Albert Dekker, a renowned stage actor from 1927, had already established himself as a Broadway star before making his film debut a decade later. Standing tall with rugged good looks, Dekker often portrayed aggressive character roles, exemplified by his iconic portrayal of a double-crossing gang leader in the classic 1946 film, The Killers.
In addition to his successful film career, Dekker also pursued a career in politics, serving a term in the California legislature from 1944 to 1946, representing the Hollywood district. Notably, Dekker did not follow the trend of many actors transitioning to television, instead opting to return to the stage, where he achieved great success, as well as on the college lecture circuit.
Dekker's final role, in the 1969 film, The Wild Bunch, is widely regarded as one of his most memorable performances, playing the tough and gritty railroad detective, Harrigan, who hires a group of ruthless bounty hunters to track down and eliminate a gang of outlaws who have been robbing his company's trains.
