(1917–97)
a US actor who often played tough characters. He was noted for his relaxed style and for not taking his work too seriously. He made more than 125 films but once said, ‘Movies bore me, especially my own.’ His films include The Story of GI Joe (1945), The Night of the Hunter (1955), Ryan’s Daughter (1971) and Farewell My Lovely (1975), in which he played the character Philip Marlowe .