**Karlheinz Böhm (1928-2014)** was an Austrian actor whose film career was marked by iconic roles and surprising contrasts.

He rose to international fame playing Emperor Franz Joseph I of Austria in the popular "Sissi" trilogy (1955-1957) alongside Romy Schneider. This role established him as a young romantic lead, with a charming, noble, almost fairytale-like image.

In stark contrast, Böhm shocked audiences and critics with his intense portrayal of Mark Lewis in Michael Powell's controversial psychological thriller "Peeping Tom" (L'occhio che uccide, 1960). This film revealed a surprising versatility, showcasing his ability to embody disturbed and complex characters, far removed from the romantic hero.

He also participated in other German and international productions, but it is for these two antithetical figures that he is primarily remembered in cinema. In the 1980s, he largely abandoned acting to dedicate himself full-time to humanitarian work, founding the organization "Menschen für Menschen" in Ethiopia.