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Ilka Windish

Ilka Windish

Actor

Born March 15, 1925 in Vienna, Austria

Died June 28, 1998

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Biography

Ilka Windish has played many dramatic roles in her acting career but none outweighs the fascinating drama of her own life. She was impressed by both Germans and Russians before escaping to the United States.

Ilka was born in Vienna as Ilonka Katerina Gerta Maria Theresa Windisch. She was 12 when Hitler invaded Austria (1938), and was studying to be an actress when Hitler decided his troops on the Russian front needed the lilt of Viennese laughter in entertainment. As an entertainer she was sent to the Leningrad sector, along with almost two dozen other students. She was reported to have said, "We were conscripted like soldiers and had to take the oath of allegiance to Hitler. This meant we could be shot if we deserted." For over six months she sang and danced and "died a little" every time applause was drowned out by the booming of the front-line guns.

Returning to Vienna, she won a contract from the Viennese Film Company and starred in eight films, until 1943 brought a change at the studio. Things were going so badly with the Nazis that the studio was converted into a factory, and all contractees were put to work making uniforms and other war apparel. The end of the war brought the Russians to Vienna. Ilka's film company was reestablished, but the performing personnel were "under contract" to the government-operated Cabaret Simplicissimum. She sang and acted for her supper - "mostly lard, flour, and bread".

She met an American war correspondent, Joseph Israels. They wed in 1946 and settled down in a New York apartment in 1947. She studied English, became miserably homesick and took Israels' suggestion that "an actress should act." She acted in a play, "Chameleon," appeared on Hollywood's Screen Test show, and then she and Joe went back to Vienna. They produced a movie in which Ilka starred, and she appeared in other films. Again they returned to New York together, where Israels suddenly died of a heart attack.

To earn money quickly, Ilka became a fashion model, which led to television acting again and to the show, "Studio One." The producer was Felix Jackson and they fell in love. They were married in 1955, and a son, Lawrence, was born to them the following year.

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Filmography

Actor

27

Type

Year

All My Darling Daughters Poster

All My Darling Daughters TV Movie1972Mrs. Stephanelli

Vanished Poster

Vanished Mini-Series1971Hester Portinari

The Bold Ones: The New Doctors Poster

The Bold Ones: The New Doctors TV Series1969Anitra Rokono

It Takes a Thief Poster

It Takes a Thief TV Series1968Madame Rhodos

The Smugglers Poster

The Smugglers TV Movie1968Anna

The Scorpio Letters Poster

The Scorpio Letters TV Movie1967Miss Gunther

Many Happy Returns Poster

Many Happy Returns TV Series1964Mariana

Kraft Suspense Theatre Poster

Kraft Suspense Theatre TV Series1963Jutta Hauptman

Empire TV Series1962Eva

Taras Bulba Poster

Taras Bulba Feature Film1962Sofia Bulba

Follow the Sun Poster

Follow the Sun TV Series1961Rita Bellini

Target: The Corruptors! Poster

Target: The Corruptors! TV Series1961Eleni

Checkmate Poster

Checkmate TV Series1960Maria Richards

Here's Hollywood Poster

Here's Hollywood TV Series1960Self

Thriller Poster

Thriller TV Series1960Monika Asparos

Bonanza TV Series1959Mother Veronica

The Third Man Poster

The Third Man TV Series1959Marta Revere

The Untouchables Poster

The Untouchables TV Series1959Marta Tornek

Playhouse 90 Poster

Playhouse 90 TV Series1956Claretta

Gunsmoke Poster

Gunsmoke TV Series1955Rosita Scanzano

Brutality Poster

Brutality Feature Film1953Elisabeth Karoly, Kellnerin

Knall und Fall als Hochstapler Poster

Knall und Fall als Hochstapler Feature Film1952Irene Dahlen

No Time for Flowers Poster

No Time for Flowers Feature Film1952Woman Drunk

Voices of Spring Poster

Voices of Spring Feature Film1952Mannequin

The Magic Face Poster

The Magic Face Feature Film1951Carla Harbach

Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye Poster

Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye Feature Film1950Minor Role

Studio One Poster

Studio One TV Series1948Irme

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