1. Early Life and Background
Andreas Katsulas's early life laid the foundation for his extensive career in acting, marked by significant academic achievements and foundational professional experiences.
1.1. Early Life and Education
Katsulas was born Andrew C. Katsulas on May 18, 1946, in St. Louis, Missouri, into a working-class Greek American family. He pursued higher education, earning a master's degree in theatre from Indiana University Bloomington.
1.2. Early Career Development
Katsulas began his acting career in the early 1970s. From 1971 to 1986, he extensively toured with Peter Brook's International Theatre Company, engaging in both improvisational and prepared theatre pieces. His early professional experiences took him from South American barrios to prestigious venues like Lincoln Center. In 1981 and 1982, he also appeared on the CBS daytime drama Guiding Light, playing the character Lucien Goff.
2. Acting Career
Andreas Katsulas established a diverse and prolific acting career, making significant contributions to theatre, film, television, and voice acting.
2.1. Theatre Career
His theatre career was notably shaped by his long-standing collaboration with Peter Brook's International Theatre Company. For 15 years, from 1971 to 1986, Katsulas toured internationally with the acclaimed company, performing a wide range of improvisational and formally structured theatrical productions. This extensive experience honed his skills and versatility as a stage actor.
2.2. Film Career
Katsulas appeared in numerous feature films throughout his career, often taking on distinctive character roles. His notable film credits include:
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1974 | O-key, file | Unknown | |
| 1979 | Série noire | Andreas Tikides | |
| Milo Milo | Nicolos | ||
| 1981 | Ragtime | Policeman #3 | |
| 1984 | Nothing Lasts Forever | Lunar Shopping Observer | |
| 1985 | Agent on Ice | Ray Donnelli | |
| 1987 | Someone to Watch Over Me | Joey Venza | |
| The Sicilian | Passatempo | ||
| 1988 | Sunset | Arthur | |
| 1989 | Next of Kin | Johnny "Papa John" Isabella | |
| Communion | Alex | ||
| 1991 | True Identity | Anthony | |
| Write to Kill | Chambliss | ||
| 1992 | Blame It on the Bellboy | Scarpa | |
| 1993 | Hot Shots! Part Deux | Rufshaad | |
| The Fugitive | Fredrick Sykes | ||
| Painted Desert | Franco Vitalli | ||
| New York Cop | Ferrara | ||
| 1996 | Executive Decision | Abu El-Sayed Jaffa | |
| 1998 | Mafia! | Narducci | |
| 2000 | A Piece of Eden | Giuseppe Tredici |
2.3. Television Career
Katsulas had an extensive career in television, with his most recognized roles being in prominent science fiction series. He portrayed the Romulan Commander Tomalak in four episodes of Star Trek: The Next Generation between 1989 and 1994, becoming a memorable recurring antagonist.
His most iconic television role was Ambassador G'Kar in the critically acclaimed science fiction series Babylon 5. He first appeared as G'Kar in the 1993 pilot movie, Babylon 5: The Gathering, and went on to be a regular cast member for the entire series run from 1994 to 1998, appearing in 109 episodes. He reprised the role in subsequent Babylon 5 television movies, including Babylon 5: In the Beginning (1998) and Babylon 5: The Legend of the Rangers (2002). For his portrayal of the alien G'Kar, Katsulas wore elaborate full-head special makeup and red contact lenses. According to series creator J. Michael Straczynski, Katsulas was remarkably comfortable with the extensive makeup, often remaining in character and wearing the prosthetic headpiece even during breaks.
