Noah Nicholas Beery, a renowned character actor of the silent and early sound era, earned a reputation for portraying cruel villains on the big screen. Born to a policeman father, Noah Webster Beery, and his wife Frances Margaret Fitzgerald Beery, in Kansas City, Noah and his younger brother Wallace Beery left home in their teenage years to pursue careers in the performing arts. Noah made his stage debut at the tender age of 16 and went on to work consistently in the theatre until his early thirties.
Following in his brother's footsteps, Noah transitioned to film, swiftly establishing himself as a skilled player and a recognizable heavy in a wide range of movies, particularly westerns. Although he never achieved the same level of fame as his younger brother, Noah successfully carved out a distinctive niche for himself in the history of cinema. His son, Noah Beery Jr., would later follow in his father's footsteps, becoming a character actor in his own right, albeit often playing more benevolent roles.
