Ilka Windish

Ilka Windish

If you know more information about Ilka Windish help us to improve this page
Birthday: 
15 March 1925, Vienna, Austria
Birth Name: 
Ilonka Katerina Gerta Maria Theresa Windisch
Ilka Windish has played many dramatic roles in her acting career but none outweighs the fascinating drama of her own life. She was impressed by both Germans and Russians before escaping to the United States.Ilka was born in Vienna with a name no one could remember - Gerta Maria Theresa Honka Katherina Windish. She was 12 when Hitler invaded Austria... Show more »
Ilka Windish has played many dramatic roles in her acting career but none outweighs the fascinating drama of her own life. She was impressed by both Germans and Russians before escaping to the United States.Ilka was born in Vienna with a name no one could remember - Gerta Maria Theresa Honka Katherina Windish. She was 12 when Hitler invaded Austria (1938), and was studying to be an actress when Hitler decided his troops on the Russian front needed the lilt of Viennese laughter in entertainment. As an entertainer she was sent to the Leningrad sector, along with 23 other students. She was reported to have said, "We were conscripted like soldiers and had to take the oath of allegiance to Hitler. This meant we could be shot if we deserted. For over six months she sang and danced and "died a little" every time applause was drowned out by the booming of the front-line guns.Returning to Vienna, she won a contract from the Viennese Film Company and starred in eight films, until 1943 brought a change at the studio. Things were going so badly with the Nazis that the studio was converted into a factory, and all contractees were put to work making uniforms and other war apparel.The end of the war brought the Russians to Vienna. Ilka's film company was reestablished, but the performing personnel were "under contract" to the government-operated Cabaret Simplicissimum. She sang and acted for her supper - "mostly lard, flour, and bread."Then Ilka met American war correspondent Joseph Israels. They were married in 1946 and settled down in a New York apartment in 1947. She studied English, became miserably homesick and took Israels' suggestion that "an actress should act." She acted in a play, "Chameleon," appeared on Hollywood's Screen Test show, and then she and Joe went back to Vienna. They produced a movie in which Ilka starred, and she appeared in other films. Again they returned to New York together, where Joseph Israels suddenly died of a heart attack.To earn money quickly, Ilka became a fashion model, which led to television acting again and to the show, "Studio One." The producer was Felix Jackson and they fell in love. They were married in 1955, and a son, Lawrence, was born to them the following year. Show less «

Ilka Windish's FILMOGRAPHY

Gunsmoke - Season 20

EPS24

Gunsmoke - Season 19

EPS24

Gunsmoke - Season 18

EPS24

Bonanza - Season 14

EPS16

Gunsmoke - Season 17

EPS24

Bonanza - Season 13

EPS25

Gunsmoke - Season 16

EPS24

Bonanza - Season 12

EPS28

Gunsmoke - Season 15

EPS26

Bonanza - Season 11

EPS28

Gunsmoke - Season 14

EPS26

It Takes a Thief - Season 2

EPS26

It Takes a Thief - Season 1

EPS16

Bonanza - Season 10

EPS30

Gunsmoke - Season 13

EPS25

Bonanza - Season 8

EPS34

Bonanza - Season 9

EPS34

Gunsmoke - Season 12

EPS29

Gunsmoke - Season 11

EPS39

Bonanza - Season 7

EPS33

Gunsmoke - Season 10

EPS36

Bonanza - Season 6

EPS34

Gunsmoke - Season 9

EPS36

NEXT PAGE

Example Example Example
HD
Country:
Genre:

Ilka Windish'S roles

Sofia Bulba
Sofia Bulba