Joseph Frst

Joseph Fürst (13 February 1916 – 29 November 2005) was an Austrian-born actor known for his roles in British and Australian television and film. He began his career on the Canadian stage before moving to the UK, where he appeared in numerous TV dramas during the 1960s and early 1970s, including *The Saint*, *The Champions*, *Doomwatch*, and *The Persuaders!*.

Fürst gained recognition for his portrayal of Professor Zaroff in the Doctor Who episode "The Underwater Menace," a role many mistakenly believed he affected an accent for. In reality, it was his native Austrian accent. He also starred as Schneider in the play "A Magnum for Schneider," which launched Edward Woodward's career as Callan.

His filmography includes roles in *55 Days at Peking* (1963), *The Brides of Fu Manchu* (1966), *Diamonds Are Forever* (1971) as Dr. Metz, and *Inn of the Dammed* (1975). After moving to Australia in the mid-1970s, Fürst appeared in several TV series, including *Division 4*, where he played recurring roles. He also starred in *Number 96* as Carlo Lenzi and in *The Young Doctors* as Heinrik Smeaton.

Later, he guest-starred in *Kingswood Country* and *A Country Practice*. In 1984, he starred in the ABC TV film *The Schippan Mystery*. Before his death, Fürst was interviewed for "Loose Cannon," where he discussed his career. This interview was included as an extra feature in the reconstruction of the missing Doctor Who episode "The Underwater Menace."