Basil Rathbone
Biography
Basil Rathbone was an English actor born on June 13, 1892, in Johannesburg, South African Republic. He rose to prominence in England as a Shakespearean stage actor and went on to appear in over 70 films, primarily costume dramas, swashbucklers, and horror films. He frequently portrayed suave villains or morally ambiguous characters. His most famous role was heroic, that of Sherlock Holmes in a series of Hollywood films and a radio series. Rathbone also received a Tony Award in 1948 as Best Actor in a Play. He appeared in over 70 films and worked in Broadway and television, with a career spanning multiple decades.
Career overview
Basil Rathbone was an English actor who rose to prominence in England as a Shakespearean stage actor. He went on to appear in over 70 films, primarily in costume dramas, swashbucklers, and occasionally in horror films. Rathbone frequently portrayed suave villains or morally ambiguous characters in his film work.
His most notable role was that of Sherlock Holmes in a series of Hollywood films made between 1939 and 1946, as well as in a radio series. He also appeared in other notable films, including David Copperfield and The Adventures of Robin Hood. Rathbone's film career spanned multiple genres and included a range of character portrayals.
In addition to his film work, Rathbone also appeared in Broadway and television productions. He received a Tony Award in 1948 as Best Actor in a Play, marking a notable achievement in his later career. Throughout his acting career, Rathbone established himself as a versatile and accomplished performer, with a wide range of credits to his name.
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Frequent co-stars
Career timeline
Full Filmography
132 titles- The Adventures of Errol Flynn (2005) as Self / Various Roles (archive sound) (archive footage)
- In the Footsteps of Sherlock Holmes (1996)
- Dracula in the Movies (1992) as (archive footage)
- Frankenstein: A Cinematic Scrapbook (1991) as Baron Wolf von Frankenstein (archive footage)
- The Great Mouse Detective (1986) as Sherlock Holmes (voice)
- The Many Faces of Sherlock Holmes (1985) as Sherlock Holmes (archive footage)
- The Horror of It All (1983) as Carmichael (archive footage)
- The Horror Show (1979) as (archive footage)
- Madhouse (1974) as Basil (archive footage)
- The Movie Orgy (1968) as Self (archival footage)
- Autopsy of a Ghost (1968) as Canuto Pérez
- Soldier in Love (1967) as Duke of York
- Hillbillys in a Haunted House (1967) as Gregor
- The Ghost in the Invisible Bikini (1966) as Reginald Ripper
- Summer Fun (1966)
- Queen of Blood (1966) as Dr. Farraday
- Voyage to the Prehistoric Planet (1965) as Prof. Hartman, Lunar 7
- The Comedy of Terrors (1964) as John F. Black
- Burke's Law (1963) as Milo James
- The Merv Griffin Show (1962) as Self
- Tales of Terror (1962) as Carmichael ("The Case of M. Valdemar")
- The Magic Sword (1962) as Lodac
- Pontius Pilate (1962) as Caiaphas
- Two Before Zero (1962)
- Dr. Kildare (1961) as Frederick Foray
- Victoria Regina (1961) as Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli (Lord Beaconsfield)
- Mystic Prophecies and Nostradamus (1961) as Narrator
- The Black Cat (1960)
- A Christmas Carol (1959) as Scrooge
- Tales from Dickens (1959) as Scrooge
- The Last Hurrah (1958) as Norman Cass Sr.
- Hans Brinker or the Silver Skates (1958) as Dr. Boekman
- Aladdin (1958) as Emperor
- DuPont Show of the Month (1957) as Emperor
- The Lark (1957) as Chief Inquisitor
- The Black Sleep (1956) as Sir Joel Cadman
- Affair in Sumatra (1956) as Paul Charters
- The Stingiest Man in Town (1956) as Ebenezer Scrooge
- Screen Director's Playhouse (1955) as Paul Charters
- We're No Angels (1955) as Andre Trochard
- The Court Jester (1955) as Sir Ravenhurst
- Casanova's Big Night (1954) as Lucio / Narrator
- A Christmas Carol (1954) as Marley's Ghost
- The General's Boots (1954) as General Lee
- Hallmark Hall of Fame (1951) as Inquisitor
- Hallmark Hall of Fame (1951) as Dr. Boekman
- Hallmark Hall of Fame (1951) as Lord Beaconsfield
- Hallmark Hall of Fame (1951) as The Duke of York
- Schlitz Playhouse of Stars (1951) as Self - Host / General Lee
- Schlitz Playhouse of Stars (1951) as The Jewel Thief
- What's My Line? (1950) as Self
- The Jack Benny Program (1950) as Basil Rathbone
- Lux Video Theatre (1950) as Frampton
- Lux Video Theatre (1950) as Sir Paul Maxim
- Lux Video Theatre (1950) as Ambrose Wallington
- Your Show of Shows (1950)
- Lights Out (1949)
- Suspense (1949) as Dr. Jekyll / Mr. Hyde
- Suspense (1949) as Sherlock Holmes
- The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad (1949) as Narrator (segment "The Wind in the Willows")
- The Wind in the Willows (1949) as Narrator (voice)
- Studio One (1948) as Hazelton Crome
- Terror by Night (1946) as Sherlock Holmes
- Dressed to Kill (1946) as Sherlock Holmes
