An accomplished stage and film actor, he was born in 1895 in Lemberg, Austria-Hungary, and immigrated to the U.S. as a child. Renowned for his transformative character roles and meticulous preparation, he gained fame on Broadway before transitioning to film in the 1930s. He earned five Academy Award nominations, winning Best Actor for "The Story of Louis Pasteur" in 1936. Known for "Scarface" and "The Good Earth," his career was marked by a dedication to portraying complex, dynamic characters.