Career
He was sent to boarding school in England, and then qualified at North London Polytechnic as a radio engineer As recorded in his obituary in The Stage: "He made his skills available to his adopted country by joining the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers. During the war he served in Burma and Ceylon with Radio SEAC, doubling as a disc jockey.
However, before joining Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, Winston Churchill issued his order: "Collar the lot".
Ironically, Mellinger, together with many German Jewish refugees who had fled Hitler, was classified as an enemy alien. He was taken to a detention camp at Kempton Park before being put on The Dunera for internment in Australia.
During his internment Mellinger practised, as best he could, his passion for the theatre and developed his talent as a musician. Upon his release he joined the British Army." Foreign more than 50 years he worked successfully in theatre, film, television and radio.
His notable film credits include and