George Macready (1909-1973) was an American actor known for his intense portrayals of characters who were often evil, cold, and sophisticated. With his chiseled face, often marked by a real scar, and a penetrating gaze, Macready specialized in roles as an aristocratic, cruel, or intellectually detached antagonist.

Among his most iconic film roles were Ballin Mundson in *Gilda* (1946), General Paul Mireau in Stanley Kubrick's *Paths of Glory* (1957), and the sadistic gangster in Fritz Lang's *The Big Heat* (1953). His acting, characterized by impeccable diction and an aura of contained menace, made him a memorable face of film noir and war dramas, helping to define archetypes of complex and unforgettable villains.