Emil Wolk

Emil Wolk
Born 1944 (age 70–71)
New York City, New York, United States of America

Emil Wolk (born Arnold Emil Wolk in New York City, New York) is an Anglo-American stage director and stage and screen actor. He was awarded the Laurence Olivier Award in 1988 (1987 season) as 'Best Actor in a Musical' for Kiss Me, Kate, sharing the award with co-star John Bardon.[1]

Early years

Emil Wolk was born in Brooklyn, New York to principal baritone Jess Walters (Josuoh Wolk) and Emma Walters (née Defina). Wolk moved from his home in New York to London, England at a young age, when his father took up the position of Principal Baritone at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden[2] under Sir David Webster.

Wolk's early career involved participation with various pioneer theatre companies, including the Freehold Theatre Group, the Pip Simmons Theatre Group and People Show, all of which contributed toward his passion for experimental theatre.

Acting career

Trained in theatre and specialising in physical performance, Wolk has worked as a performer on screen and as a director and performer on stage, working with, among others, the Royal Shakespeare Company, the Royal National Theatre and the Royal Exchange, Manchester.

During his time at the Royal Exchange, he directed, performed and choreographed collaborations with director Braham Murray, working together on shows including The Recruiting Officer (1992) and Bats (2000).[3]

There, he also worked with actor David Threlfall in the Count of Monte Cristo (1994), and with Hermione Norris and Michael Sheen in Charley’s Aunt (1994-95), which he directed.[3] He also directed his own production of Sherlock Holmes In Trouble (2003), written by People Show colleague, Mark Long.[4][5] The Royal Exchange's production of Animal Crackers (1998), which Wolk co-directed with Greg Hersov, transferred to London’s West End.[6]

Between 1997 and 2001, Wolk appeared in the CBBC series Hububb where he played various characters and starred alongside Les Bubb, Ben Keaton, Elaine C. Smith and Miltos Yerolemou.

In 2004-05, Wolk appeared as one of the principal characters in the original stage production of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang at the Palladium Theatre, London.

Emil Wolk's screen appearances include, among others: Escape from Sobibor (1987) with Alan Arkin, The Tall Guy (1989) with Jeff Goldblum and Emma Thompson, and Stalin (1992) with Robert Duvall.[7]

In addition to Wolk’s career on stage and screen, he has also appeared as an actor in a number of opera productions. Working predominantly with Robert Carsen, he most recently appeared as Puck in Benjamin Britten’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream at La Scala, Milan in 2009.

Personal life

Emil Wolk is married with one daughter. In 2005, he and his family relocated from England to Australia, where he continues to work both as a performer and director.

References

  1. ↑ http://www.olivierawards.com/servlet/file/store8/item160500/version1/The%20Laurence%20Olivier%20Awards%20-%20winners%20list.pdf
  2. ↑ http://www.utexas.edu/faculty/council/2001-2002/memorials/Walters/walters.html
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Royal Exchange Theatre Play Finder". Royalexchange.co.uk. Retrieved 2013-01-15.
  4. ↑ "Sherlock homes in trouble". citylife.co.uk. Retrieved 2013-01-17.
  5. ↑ "Sherlock at the exchange theatre". citylife.co.uk. Retrieved 2013-01-17.
  6. ↑ "Full Marx for bringing back fun". telegraph.co.uk. Retrieved 2013-01-15.
  7. ↑ http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0938492/

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