**Joseph Schildkraut** (1896-1964) was an Austrian-born American actor, son of the famous Rudolph Schildkraut.

Initially establishing himself on Broadway, Schildkraut became a versatile figure in cinema, often cast as historical figures, exotic foreigners, or sophisticated antagonists. He won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his intense portrayal of Captain Alfred Dreyfus in **The Life of Émile Zola** (1937).

His most important films also include **Grand Hotel** (1932), **Queen Christina** (1933), **Cleopatra** (1934), **Marie Antoinette** (1938), and **The Man in the Iron Mask** (1939). Towards the end of his career, he moved audiences in the role of Otto Frank in **The Diary of Anne Frank** (1959), a character he had already played on stage. His style was characterized by elegance, intensity, and a remarkable ability to portray the psychological complexity of his roles.