George Zucco was born in 1886, in Italy, and began his stage career in Canada in 1908. He performed in vaudeville with his wife Frances, and later joined the army during World War I, where he was wounded and partially handicapped.
After the war, Zucco returned to the London stage, where he developed a successful career as a leading man. He began working in British sound films in the early 1930s, and eventually signed with Paramount Pictures.
In 1936, Zucco moved to Hollywood, where he played a variety of roles, including villainous characters. He became known for his distinctive features, including his sharp hawk nose, dark eyes, and arching brow.
Zucco's breakout role came in 1938, when he played the criminal mastermind "The Stinger" in Arrest Bulldog Drummond. He went on to play Professor Moriarty in The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, and the villainous cleric in The Hunchback of Notre Dame.
In the early 1940s, Zucco began taking on more horror roles, including The Mummy's Hand and The Invisible Ray. He continued to work in the horror genre throughout the decade, appearing in films such as The Mummy's Tomb and The Return of the Vampire.
In the 1950s, Zucco began to slow down, and he eventually retired from acting. He suffered a stroke and was forced to live in a nursing home, where he died in 1960.
