The Stranger — Stranger on the Third Floor Character Profile

About The Stranger

An asylum escapee who confesses to murdering both the diner victim and Ward's neighbor to avoid being sent back. He chases Jane but is fatally struck by a truck, which clears Ward and Briggs.

The Stranger — Character Profile

Character Facts

Played by

Peter Lorre

Appears in

Stranger on the Third Floor (1940)

Role

Protagonist

Relationships (3)

• The Stranger — Conflict Wrongfully Convicted — Joe Briggs (Elisha Cook Jr.)

  The stranger's confession directly exonerates Briggs, ending their indirect conflict.

• The Stranger — Conflict Investigator — Jane (Margaret Tallichet)

  Jane actively hunts the fugitive to prove innocence, becoming his direct target during the climax.

• The Stranger — Narrative Unwitting Witness — Michael Ward (John McGuire)

  Ward initially pursues the stranger out of suspicion, unaware he is the actual murderer.

Explore the full interactive character relationship map of Stranger on the Third Floor

More characters from Stranger on the Third Floor

• Michael Ward (John McGuire)
• Jane (Margaret Tallichet)
• Albert Meng (Charles Halton)
• Joe Briggs (Elisha Cook Jr.)
• District Attorney (Charles Waldron)
• Mrs. Kane (Ethel Griffies)
• Briggs' Defense Attorney (Alec Craig)
• Charles Evans (Otto Hoffman)
• The Judge (Oscar O'Shea)
• Martin (Cliff Clark)
• Policeman at Accident (uncredited) (Jim Farley)
• Giuseppe, the Italian Grocer (uncredited) (Bobby Barber)