British-born Nigel De Brulier's long career began in silent films, but unlike many performers of that era, he managed to successfully transition into sound films. His authoritarian and somewhat regal bearing was perfect for the many bishops, cardinals, knights and other authority figures he often played (he portrayed Cardinal Richelieu four times: in Les trois mousquetaires (1921), The Three Musketeers (1935), Le masque de fer (1929) and L'homme au masque de fer (1939)).