Like many of his generation, C. Henry Gordon he enjoyed a long stage career, on and off Broadway, before entering films. Hence that well trained voice of his. He appeared in 79 films between 1930 and 1940. He was a Hollywood villain of the 1930s.

He was born Henry Racke in New York, New York and died in Los Angeles, California after having his leg amputated. He was educated both in New York and abroad in Switzerland and Germany. For some years he owned and ran a silver mine in New Mexico but failed to make it pay so became an actor.

Source: Wikipedia