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Luis Van Rooten, he of the velvet voice and Mephistopholean countenance, was born in Mexico City and educated at the University of Pennsylvania. Van Rooten was a moderately successful architect before he decided upon an acting career. He was busiest in radio, playing the title role in The Adventures of Nero Wolfe, and appearing regularly on such series as Box 13, Bulldog Drummond, Chandu the Magician, The Damon Runyon Theater, Escape, John's Other Wife, and X Minus One. On television, Van Rooten was prominently featured on One Man's Family, Major Dell Conway of the Flying Tigers, and Wonderful John Acton, and was the frequent narrator of the 1960s documentary series Perspectives on Greatness. Off camera, Van Rooten enjoyed a reputation as an expert horticulturalist. Luis Van Rooten's film career began with 1944's The Hitler Gang and ended with 1961's Operation Eichmann; he played the same character, Nazi chieftan Heinrich Himmler, in both.