Ferrer made his Hollywood debut in "Joan of Arc" (1948) and, thanks to his sonorous voice and urbane manner, excelled at playing pedants and snobs, like the pompous Nazi professor in Mel Brooks's 1983 remake of "To Be or Not to Be". He proved his versatility, though, as the murderous hypnotist in "Whirlpool" (1949), the defending officer in "The Caine Mutiny" (1954), the sadistic Turkish bey in "Lawrence of Arabia" (1962) and the ham actor in "Enter Laughing" (1966).
Ferrer's work as a film director has been generally undistinguished, one exception being his scathing look at the TV industry, "The Great Man" (1956). He was married to actress Uta Hagen (1938-48) and singer Rosemary Clooney (1953-66), and his son is character actor Miguel Ferrer.