Steven Berkoff was born in London in 1937. He studied Drama in London and Paris. He performed with repertory companies before forming the London Theatre Group (L.T.G.) in 1968. Their first professional production wasÌýIn the Penal Colony, an adaptation of a short story by Kafka. Berkoff's first original stage playÌýEast, was presented at the Edinburgh Festival in 1975.
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Other original plays includeÌýWest, Decadence, Greek, Kvetch, Acapulco, Harry's Christmas, Lunch, Sink the Belgrano, Massage, Sturm und Drang, Brighton Beach Scumbags, The Secret Love Life of Ophelia, Bow of Ulysses, Ritual in Blood and Messiah.
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Among the many adaptations Steven Berkoff has created for the stage areÌýKafka'sÌýMetamorphosis and The Trial, AgamemnonÌý(after Aeschylus)Ìýand Poe'sÌýThe Fall of the House of Usher. His plays and adaptations have been performed in many countries and many languages. ÌýHe has also directed and toured productions ofÌýHamlet, MacbethÌýand Oscar Wilde'sÌýSalome.
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Steven Berkoff has acted in films as diverse asÌýA Clockwork Orange, Barry Lyndon, The Passenger, Octopussy, Beverly Hills Cop, Rambo, Under the Cherry Moon, Absolute BeginnersÌýandÌýThe Krays. He directed and co-starred with Joan Collins in the film version ofÌýDecadence.
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He has published collections of short stories, production journals, travel writings, poetry and his autobiography Free Association.