ferenc bessenyei (10 february 1919 – 27 december 2004) was a hungarian actor and singer. he began his career in the choir at szeged city theatre in 1940 and became one of hungary's most respected stage performers. as singer he appeared in "my fair lady" (as higgins), "fiddler on the roof" (as milkman tevje) and "zorba the greek" (as zorba). he was a tall man with a deep, powerful voice. he was elected to the revolutionary council of the hungarian intelligentsia in the 1956 revolt and was not allowed to perform for two years. he was awarded the "actor of nation" in 2000. he appeared in 75 films between 1960 and 2001. his second wife was hédi váradi actress.