Leopold John Genn ( ; 9 August 1905 - 26 January 1978) was an English actor and barrister. Distinguished by his relaxed charm and smooth, "black velvet" voice, he had a lengthy career in theatre, film, television and radio, often playing aristocratic or gentlemanly, sophisticated roles.

Born to a Jewish family in London, Genn was educated as a lawyer and was a practising barrister until after World War II, in which he had