HERBERT LOM
was born in Prague, Czechoslovakia, in 1917, and started acting in his spare time from studies of languages and philosophy at Prague University. When suspected of being an ‘anti-Nazi’, he fled to England and continued his studies at Cambridge University. He learned English quickly and was awarded scholarships to three leading schools, the Embassy Theatre School, The Westminster School of Acting and The Amalgamated Sadlers Wells – Vic School. After studying at all three schools, he entered films where his first part was as ‘Napoleon’ in ‘The Young Mr Pitt’. He was to portray ‘Napoleon’ again in Vidor’s version of ‘War and Peace’. Always in great demand by producers, Herbert Lorn has played in more than fifty films and will always be remembered as the psychiatrist in ‘The Seventh Veil’ and as the phantom in ‘The Phantom of the Opera’. His most memorable stage part was the ‘King’ in ‘The King and I’ which ran for two years at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane. Married, he has two sons. He likes to spend his weekends on his farm in Kent which specialises in growing Christmas trees. He collects paintings and pottery, both ancient and modern, composes music, has written several film scripts, is working on a stage-play and has recently formed his own production company. He has never previously appeared on television.