Zenthe had roles in more than 70 cinema and television films. He is perhaps best remembered in the role of Captain Tenkes for a Hungarian television series made in 1962, but was also popular in the radio play ?The Szabó Family? and the television series ?Neighbours?, which ran in the 90s.
?When I started my career, God placed me in his palm and he has been carrying me there ever since,? Zenthe said in January 2005 after earning the title ?Actor of the Nation?. ?I have been in ?Szabó Family? for forty years and made lots of movies so that I constantly experience people?s fondness even in the streets.?
Zenthe first appeared in 1953 in the film ?The Rising Sea? as General Sándor Nagy, followed by the title role in ?Rákóczi?s Lieutenant?, a role which required Zenthe to hone his equestrian skills, which he made much use of this throughout his career.
Zenthe appeared in such popular television series as ?Sándor Rózsa?, ?Thorn Castle?, ?Prince the Soldier?, ?Pepper? and, most recently, ?Neighbours?. He also played in a number of romantic comedies, such as ?2 by 2 is Sometimes 5?, ?Tale on the Twelve Points?, ?Kid? and ?Third Class Love Affair?. In 1983?s Oscar-nominated ?Job?s Revolt?, Zenthe played a wealthy country Jew from the River Tisza region who adopts a Christian boy during World War 2. His last role in a feature film was in 2004?s ?The Hungarian Wanderer?.
On Monday Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsány expressed his condolences to Zenthe?s family in an open letter. Minister of Education and Culture István Hiller also paid homage to the actor, stating that he was a charismatic and ageless man who was equally liked by his colleagues and his audiences.
Source: Hungarian News Agency (MTI)
