Steven Berkoff (General Orlov)

Steven Berkoff playing General Orlov

Born in London, England on 3rd August 1937

Starred In Octopussy (1983)

Film information

General Orlov played by Steven Berkoff is the fifth villain of Octopussy. After General Orlov fails to convince his comrades and General Orlov that they are bargaining away their superior might and should attack Europe, he joins forces with Kamal Khan.

Their plan is to detonate an atomic bomb on the premises of an American Airforce base in Germany, leading to nuclear disarmament allowing Orlov’s forces to move in and take control of Europe. General Orlov and Kamal Khan double-cross Octopussy after using her circus as the perfect front to gain entry into the American Airforce base.

Bond encounters Orlov late in the film, and after Bond learns of his plan, Orlov pursues Bond who he fears will board the train and put a stop to his plans. General Orlov is aptly shot by Soviet border guards as he tries to cross the border and reach Octopussy’s train that Bond has boarded.

Character information

General Orlov is the aggressive, hot-tempered, power crazed Communist hardliner who wants the Soviet Union to invade Western Europe. While Orlov tries to convince the Kremlin leaders to attack Europe, the majority want to make peace with the West. This leads to the partnership with Kamal Khan. His plans to detonate a nuclear bomb on a US Airforce base in Western Europe only just fail when Bond manages to stop the bomb with seconds to spare. §