**Alexandre Koubitzky (1892-1950)** was a French actor of Ukrainian origin, one of the most recognizable faces in French cinema between the 1930s and 1940s. Establishing himself as a character actor, Koubitzky excelled at bringing depth to characters who were often gruff, authoritarian, or of dubious morality.

His imposing physique and penetrating gaze made him ideal for roles as unyielding policemen, gangsters, shady characters, or antagonists, capable of commanding a strong stage presence even in supporting roles.

His career is inextricably linked to numerous masterpieces of French poetic realism. Among his most famous films are Marcel Carné's *Le Quai des brumes* (Port of Shadows, 1938), in which he plays a stationmaster, and Jean Renoir's *La Bête humaine* (The Human Beast, 1938). He also starred in *Pépé le Moko* (1937) and *Le Dernier Tournant* (The Last Turn, 1939). His ability to make even minor roles believable and memorable made him an iconic figure of his time.