José Ferrer, in fullJosé Vincente Ferrer de Otero y Cintron, (born January 8, 1912, Santurce, Puerto Rico—died January 26, 1992,Coral Gables,Florida, U.S.), American actor and director, who was perhaps best known for his Academy Award-winning performance in the title role of thefilmCyrano de Bergerac (1950) and for his portrayal ofHenri de Toulouse-Lautrec inMoulin Rouge (1952).

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Ferrer, a graduate ofPrinceton University (1934), was a gifted pianist and had intended to become an architect before launching hisacting career in 1935. He earned acclaim in the comic title role of the Broadway hitCharley’s Aunt (1940) before appearing asIago withPaul Robeson inOthello (1943), which set an all-time record run for a Shakespearean play on Broadway to that time. Ferrer earned his first Tony Award in 1947 for his performance inCyrano de Bergerac and won two more in 1952, one fordirecting the playsStalag 17,The Fourposter,andThe Shrike and the other for acting inThe Shrike.

Following his motion-picture debut inJoan of Arc (1948), Ferrer appeared inWhirlpool (1949),Crisis (1950),The Caine Mutiny (1954),The Shrike (1955),Lawrence of Arabia (1962), andThe Greatest Story Ever Told (1965). As a director, he cast himself in starring roles inThe Great Man (1956),I Accuse (1958), andThe High Cost of Loving (1958). The last films he directed wereReturn to Peyton Place (1961) andState Fair (1962). During the 1970s and ’80s he was cast mainly as villains, mostly for television, and he made his final stage appearance in 1990. He was married four times; among his wives were actressUta Hagen and singerRosemary Clooney. Ferrer was the first actor to receive the National Medal of Arts (1985).