One of his earlier roles as a villain was in Hitchcock’s The Lady Vanishes in 1939 – he played the role of Dr Hartz (pictured) who was the leader of the espionage group responsible for making Miss Froy disappear.
The actor made dozens of film and stage appearances during his long career, including Secret of the Blue Room 1933, Watch On The Rhine 1943, for which he was awarded an Oscar. Other films he appeared in include City Streets 1931, Tomorrow and Tomorrow 1932, Little Women 1933, By Candlelight 1934, Three Musketeers 1935, Captain Fury 1939, A Window in London 1940, Strange Cargo 1940, Watch on the Rhine 1943, Berlin Express 1948, Scent of Mystery 1960, Tender is the Night 1962 and Lord Jim 1965.
He died at the age of 80 in 1971 in Morocco.