Lyle Stathem Bettger (February 13, 1915 – September 24, 2003) was a character actor who had roles in Hollywood films and television from the 1950s onward, often portraying villains. One such role was the wrathfully jealous elephant handler Klaus from the Oscar winning film The Greatest Show on Earth (1952).

Biography

He was married to Mary Rolfe (1940–1996) until her death. They had three children: Lyle, Jr., Frank, and Paula. Bettger died on September 24, 2003 in Atascadero, California aged 88. His remains were cremated. He was survived by his children and a sister.