Spy Vibe is saddened by the news that actress Ingrid Pitt has passed away at the age of 73. Cinema Retro founder, Lee Pfeiffer, wrote in his tribute that "her life eclipsed any adventure she played on the screen." Ingrid was born in Nazi occupied Poland, survived interment in a concentration camp, and later fled communist repression to start a new life in the west. After a few uncredited roles, including Chimes at Midnight (Orson Welles/1965) and Doctor Zhivago (David Lean/1965), she eventually landed her most celebrated parts in the espionage/war film, Where Eagles Dare (w/ Clint Eastwood/1968), cult horror classics The Vampire Lovers (1970) Countess Dracula (1971), The House That Dripped Blood (1971), and the original The Wicker Man (1973). Pitt also made appearances in TV spy shows, Jason King ("Nadine"/1972), The Adventurer (w/ Gene Barry in "Double Exposure"/1973), and the mini-series Smiley's People (w/ Alec Guinness/1982). Ingrid Pitt had quite a cult following, especially among us fans of Hammer Glamour, and she continued to bring her style and wit to her many book projects, articles, and appearances.
For more information about Ingrid Pitt, see tributes by Lee Pfeiffer and Cinebeats. Spy Vibers may also want to check out Ingrid Pitt: Queen of Horror by Bobb Cotter and Ingrid's books, Darkness Before Dawn, Life's a Scream, and The Bedside Companion for Vampire Lovers. The official Ingrid Pitt Website here. Hammer Films website here.
