**John Ridgely (1909-1968)** was an American actor, a prolific screen presence of classical Hollywood. Active mainly between the 1930s and 1950s, he was a constant fixture, especially as a contract actor for Warner Bros.

He excelled in supporting roles, often embodying the common man: soldiers, police officers, investigators, or authoritative yet loyal figures. His style was characterized by a measured and natural performance, which allowed him to lend credibility to his characters, often in crisis situations or alongside leading stars.

Among his most significant films are *High Sierra* (1941), *The Man Who Came to Dinner* (1942), *Air Force* (1943), *Destination Tokyo* (1943), and *Arsenic and Old Lace* (1944). Although rarely a leading man, his solid and credible presence contributed to defining the atmosphere of numerous genre films, making him an iconic face of the period.