Walter Slezak (May 3, 1902 – April 21, 1983) was an Austrian actor. Born in Vienna, Austria, the son of famed opera star Leo Slezak, he was a medical student and later a bank teller before becoming an actor. A hulking figure at 6 feet 6 inches (2 m)^{[citation needed]}, Slezak usually portrayed a villain or thug, but occasionally he played lighter, kindlier roles, as in The Wonderful World of the Brothers Grimm.

Slezak began his movie career as a thin leading man in many silent films. His first role was in the 1922 Austrian film, Sodom and Gomorrah. He worked steadily and appeared in over 100 films including Once Upon a Honeymoon, Lifeboat, The Princess and the Pirate, The Spanish Main, Sinbad the Sailor, Born to Kill, Call Me Madam, and Treasure Island.

Slezak played the lead in Broadway musicals, including Fanny, for which he won the Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical. His autobiography, What Time's the Next Swan? was published in 1962.

Slezak acted in radio in such shows as Lux Radio Theater, Columbia Workshop, The Pepsodent Show, and The Charlie McCarthy Show. He made numerous television appearances, including Playhouse 90 and Studio One, and he appeared as "The Clock King" on Batman in 1966.

In 1955, Slezak won a Tony Award for his role in the Broadway production of Fanny.

Walter married Johanna "Kaasi" Van Rijn on October 10, 1943. The couple had three children: Ingrid, Erika and Leo. Slezak's daughter Erika went on to become an accomplished actress and has starred on the long-running soap opera One Life to Live since 1971.

On April 21, 1983, shortly before his 81st birthday, Slezak died from a self inflicted gunshot wound. Slezak was reportedly despondent over his advanced physical illness.^[1]

Walter Slezak is buried in Munich, Germany.^[2]

• Walter Slezak at IMDb
• Walter Slezak at the Internet Broadway Database
• Walter Slezak's Gravesite