Frank Galiazzo

Francesco Gilbert Galiazzo (July 18, 1929 - February 6, 2022) was an American actor and former U.S. Army soldier who is best known for his long acting career in German film and television. He came to in 1957 with his wife Sigrid, who he met in  after choosing to stay there following his capture during the Korean War. He spent several years performing in films until he and his wife fled to  in 1970.

Early life
Galiazzo was born in, into an Italian-American family.

Military career
At the end of military action, all POWs in Korea were given the option by their captors of returning to their home countries or remaining with the Chinese. Galiazzo elected to stay in China.

In China, he married Sigrid Galiazzo (née Ramsauer), who worked at the East German embassy in. They moved to in 1957, settling in.

Film career
When he arrived in East Germany, he chose to pursue an acting career because he couldn't find anything else to do and hoped working for would provide financial security. He mainly played American and British characters.

In 1970, when his film career under DEFA was considered to be floundering, Galiazzo and his wife left East Germany for, where they remained for a few months until they obtained a visa. The two chose to settle in,. Galiazzo continued his acting career, and also acted in plays.

Personal life
Galiazzo had two children with Sigrid: Fabian (born 1958) and Martin (born 1963). Two of his grandchildren, Sabine Pachner and Hugo Galiazzo, are also actors. Aside from acting in film, television and on stage in Germany, Galiazzo taught English and Mandarin, and also went fishing "just to pass the time".

In 1972, Galiazzo traveled to the U.S. to stand trial for desertion. He was acquitted and was allowed to reclaim his U.S. passport. A year later, he successfully petitioned for the United States Army to change his discharge from dishonorable to other-than-honorable. He traveled to America on occasion, including once in 1976 to celebrate the Bicentennial and once in 2008 to attend the Major League Baseball World Series.