**Ralph Meeker (1920-1988)** was an American actor known for his "tough guy" roles, often cynical or surly, but with an underlying vulnerability. He was particularly suited for blunt characters, antiheroes, or ordinary men in extreme circumstances.

His most celebrated portrayal was that of private detective Mike Hammer in Robert Aldrich's film noir *Kiss Me Deadly* (1955), a role that defined his screen image and made him a genre icon.

Other significant performances include Corporal Paris in Stanley Kubrick's *Paths of Glory* (1957), and roles in *The Naked Spur* (1953) and *Something Wild* (1961). Meeker was never a top-tier star, but his intense and realistic acting made him a recognizable and appreciated face in post-war cinema, especially in film noir.