Don Borisenko

Canadian performer who was seen in films and television from late 1950s to the 1970s. Called "the Canadian James Dean", after appearing in several features with success, Borisenko went to England where he had starring roles in two films by fellow Canadians: Sidney J. Furie's wartime melodrama "During One Night" (1960), and Mark Robson's account of the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi, "Nine Hours to Rama" (1963), in which he played Naryan Apte, the friend of Gandhi's murderer, Nathuram Vinayak Godse (played by Horst Buchholz). After he walked off the set of Robert Aldrich's "The Dirty Dozen" (1967), dissatisfied with his role (which was then given to Donald Sutherland), Borisenko appeared on different television shows, back in Canada and in England. Moving in the 1970s to Los Angeles, he changed his name to Jonas Wolfe, appeared in several films, as "Black Gunn" (1972) and "The Laughing Policeman" (1973), and opened a music club, where he reportedly gave the rock group Van Halen their first paying gig. Borisenko finally retired from acting and dedicated his life to poetry, painting and sculpture.

During One Night (1960)

Story of a young U.S. Army officer, stationed in England during World War II, who is suddenly conscious of a desire to "prove" himself sexually.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Sidney J. Furie
CAST:  Don Borisenko  •  Susan Hampshire  •  Sean Sullivan  •  Joy Webster

Story of a young U.S. Army officer, stationed in England during World War II, who is suddenly conscious of a desire to "prove" himself sexually.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Sidney J. Furie
CAST:  Don Borisenko  •  Susan Hampshire  •  Sean Sullivan  •  Joy Webster

The Psychopath (1966)

Inspector Holloway is investigating a series of brutal murders in which a doll of each victim is found at the scene. The dolls, as it turns out,were purchased by the crippled Mrs. Von Sturm, whose home is overcrowded with a doll collection. Her pale, wide-eyed, ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Freddie Francis
CAST:  Patrick Wymark  •  Margaret Johnston  •  John Standing  •  Alexander Knox

Inspector Holloway is investigating a series of brutal murders in which a doll of each victim is found at the scene. The dolls, as it turns out,were purchased by the crippled Mrs. Von Sturm, whose home is overcrowded with a doll collection. Her pale, wide-eyed, ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Freddie Francis
CAST:  Patrick Wymark  •  Margaret Johnston  •  John Standing  •  Alexander Knox

Black Gunn (1972)

A successful and popular nightclub owner who believes financial independence is the path to equality and success, must act as a go-between for militant-minded brother and the white gang syndicate his brother has attacked and robbed. Their involvements lead to a ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Robert Hartford-Davis
CAST:  Jim Brown  •  Martin Landau  •  Brenda Sykes  •  Luciana Paluzzi

A successful and popular nightclub owner who believes financial independence is the path to equality and success, must act as a go-between for militant-minded brother and the white gang syndicate his brother has attacked and robbed. Their involvements lead to a ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Robert Hartford-Davis
CAST:  Jim Brown  •  Martin Landau  •  Brenda Sykes  •  Luciana Paluzzi

Nine Hours to Rama (1963)

José Ferrer and Horst Buchholz star in this fictionalised account of events leading up to the assassination of Indian spiritual leader and independence campaigner Mahatma Gandhi.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Mark Robson
CAST:  Valerie Gearon  •  Don Borisenko  •  Diane Baker  •  Harry Andrews

José Ferrer and Horst Buchholz star in this fictionalised account of events leading up to the assassination of Indian spiritual leader and independence campaigner Mahatma Gandhi.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Mark Robson
CAST:  Valerie Gearon  •  Don Borisenko  •  Diane Baker  •  Harry Andrews

Genghis Khan (1965)

This is the story of the shy Mongol boy Temujin who,during the 13th century, becomes the fearless Mongol leader Genghis Khan that unites all Mongol tribes and conquers India,China,Persia,Korea and parts of Rusia,Europe and Middle-East.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Henry Levin
CAST:  Omar Sharif  •  Françoise Dorléac  •  Stephen Boyd  •  James Mason

This is the story of the shy Mongol boy Temujin who,during the 13th century, becomes the fearless Mongol leader Genghis Khan that unites all Mongol tribes and conquers India,China,Persia,Korea and parts of Rusia,Europe and Middle-East.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Henry Levin
CAST:  Omar Sharif  •  Françoise Dorléac  •  Stephen Boyd  •  James Mason

The Hired Gun (1961)

Gunman Don Borisenko is hired by the townsfolk to mete out justice to a cruel land baron. Instead, Borisenko gets romantically involved with Tass Tory, the wife of a local farmer. When the smoke clears, the gunman has killed the rancher, and the farmer has killed ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Lindsay Shonteff
CAST:  Don Borisenko  •  Tass Tory  •  Jay Shannon  •  Michael Zenon

Gunman Don Borisenko is hired by the townsfolk to mete out justice to a cruel land baron. Instead, Borisenko gets romantically involved with Tass Tory, the wife of a local farmer. When the smoke clears, the gunman has killed the rancher, and the farmer has killed ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Lindsay Shonteff
CAST:  Don Borisenko  •  Tass Tory  •  Jay Shannon  •  Michael Zenon

Reddick (1971)

Charges that the Reverend 'Red' Reddick is exploiting his youth club members leads to an explosive confrontation.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Mervyn Rosenzveig
CAST:  Donald Harron  •  Don Borisenko  •  Gary McKeehan

Charges that the Reverend 'Red' Reddick is exploiting his youth club members leads to an explosive confrontation.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Mervyn Rosenzveig
CAST:  Donald Harron  •  Don Borisenko  •  Gary McKeehan

Now That April's Here (1958)

An anthology based on the works of Canadian author Morley Callaghan “Silk Stockings” is about a shy teenager buying a gift out of love for his landlady’s daughter only to be disappointed in his affections. “Rocking Chair” is about a widower rebuffing his late ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  William Davidson
CAST:  Beth Amos  •  Josephine Barrington  •  Sheila Billing  •  Katharine Blake

An anthology based on the works of Canadian author Morley Callaghan “Silk Stockings” is about a shy teenager buying a gift out of love for his landlady’s daughter only to be disappointed in his affections. “Rocking Chair” is about a widower rebuffing his late ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  William Davidson
CAST:  Beth Amos  •  Josephine Barrington  •  Sheila Billing  •  Katharine Blake