Joseph Cotten (1905-1994) was an American actor, celebrated for his prolific collaboration with director Orson Welles. He starred in iconic films such as *Citizen Kane* (1941), in the role of Jedediah Leland, and *The Magnificent Ambersons* (1942), portraying Eugene Morgan, consolidating his reputation as a refined and measured performer.

His talent led him to leading roles also outside the Welles sphere, such as that of Holly Martins in Carol Reed's *The Third Man* (1949), where he masterfully embodied the vulnerability of a "common man" in extraordinary circumstances. With Alfred Hitchcock, he brought to life the unsettling Uncle Charlie in *Shadow of a Doubt* (1943).

His acting style was characterized by a sophisticated and often melancholic presence. Cotten was a master at portraying intelligent men, sometimes ambiguous or tormented, who hid deep inner conflicts behind an impeccable appearance and innate elegance.