis, and he stayed with his aunt, the photographer and sculptress Lee Hutchinson. His parents were detained in Buchenwald, but because of h... more

Ferdy Mayne (born Ferdinand Philip Mayer-Horckel; 11 March 1916 – 30 January 1998) was a German actor. Mayne was born in Mainz, Germany. His German father was the Judge of Mayence, and his half-English mother gave singing lessons. Because his family was Jewish, he was sent to England to protect him from the Nazis, and he stayed with his aunt, the photographer and sculptress Lee Hutchinson. His parents were detained in Buchenwald, but because of his mother's connections could then leave Germany for England. When World War II broke out, he worked as an informant for MI5. Significant clues to his work for MI5 were provided by Joan Miller in her posthumously published memoir 'One Girl's War' (1986). He had also acted as a witness at Miller's marriage in 1945. Mayne appeared in 230 films and TV shows. In 1967 he became world famous by starring as Count von Krolock in Roman Polanski's The Fearless Vampire Killers. In 1977, he appeared in the It Pays To Advertise episode of Are You Being... less