Anton Diffring (1916-1989) was a German actor naturalized British, an iconic face of British and European cinema, specializing in antagonist roles.

His austere presence, penetrating gaze, and impeccable diction made him ideal for portraying cold, calculating, and often sinister characters. He is best remembered for his incisive portrayals of Nazi officers, mad scientists, ruthless aristocrats, or authoritative and menacing figures.

Among his most notable films are the Gothic horror film *Circus of Horrors* (1960), François Truffaut's dystopian *Fahrenheit 451* (1966), where he played the Fire Captain, and war films such as *Where Eagles Dare* (1968), as SS Colonel Kramer, and *Operation Daybreak* (1975). His ability to exude an aura of contained menace made him a memorable and sophisticated "villain" of the silver screen.