Stephen Greif was born on Aug 26, 1944 in Highgate , London. He is an Honours graduate from The Royal Academy of Dramatic Art . A recent and past Member of the Royal Shakespeare Co and a Laurence Olivier and London Critics Circle award winning nominee for his work at The National Theatre over many years. He has often appeared in the West End and at The Old Vic
His grandparents were from Budapest,Lithuania, Russia and Poland. His father Ferenc was born in Vienna and his mother Polly in the East End of London.
Attended Hordle House Preparatory School for two years with his older brother Anthony and his younger brother Peter, but in 1955 when his father's partnership was defrauded and the family endured severe financial hardship, he and Peter were enrolled in Primary School in the London area of Ladbroke Grove, then a run down part of London .
He went on to Sloanne Grammar School in Chelsea where he excelled in sport becoming the school's Athletics and Swimming champion representing his school and county in various London and Regional championships - at the famous White City Stadium amongst others.
Played Captain Hook at primary school, and his love of acting was rekindled during a brief spell at Regent Polytechnic. After brief times working for an electronics manufacturer (where he nearly electrocuted himself) and as a junior negotiator in a West End Real Estate Agency, he finally decided to become an actor.
Having been offered places at LAMDA and RADA, he chose the latter where he won a first Class Honours Diploma, as well as receiving 5 other awards including the Prestigious Kendal Award (the Gold Medal equivalent) and others judged and presented by Sir John Gielgud.
Has appeared in many seasons with the National Theatre in both Olivier's companies at the Old Vic and in the West End. and whilst performing in 'Saturday, Sunday, Monday', directed by Franco Zeffirelli and Olivier, he won a best actor nomination at the Critics Circle awards. Shortly after he played Biff opposite Warren Mitchell in the landmark revival of Arthur Miller's masterpiece 'Death of a Salesman' in The Lyttleton Theatre. He won a Laurence Olivier Award nomination for his performance
Further to these notable engagements, Stephen was contracted in Nicholas Hytner's inaugural season at the National Theatre, where he played in productions such as 'His Girl Friday' directed by the multi award winning Broadway veteran Jack O'Brien, 'Edmond' directed by Edward Hall, and starring Kenneth Branagh, and 'His Dark Materials', the 2 part Christmas Show directed by Nicholas Hytner. He appeared in the West End in Ronald Harwoods "Reflected Glory" with Albert Finney, 'Epitaph for George Dillon' with Joseph Fiennes, directed by Peter Gill and in Bill Kenwright's smash hit 'Fallen Angels' working with Felicity Kendal and Frances DE la Tour. He recently appeared at The Old Vic in "Six degrees of Separation" with Leslie Manville . He also contributed to his friend ,the Playwright, Bernard Kops 85th Birthday celebration with a rehearsed performance of his breakthrough play "The Hamlet of Stepney Green" at London's Jewish Museum.
Recently appeared at The Globe in an adaptation of "The Prince of West End Avenue"
He has played on Stage opposite such luminaries as Sir Laurence Olivier,Elaine Stritch, Denholm Elliot, Dame Joan Plowright,Sir Anthony Hopkins, Frank Langella,Sir Ian Mackellan, Joseph Fiennes and Albert Finney and Directed by Laurence Olivier, Franco Zeffirelli, Trevor Nunn, David Jones, Clifford Williams Michael Blakemore, Jonathan Miller, John Dexter, Nicholas Hytner, Edward Hall,Alan Strachan, Peter Coe, Elijah Moshinsky, Peter Gill and on several occasions Michael Rudman.
Aside from a continuing presence in the theatre, Stephen has also garnered a long list of television and film work. Early television roles included parts in 'Edward II' and Richard 11, 'The Persuaders', 'Thriller', 'The New Avengers' Killers, Armchair Thriller, Dirty Money (with Ian Mcshane) and "The Lives and Loves of a She-Devil".
Was cast in his most recognizable role - the villainous Travis in the famous BBC science fiction series 'Blake's 7'. The character would appear throughout the first series. He also took notable roles in"The Persuaders" 'Dick Turpin', 'Return of the Saint' , "Play For Today" (Twice) and 3 series of 'Citizen Smith'. With Robert Lindsay and produced and directed by the legendary Dennis Main Wilson
Has continued to build up a remarkable number of television appearances to the present, acting in productions such as "New Tricks" ,"Silent Witness"," Waking the Dead" ,"Dr Who", "Mistresses", 'Spooks', 'Space Race', 'Holby City', "Midnight Movie" (Denis Potter), "Minder", 'EastEnders' and 'The Bill'.
Recent film roles include "Risen"(2016) "Bill"(2015) "Woman in Gold" (2015)"Boogie Woogie" (2009), "Shoot on Sight" (2008), "Eichmann" (2008),"Back in Business" (2007), "Sixty Six" (2006), "Casanova" (2006), "The Upside of Anger" (2005), "Fakers "(2004) and "Spartan" (2004).
Stephen has narrated countless talking books including The History of the Jews, Inspector Palfrey of Westminster (6 books), Send no more Roses, The Match King, He Kills Coppers, Seeking Robinson Crusoe, The Boy with the Magic Numbers (for which he won the prestigious Earphones Award from BBC Audiobooks America), The Pianist, The Darkness of Wallis Simpson, and His Dark Materials.
His radio work includes Waterloo,:The ball at Brussels, The Castle, The Zone, The Carter Mysteries, Austerlitz,Love and War,The Man in Black, Tinker tailor soldier spy, "Peter Lorre V Peter Lorre" (playing Lorre), "The Grand Hotel Babylon", "The Babbington Plot", The Devil was here Yesterday, The Iceman, Witness, Take-away, Down and Out in London and Paris, Captain Corelli's Mandolin, and Hooligan Nights.
He has also voiced hundreds of Radio and Television commercials as well as thousands of cinema and television promos and trailers, On -line games, corporate presentations, Narratives and scores of voices for numerous computer games including the latest Sony Playstation game, Puppeteer, Zenoblade Chronicles, Risen 2, Fable 2. Dragon Quest, Witcher, Venetica .Medieval, Momento Mori.
He is the proud inventor of "VoiceQuality", a system for describing the Quality and Character of the human voice and licensed worldwide to the famous actors directory "The Spotlight".
Appeared by invitation of the National Film Theatre to discuss his work in Blakes 7.
Appeared by invitation of the Israeli Embassy to read from Amos Oz,s "A Tale of Love and Darkness" to celebrate the founding of the state of Israel.
Is a keen golfer, a member of The Stage Golfing Society and a Movie buff.
