Peter Lorre was an outstanding character actor who gave support to many leads but could also -- and frequently did -- carry the film himself. He was the spice that flavored many a film at Warner Bros, the most productive period of his career. TvTator's thumbnail biography was accurate, but you can read more in The Lost One: A Life of Peter Lorre by Stephen D. Youngkin, coming out in Sept. 2005: http://www.peterlorrebook.com

Just watch Peter Lorre in Fritz Lang's classic thriller M and you will see a superb actor. Lorre is chilling as a psychotic child murderer, but the scene at the end when he is on trial by the vigilante underground criminal unit Lorre evokes a sense of helplessness and pity. Peter Lorre was a dynamic, charismatic and unique character actor. He is one of the best character actors ever to appear on screen and probably the most mimicked. He was a versatile actor with a talent for playing villians and psycotics and in many of his films he added a touch of humor. Lorre was known for his short stature, his bulging eyes and his distinctive Hungarian accent. He was born Lazlo Lowenstein June 26, 1904 in Rozsahegy Austria Hungary. He trained to be an actor in Vienna Austria and acted in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. In 1931 he was cast as the psycopathic child killer in Fritz Lang's M, a film which garnered Lorre international attention. He moved to London in 1933 where Alfred Hitchcock cast him in The Man Who Knew Too Much. Mad Love was his first American film. From 1937 to 1939 in 8 films he played Japanese detective Mr Moto. He was paired with Sidney Greenstreet in some films. Some great films that I've seen Lorre in are Casablanca, Arsenic and Old Lace, Around the World in 80 Days, The Man Who Knew Too Much, and The Maltese Falcon.