Born in what is now Slovakia, Peter Lorre began his acting career in Europe, appearing on the stage and making quite an impression when he starred in Fritz Lang’s M.  When the Nazis came to power, Lorre was one of the many film artists who left Germany.  At first, he moved to France but, in 1934, he set sail for the United States and continued his career in Hollywood.  A popular character actor, Lorre appeared in such classic films as The Man Who Knew Too Much, The Maltese Falcon, Mad Love, Arsenic and Old Lace and Casablanca.  Though his role in Casablanca was small, he still played a key role when he gave Rick the letters of transit.

He also appeared in several horror films, often opposite his good friend Vincent Price and Boris Karloff.  In this scene from 1962’s Tales of Terror, Lorre and Price challenge each other to a wine-drinking contest.