Irving Pichel was an American actor and director whose career spanned from the silent film era to the early 1950s. He began as a character actor, excelling in roles as sinister or authoritarian figures, with standout performances including Fagin in *Oliver Twist* (1933) and the servant Sandor in *Dracula's Daughter* (1936). After transitioning to directing, he co-directed the adventure classic *The Most Dangerous Game* (1932). His most significant works as a director include the pioneering science fiction film *Destination Moon* (1950), which won an Academy Award for Best Special Effects, and the biographical drama *Martin Luther* (1953), which earned two Oscar nominations. However, his career was severely damaged when he was placed on the Hollywood blacklist by the House Un-American Activities Committee in 1947, a fact that greatly limited his professional opportunities in the final years of his life.