His other television appearances include:
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1979 | Mesure pour mesure | Claudio | TV movie |
| 1981 | Another World | Dock Site Guard | Episode: "4381" |
| 1982 | American Playhouse | Markos | Episode: "Kings of America" |
| ABC Afterschool Special | Zachary Pscharapolus | Episode: "A Very Delicate Matter" | |
| Guiding Light | Lucien Goff | 1 episode | |
| A Midsummer Night's Dream | Snout | TV movie | |
| 1987 | L'heure Simenon | Le 'Yougo' | Episode: "Un nouveau dans la ville" |
| 1987-1988 | Max Headroom | Mr. Bartlett | 3 episodes |
| 1988 | The Equalizer | Warren Briggs | Episode: "Video Games" |
| Houston Knights | Unknown | Episode: "Cajun Spice" | |
| Crime Story | Government Agent | Episode: "Pauli Taglia's Dream" | |
| Steal the Sky | Colonel Gemayel | TV movie | |
| 1989 | Father Dowling Mysteries | Assistant District Attorney Douglas | |
| Alien Nation | Koulak | Episode: "The Game" | |
| The Neon Empire | Vito | TV movie | |
| 1989-1994 | Star Trek: The Next Generation | Commander Tomalak | 4 episodes |
| 1990 | Jake and the Fatman | Everett Ashford | Episode: "You Turned the Tables on Me" |
| Mancuso, F.B.I. | Prince Fahid Ahami | Episode: "Ahami Awry Kidnapped" | |
| The Death of the Incredible Hulk | Kasha | TV movie | |
| Capital News | Unknown | Episode: "Blues for Mr. White" | |
| Hunter | Nikolai Janosch / Arno Kudriescu | 2 episodes | |
| Murder Times Seven | Marco Volatile | TV movie | |
| 1991 | Murder, She Wrote | Jerry Pappas | Episode: "A Killing in Vegas" |
| Seduction: Three Tales from the Inner Sanctum | Frank | TV movie | |
| 1993 | Babylon 5: The Gathering | Narn Ambassador G'Kar | TV pilot |
| 1994 | Diagnosis: Murder | DEA Agent | Episode: "The Plague" |
| 1994-1998 | Babylon 5 | Ambassador G'Kar | 109 episodes |
| 1997 | The Real Adventures of Jonny Quest | The Robot Spies | Voice, Animated series |
| Path to Paradise | Sheik Omar Abdel-Rahman | TV movie | |
| 1998 | Babylon 5: In the Beginning | Ambassador G'Kar | TV movie |
| 1999 | Millennium | Moses Gourevitch | Episode: "Forcing the End" |
| 2002 | Babylon 5: The Legend of the Rangers | G'Kar | TV movie |
| 2003 | Star Trek: Enterprise | Vissian Captain Drennik | Episode: "Cogenitor" |
| NYPD Blue | Ron Szudarek | Episode: "Shear Stupidity" |
2.4. Voice Acting and Video Game Work
In addition to his on-screen roles, Katsulas lent his voice to animated series and video games.
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | Primal | Scree | |
| 2006 | 24: The Game | Governor Radford | |
| 2006 | Splinter Cell: Double Agent | Unknown |
3. Personal Life
Andreas Katsulas was married to Gilla Nissan Katsulas. He had two children from a previous marriage, named Michael and Katherine. He was known to be a lifelong smoker.
4. Death
Andreas Katsulas died on February 13, 2006, at the age of 59. His death was caused by lung cancer.
5. Assessment and Impact
Katsulas's career was marked by his dedication and ability to embody a wide range of characters, leaving a lasting impact, particularly in the science fiction genre.
5.1. Major Roles and Recognition
Katsulas is most fondly remembered for his complex and nuanced portrayal of Ambassador G'Kar in Babylon 5. The character's evolution from an alien antagonist to a respected leader and spiritual figure was a cornerstone of the series, and Katsulas's performance, despite being hidden under extensive prosthetics, conveyed deep emotion and gravitas. His dedication to the role was evident, as he was known to remain in his full G'Kar makeup even during breaks, a testament to his commitment.
His role as Commander Tomalak in Star Trek: The Next Generation also cemented his place in science fiction history, showcasing his ability to play formidable and memorable adversaries. Beyond genre work, his performance as the one-armed antagonist Fredrick Sykes in the film The Fugitive was another significant and widely recognized role.
For his contributions, Katsulas received several accolades, including the SFX Award (UK) in 1997 and the Universe Reader's Choice Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Television Series in 1995.
6. Related Items
- Babylon 5
- G'Kar
- Commander Tomalak