Alfred Sandor
Quick Facts
Biography
Alfred Sandor (November 5, 1918 – September 22, 1983), born as Alfred Sandwina, and billed early in his career as Al Sandwina was a Hungarian-born American and Australian character actor and singer, born in Budapest during the turmoil of the Hungarian Revolutions and Interventions, He spent his early years travelling with the circus, where his mother was a circus strongwoman, and he had a background as a ringmaster. After a brief career working as a boxer in New York City, he found himself working as a spy behind enemy lines during World War II, for the Counter Intelligence Agency of the US Army. Having returned to America, he established himself as an actor, appearing in Broadway Productions and Musician Theatre. On US television he appeared on the Phil Silvers show and played Sheriff George Patterson in a single episode of Dark Shadows in 1968 and on Our Five Daughters, theatre work included Neil Simon's The Odd Couple, and Gypsy opposite Ethel Merman, film work included The Return of Captain Invincible.
Sandor later travelled to Australia (where he would take up citizenship), to appear in a touring production of Plaza Street, the play The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas and he appeared in the film Nickel Queen, whilst doing television work with roles in Number 96, Division 4, Boney and The Evil Touch, although he would become best known for his long-running role as the "dandy" surgeon Dr. Raymond Shaw in the Australian television soap opera The Young Doctors. An original cast member of the serial, he continued in the role for five years.
Death
After suffering from ill health for some time, he died from lung cancer in Sydney, Australia in 1983, aged 64.