Peter Lorre was a Hungarian-American actor born on June 26, 1904, in Rózsahegy, Austria-Hungary, now part of Slovakia. He gained fame in the 1931 German film M directed by Fritz Lang, where he played a child murderer. Lorre's unique appearance and expressive acting style made him a prominent figure in both European and American cinema. Throughout his career, Lorre appeared in numerous films, including Casablanca and The Maltese Falcon. He often portrayed characters that were sinister or eccentric, which became his trademark. Lorre's contributions to film continued until his death on March 23, 1964, leaving a lasting legacy in the industry.