Ralph Morgan (born July 6 1883, New York City - died June 11 1956, New York City) was a Hollywood film, stage and character actor, and the brother of Frank Morgan (who played the title role in The Wizard of Oz 1939).
Born as Ralph Wuppermann, Morgan graduated from Columbia University with a law degree. However, he abandoned the stuffy world of jurisprudence for the more exciting (to him) vocation of journeyman actor. Morgan became so successful in stock and on Broadway that his younger brother, Frank, was encouraged to give the theater a try and, as a result, became even more famous than Ralph.
The elder Morgan made his film bow in 1931, playing leading roles in such productions as Strange Interlude in 1932 and Rasputin and the Empress in 1933. He later settled into secondary character parts. Morgan had played more "surprise" killers in more murder mysteries than virtually any other actor in Hollywood.
Among off-camera activities, he was also a founder, charter member and one-time President of the Screen Actors Guild.
Hollywood character actor, often as smooth villain, for two decades from 1931.
