Wallace Beery

American actor, born in 1885. A former circus performer and silent comedian who became one of MGM's biggest stars in the sound era, often playing lovable brutes. His roles include Butch in The Big House (1930), for which he was nominated for an Academy Award, and the title role in The Champ (1931), for which he won. He remained a top box-office draw through the 1930s. He died in 1949.