Humphrey Bogart Warner Bros. wanted to cast the then much better known Edward G. Robinson for the film adaptation; however Leslie Howard, who played the protagonist in both the play and the film, insisted on Bogart being given the part. His breakthrough came in 1941 when his performances in "High Sierra" and "The Maltese Falcon" made him a star. His first true romantic lead role came in 1942's "Casablanca", breaking his typecasting as a gangster. He and Lauren Bacall starred together in "To Have and Have Not" (1944). After they married, she also played his love interest in "The Big Sleep" (1946),
Humphrey Bogart for old times' sake." When he feigns ignorance, she persists, "Play it, Sam. Play 'As Time Goes By'." Later that night, alone with Sam, Rick demands, "You played it for her—you can play it for me." Sam once again resists, prompting Blaine to shout: "If she can stand it, I can! Play it!" Humphrey Bogart Humphrey DeForest Bogart (; December 25, 1899January 14, 1957) was an American film and stage actor. His performances in numerous films from the Classical Hollywood era made him a cultural icon. In 1999, the American Film Institute ranked him as the greatest male star of