Henry Victor, a talented British character actor, was born on October 2, 1892, in England, but spent his formative years in Germany. He embarked on his film career in 1914, gradually progressing to lead roles in notable literary adaptations such as The Picture of Dorian Gray (1916) and H. Rider Haggard's She (1916),both released in 1916.
However, when the advent of talkies in the late 1920s arrived, Victor's distinctive Teutonic accent proved to be a significant hindrance to his status as a leading man in Hollywood. Nevertheless, he managed to carve out a substantial career as a character actor in both American and British films, specializing in portraying brutish Nazis during World War II.
One of Victor's most iconic roles was that of the sadistic strongman Hercules in Tod Browning's groundbreaking film Freaks (1932),a part that was initially considered for Victor McLaglen, with whom Browning had collaborated on The Unholy Three (1925) and Harry Earles. He also delivered a memorable performance as the beleaguered Nazi Captain Schultz in the classic comedy-drama To Be or Not to Be (1942),starring alongside Jack Benny and Carole Lombard.
Throughout his illustrious career, spanning from 1914 to 1945, Victor appeared in over 100 films. Tragically, he passed away prematurely on March 15, 1945, at the age of 52, due to a brain tumor. He is laid to rest at Oakwood Memorial Cemetery in Chatsworth, California.
