Born Samuel Hyams, this British character actor began his career as a stage actor in 1918, and entered British films in 1930. After many films, he left for Hollywood in the late '30s and continued his career there. He is perhaps best remembered for portraying the dim-witted Inspector Lestrade in six Basil Rathbone Sherlock Holmes films between 1943-46. He was rarely onscreen after 1950.