Ondine was an American actor known for his roles in Andy Warhol’s films, including Couch, Chelsea Girls, and The Loves of Ondine. Born Robert Olivio on June 16, 1937, in Brooklyn, New York, he became one of Warhol’s famous cinema superstars in the 1960s.
Personal and Family Life
Ondine grew up in Brooklyn and had a complex personal life. He adopted the name Ondine after coming out of the water at a beach, inspired by a water spirit. His first encounter with Andy Warhol occurred at an orgy in the early 1960s, which led to a unique professional relationship.
Career Highlights
After his debut in Warhol’s Couch in 1964, Ondine quickly became a prominent figure in the underground film scene. He was known for his captivating conversations, which often drew the attention of Warhol, who recorded many of their discussions. Ondine played significant roles in several of Warhol’s films, including Chelsea Girls, where he was famously referred to as “Pope Ondine.”
Death and Legacy
Ondine passed away on April 27, 1989, in New York City due to liver disease. Despite his later struggles, he is remembered for his vibrant contributions to Warhol’s legacy and the avant-garde film movement of the 1960s.
Filmography
| Title | Release Date | Character |
|---|---|---|
| Sugar Cookies | 1973-01-31 | Roderick |
| Night of the Dark Full Moon | 1972-11-01 | Chief Inmate |
| L’Amico Fried’s Glamorous Friends | 1976-05-11 | |
| Vinyl | 1965-06-04 | Scum Baby |
| Cleopatra | 1970-07-30 | |
| Dream Sphinx | 1974-01-01 | |
| ★★★★ | 1967-12-15 | Father / Ebenezer Scrooge |
| Horse | 1965-08-28 | |
| Floria | 1974-01-01 | |
| The Telephone Book | 1971-10-03 | Narrator |
| The Loves of Ondine | 1968-08-01 | Himself |
| I Was a Male Yvonne De Carlo for the Lucky Landlord… | 1967-01-01 | |
| Afternoon | 1965-10-01 | |
| Since | 1966-10-01 | Lyndon B. Johnson |
| Couch | 1964-07-01 | Himself |
| Batman Dracula | 1964-07-01 | |
| Raw Weekend | 1964-09-03 | |
| Imitation of Christ | 1967-11-01 | Father |
| Superartist | 1967-01-01 | Himself |
| Andy Warhol | 1987-06-09 | Himself |
| Warhol’s Cinema 1963-1968: Mirror for the Sixties | 1989-01-01 | Himself (archive footage) |
| Andy Warhol Screen Tests | 1965-11-28 | Self |
| Chelsea Girls | 1966-09-01 | Self – Pope |
| S.P.Q.R. | 1972-07-10 | |
| We’re Getting On (Part I) | 1968-01-01 | |
| Heaven Wants Out | 2009-09-30 | Dr. Member / Mrs. Poole |