Herbert Lom

An imposing character actor in American and European features since the 1940s, Herbert Lom played imperious, often villainous continental and ethnic types in "Night and the City" (1950), "The Ladykillers" (1955) and "Spartacus" (1960) before displaying an unexpected gift for physical comedy in the "Pink Panther" films. Lom's trademark was a rich, plummy voice with only a hint of his Czech origins, which allowed him to play everything from a Muslim chieftain in "El Cid" (1961) to Captain Nemo in "The Mysterious Island" (1961) to Napoleon on two separate occasions. His turn as the apoplectic Chief Inspector Dreyfus, whose frustration with Peter Sellers' Inspector Clouseau literally drove him insane, gave him international fame, though Lom could be found more frequently in international productions than in Hollywood projects. His career wound down in the early 1990s, but the lasting appeal of the "Panther" franchise made him a favorite among film fans until his death in 2012. Herbert Lom's rich and varied career underscored his status as one of the most versatile character players of the late 20th century.