Charles Bickford was an American actor, known for his commanding screen presence and his long career as a distinguished character actor. He began his career in the theater and moved to Hollywood with the advent of sound, quickly establishing himself as one of the most reliable and effective supporting actors of his time. His skill in portraying authoritarian figures, often with a heart of gold, earned him three Academy Award nominations for Best Supporting Actor for the films *The Song of Bernadette* (1943), *The Farmer's Daughter* (1947), and *Johnny Belinda* (1948). His other memorable performances include roles in classics such as *A Star Is Born* (1954), *The Big Country* (1958), and *Days of Wine and Roses* (1962). His career also continued successfully in television, particularly with a regular role in the popular Western series *The Virginian*, which he played until shortly before his death.