**Harry Carey (1878-1947)** was an American actor, an iconic figure in American cinema. Considered one of the first "cowboy" stars of the silent film era, his career spanned several decades. Carey was known for his roles as honest, stoic, and laconic men of the West, often portrayed as symbols of integrity and resilience.

A frequent collaborator of director John Ford, he starred in seminal Westerns such as *Straight Shooting* (1917), an early example of the genre. Transitioning to sound films, he continued to excel in character roles, with memorable performances in *The Prisoner of Shark Island* (1936) and, notably, *Mr. Smith Goes to Washington* (1939), for which he earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor. His screen presence defined an archetype of the American hero.