**Louis Calhern (1895-1956)** was an American actor, known for his versatility and his portrayal of sophisticated characters, often ambiguous or authoritarian. With a career spanning from the silent era to the 1950s, Calhern excelled at depicting figures of power, shrewd lawyers, cynical businessmen, or aristocrats.

His most memorable roles include the astute lawyer Alonzo Emmerich in John Huston's *The Asphalt Jungle* (1950), his most acclaimed role. He was also the manipulative Devlin in Hitchcock's *Notorious* (1946) and a dignified Julius Caesar in the 1953 Shakespearean adaptation.

He also left his mark in *High Society* (1956) as Grace Kelly's father and in *Blackboard Jungle* (1955) as the principal. His imposing presence and deep voice made him an unforgettable character actor, often cast as a cerebral antagonist or an authoritative father figure.