Actor. Born Herbert Charles Angelo Kuchacevich ze Schluderpacheru, he enjoyed a successful theatrical career in the country of his birth. He made a couple of motion pictures before emigrating to England in 1938. Lom's real breakthrough role was in the 1946 psychological drama "The Seventh Veil" where he played a psychiatrist. He portrayed Napoleon Bonaparte twice, including in "War and Peace" in 1956 alongside Henry Fonda and Audrey Hepburn. He was also the King of Siam in the first London production of the stage musical "The King and I" in 1953. Two years later he collaborated with actor Peter Sellers in the dark comedy "The Ladykillers". Thus began a partnership that saw the two actors co-star in the highly successful Blake Edwards productions of "The Pink Panther" during the 1960's and 1970's. In them, Lom became famous for playing the increasingly crazed Chief Inspector Charles Dreyfus alongside Sellers' hapless Inspector Clouseau. The success of Lom's character owed much to his own improvisations. It was Lom who invented Dreyfus's nervous eye twitch that became his trademark gesture. Besides being a very successful actor, Lom also wrote two novels, "Enter A Spy" published in 1971 and "Dr Guillotine" in 1993. He died peacefully in his sleep at the age of 95.
Actor. Born Herbert Charles Angelo Kuchacevich ze Schluderpacheru, he enjoyed a successful theatrical career in the country of his birth. He made a couple of motion pictures before emigrating to England in 1938. Lom's real breakthrough role was in the 1946 psychological drama "The Seventh Veil" where he played a psychiatrist. He portrayed Napoleon Bonaparte twice, including in "War and Peace" in 1956 alongside Henry Fonda and Audrey Hepburn. He was also the King of Siam in the first London production of the stage musical "The King and I" in 1953. Two years later he collaborated with actor Peter Sellers in the dark comedy "The Ladykillers". Thus began a partnership that saw the two actors co-star in the highly successful Blake Edwards productions of "The Pink Panther" during the 1960's and 1970's. In them, Lom became famous for playing the increasingly crazed Chief Inspector Charles Dreyfus alongside Sellers' hapless Inspector Clouseau. The success of Lom's character owed much to his own improvisations. It was Lom who invented Dreyfus's nervous eye twitch that became his trademark gesture. Besides being a very successful actor, Lom also wrote two novels, "Enter A Spy" published in 1971 and "Dr Guillotine" in 1993. He died peacefully in his sleep at the age of 95.
Bio by: Ron Moody
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