Joe E. Brown (1891-1973) was an American actor known for his distinctive, wide smile. He began his career in vaudeville and on Broadway, before establishing himself as a film star in the 1930s.

Specializing in comic roles as good-natured, often naive but energetic characters, Brown became famous for his portrayals of baseball players in films such as Elmer the Great (1933) and Alibi Ike (1935), which exploited his athleticism. He demonstrated versatility as Flute in the 1935 version of A Midsummer Night's Dream.

His career enjoyed a resurgence with the unforgettable Osgood Fielding III in Some Like It Hot (1959), where he delivered one of the most famous final lines in film history ("Well, nobody's perfect!"). His style, a mix of innocence and exuberant charisma, made him an icon of American comedy.