Lionel Royce was an Austrian actor born in 1891 who achieved fame on the stage in Vienna. Following the Nazi takeover and his dismissal due to Jewish ancestry, Royce fled to Austria’s countryside and managed to rebuild his career under a false identity, even fooling critics and the public. After being discovered, he escaped to the United States, where he continued acting and became involved in anti-Nazi activities. Royce's life story illustrates resilience in the face of adversity and the challenges faced by artists under oppressive regimes.