- Heartbeat (1946) as Professor Aristide
- The Woman in Green (1945) as Sherlock Holmes
- Pursuit to Algiers (1945) as Sherlock Holmes
- The House of Fear (1945) as Sherlock Holmes
- Bathing Beauty (1944) as George Adams
- The Pearl of Death (1944) as Sherlock Holmes
- Frenchman's Creek (1944) as Lord Rockingham
- The Scarlet Claw (1944) as Sherlock Holmes
- Sherlock Holmes Faces Death (1943) as Sherlock Holmes
- The Spider Woman (1943) as Sherlock Holmes
- Sherlock Holmes in Washington (1943) as Sherlock Holmes
- Above Suspicion (1943) as Sig von Aschenhausen
- Crazy House (1943) as Sherlock Holmes
- Sherlock Holmes and the Secret Weapon (1942) as Sherlock Holmes
- Fingers at the Window (1942) as Cesar Ferrari / Dr. H. Santelle
- Sherlock Holmes and the Voice of Terror (1942) as Sherlock Holmes
- Crossroads (1942) as Henri Sarrou
- Hedda Hopper’s Hollywood No. 6 (1942) as Himself
- International Lady (1941) as Reggie Oliver
- Paris Calling (1941) as Andre Benoit
- The Black Cat (1941) as Montague Hartley
- The Mark of Zorro (1940) as Captain Esteban Pasquale
- Rhythm on the River (1940) as Oliver Courtney
- The Mad Doctor (1940) as Dr. George Sebastian / Dr. Langamann
- Son of Frankenstein (1939) as Baron Wolf von Frankenstein
- The Hound of the Baskervilles (1939) as Sherlock Holmes
- The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes (1939) as Sherlock Holmes
- Rio (1939) as Paul Reynard
- Tower of London (1939) as Richard - Duke of Gloucester
- The Sun Never Sets (1939) as Clive Randolph
- The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938) as Sir Guy of Gisbourne
- Breakdowns of 1938 (1938) as Basil (archive footage) (uncredited)
- If I Were King (1938) as Louis XI
- The Adventures of Marco Polo (1938) as Ahmed
- The Dawn Patrol (1938) as Maj. Brand
- Love from a Stranger (1937) as Gerald Lovell
- Make a Wish (1937) as Johnny Selden
- Tovarich (1937) as Commissar Dimitri Gorotchenko
- Confession (1937) as Michael Michailow
- Romeo and Juliet (1936) as Tybalt
- Private Number (1936) as Thomas Wroxton
- The Garden of Allah (1936) as Count Ferdinand Anteoni
- Captain Blood (1935) as Levasseur
- Anna Karenina (1935) as Alexei Alexandrovitch Karenin
- A Tale of Two Cities (1935) as Marquis St. Evremonde
- David Copperfield (1935) as Mr. Edward Murdstone
- A Feather in Her Hat (1935) as Captain Randolph Courtney
- The Last Days of Pompeii (1935) as Pontius Pilate
- Kind Lady (1935) as Henry Abbott
- Loyalties (1933) as Ferdinand de Levis
- One Precious Year (1933) as Derek Nagel
- A Woman Commands (1932) as Capt. Alex Pastitsch
- After the Ball (1932) as Jack Harrowby
- A Lady Surrenders (1930) as Carl Vandry
- This Mad World (1930) as Paul Parisot
- Sin Takes a Holiday (1930) as Reginald 'Reggie' Durant
- The Lady of Scandal (1930) as Edward
- A Notorious Affair (1930) as Paul Gherardi
- The Flirting Widow (1930) as Col. Smith
- The Bishop Murder Case (1929) as Philo Vance
- The Last of Mrs. Cheyney (1929) as Lord Arthur Dilling
- The Great Deception (1926) as Rizzio
- The Masked Bride (1925) as Antoine
- The Loves of Mary, Queen of Scots (1924) as Undetermined Subordinate Role
- Trouping with Ellen (1924) as Tony Winterslip
- The School for Scandal (1923) as Joseph Surface
- Innocent (1921) as Amadis de Jocelyn
- The Fruitful Vine (1921) as Don Cesare Carelli
Frequently Asked Questions
What movies or TV shows is Basil Rathbone best known for?
Basil Rathbone is widely recognized for notable roles and projects including The Great Mouse Detective (1986), The Movie Orgy (1968), The Ghost in the Invisible Bikini (1966), Voyage to the Prehistoric Planet (1965).
When and where was Basil Rathbone born?
Basil Rathbone was born on June 13, 1892 in Johannesburg, South African Republic. They passed away on July 21, 1967.
How many credits does Basil Rathbone have?
Basil Rathbone has accumulated over 132 film and television credits across a career spanning from 1921 to 2005.
What is Basil Rathbone's background in cinema and television?
Basil Rathbone was an English actor born on June 13, 1892, in Johannesburg, South African Republic. He rose to prominence in England as a Shakespearean stage actor and went on to appear in over 70 films, primarily costume dramas, swashbucklers, and horror films. He frequently portrayed suave villains or morally ambiguo...
Basil Rathbone by the numbers
Age in their best-rated roles
- Hallmark Hall of Fame (1951) as Inquisitor — aged about 59
- Hallmark Hall of Fame (1951) as Dr. Boekman — aged about 59
- Hallmark Hall of Fame (1951) as Lord Beaconsfield — aged about 59
- Hallmark Hall of Fame (1951) as The Duke of York — aged about 59
- The Jack Benny Program (1950) as Basil Rathbone — aged about 58
- The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938) as Sir Guy of Gisbourne — aged about 46
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