Donald Pleasence (1919-1995) was a prolific British actor, recognized for his intense gaze and peculiar voice. He excelled at portraying ambiguous and often unsettling characters, from villains to disturbed religious figures, mad scientists, and obsessive authoritarian figures.

He is universally known for the iconic role of Dr. Sam Loomis, the psychiatrist obsessed with hunting Michael Myers in the *Halloween* horror saga, a role he reprised in multiple installments. Among his most celebrated performances is that of Colin Blythe, the "blind forger," in the classic *The Great Escape* (1963). He also played the villain Ernst Stavro Blofeld in *You Only Live Twice* (1967). His career, spanning nearly fifty years, made him an unforgettable character actor in cinema.