Mischa Auer, born Mikhail Semyonovich Unskovsky (Saint Petersburg, November 17, 1905 – Rome, March 5, 1967), was a Russian-born American actor. Grandson of the celebrated violinist Leopold Auer, he fled Russia after the revolution and settled in Hollywood, where he became a prolific character actor. His career was associated with roles as eccentric and flamboyant foreigners, capitalizing on his tall stature and expressive mimicry. He reached the peak of his fame with his portrayal of Carlo in the film *My Man Godfrey* (1936), which earned him his only Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor. Among his other memorable appearances are his roles in *You Can't Take It with You* (1938) as the Russian ballet master Kolenkhov, *Destry Rides Again* (1939), and *And Then There Were None* (1945). He continued to work steadily in the post-war period, appearing in numerous European productions, especially French and Italian, until his death.