 The first big hit of his American career was "Ball of Fire" (1941) with Gary Cooper and Barbara Stanwyck.Later, he signed a contract with Warner Bros., where he had a number of other small roles, including one in "Yankee Doodle Dandy" (1942) with James Cagney.Later the same year, at the age of 59, he portrayed his best remembered character, Carl the head waiter in "Casablanca" (1942).