Trivia

Deported from the USA due to a "deficiency in his documentation". Berkoff violated visa regulations in 1997 by staying one day longer than he was supposed to. (June 25, 2002)

In 1996, Berkoff won Berkoff vs. Burchill, a libel civil action that he brought against Sunday Times journalist Julie Burchill after she published comments suggesting that he was "hideously ugly". The judge ruled for Berkoff, finding that Burchill's actions "held him to ridicule and contempt.".

After being deported in June 2002, Berkoff accused the US authorities of "Post September 11 hysteria". Ironically, shortly afterwards he performed a tribute about 9/11 at the Edinburgh festival fringe. He gave a solo performance entitled "Requiem For Ground Zero" at the Assembly Rooms, where his epic poem lasted for almost an hour.

Berkoff has stated that he accepts roles in Hollywood only to subsidise his theatre work, and that he regards many of the films in which he has appeared as lacking artistic merit.

He was offered the role of Frank Booth in Blue Velvet (1986), but turned it down, saying "there was nothing in that part except destruction".

He is of Russian Jewish and Romanian Jewish descent.

As of 2016, has appeared in three films that were nominated for the Best Picture Oscar: Nicholas and Alexandra (1971), A Clockwork Orange (1971) and Barry Lyndon (1975).

Trained at the Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Arts in London, whose alumni include Terence Stamp, Hugh Bonneville, Rupert Friend, Angela Lansbury, Matthew Goode, Sue Johnston, Daniel Hunt, Minnie Driver and Julian Fellowes.

Steven Berkoff has appeared in movies with four of the six actors who have played James Bond. With Sean Connery in Outland (1981), with Roger Moore in Octopussy (1983), with Timothy Dalton in The Tourist (2010), and with Daniel Craig in The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2011). Furthermore Steven Berkoff and Pierce Brosnan both appeared in The Professionals (1977).

He played the Florentine preacher Girolamo Savonarola in both A Season of Giants (1990) and The Borgias (2011).

He was offered the role of Rostrov in Invasion U.S.A. (1985), but passed because of the violence.

He was awarded the 1982 Drama Logue Award for Outstanding Direction for "Metamorphosis" at the Mark Taper Forum Theatre in Los Angeles, California.

Lives with his partner, concert pianist Clara Fischer, in Limehouse, east London, in a flat overlooking the River Thames. Fischer appeared onscreen with Berkoff in his film Decadence (1994).

Has acted in both the Doctor Who Franchise and the Eon James Bond franchise.

He was considered to play Dick Jones in RoboCop (1987).

In 2012, Berkoff, with others, wrote in support of Israel's national theatre, Habima, performing in London.

He was considered for many guest roles in Doctor Who (1963) - Commander Vorshak in "Warriors of The Deep", Commander Lytton in "Resurrection of the Daleks", Maylin Tekker in "Timelash", and Ratcliffe in "Remembrance of the Daleks". He would later play Shakri The Power of Three (2012).

Has two daughters, Mylea and Sarah, from previous relationships outside of his marriages.

Considered for the roles of Dr. Armstong and Dr. Bukovsky in Lifeforce (1985).