**Louis Wolheim (1880-1931)** was an American actor known for his roles as tough and often villainous characters. With a distinctive face and an imposing physique, he became a prolific character actor in silent films and early sound films.

Specializing in roles of brutes, criminals, or gruff authoritarian figures, his screen presence was unmistakable. Among his most significant performances were those in *The Racket* (1928) and *Two Arabian Knights* (1927).

His most iconic role, however, was that of the wise and paternal Sergeant Stanislaus Katczinsky in *All Quiet on the Western Front* (1930). This film revealed a more human and vulnerable side, far removed from his typical menacing characters. Wolheim tragically died in 1931, at the height of his fame.