Basil Ruysdael
Biography
Basil Ruysdael was born on July 24, 1888, in Jersey City, New Jersey, and died on October 10, 1960. He was an American film actor and opera singer who began his career as a baritone singer for the Metropolitan Opera Company in the early 1900s. He appeared on the New York stage in 1918. In 1923, he relocated to California, where he worked as a voice teacher for various actors. Encouraged to act, he made his big screen debut as Detective Hennessy in The Cocoanuts in 1929, a role he had previously created in the 1925 stage play. Over the next thirty years, he became a prolific character actor in films, with credits including Come to the Stable in 1949 and Broken Arrow in 1950.
Career overview
Basil Ruysdael was an American film actor and opera singer born in Jersey City, New Jersey. He began his professional career as a baritone singer for the Metropolitan Opera Company in the early nineteen hundreds and later appeared on the New York stage in 1918. In 1923, he relocated to California where he worked as a voice teacher for various actors. Encouraged to pursue acting himself, he transitioned to the big screen.
Among his notable early theatrical and cinematic work, he originated the role of Detective Hennessy in the 1925 stage play of The Cocoanuts and reprised the part in the 1929 film adaptation, which marked his feature film debut. Over the course of the next thirty years, Ruysdael established himself as a prolific character performer in motion pictures. His extensive filmography includes appearances in Come to the Stable in 1949 and Broken Arrow in 1950. He also worked in television, with credits including Science Fiction Theatre, Disneyland, and Black Saddle.
Throughout his life and career, Ruysdael was known by names including Basil Ruysdael and Basil Mi. He passed away on October 10, 1960 at the age of seventy-two.
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Frequent co-stars
Career timeline
Full Filmography
38 titles- The Story of Ruth (1960) as Shammah
- Black Saddle (1959) as Senator McQueen
- The Horse Soldiers (1959) as The Reverend (Jefferson Military Academy)
- The Last Hurrah (1958) as The Episcopal Bishop
- Perry Mason (1957) as Henry W. Dameron
- Jubal (1956) as Shem Hoktor
- These Wilder Years (1956) as Judge
- Diane (1956) as Chamberlain
- Blackboard Jungle (1955) as Prof. A.R. Kraal
- The Violent Men (1955) as Tex Hinkleman
- Davy Crockett, King of the Wild Frontier (1955) as Gen. / President Andrew Jackson
- Pearl of the South Pacific (1955) as Tuan Michael
- Davy Crockett Goes to Congress (1955) as Andrew Jackson
- The Shanghai Story (1954) as Rev. Hollingsworth
- Davy Crockett, Indian Fighter (1954) as General Jackson
- General Electric Theater (1953)
- Carrie (1952) as Mr. Fitzgerald
- Boots Malone (1952) as Preacher Cole
- Half Angel (1951) as Dr. Jackson
- My Forbidden Past (1951) as Dean Cazzley
- People Will Talk (1951) as Lyman Brockwell
- Raton Pass (1951) as Pierre Challon
- The Scarf (1951) as Cyrus Barrington
- Broken Arrow (1950) as Gen. Oliver Howard
- One Way Street (1950) as Father Moreno
- Gambling House (1950) as Judge Ravinek
- High Lonesome (1950) as 'Horse' Davis
- Pinky (1949) as Judge Walker
- Colorado Territory (1949) as Dave Rickard ('The Old Man')
- The File on Thelma Jordon (1949) as Judge Jonathan David Hancock
- The Doctor and the Girl (1949) as Dr. Francis I. Garard
- Come to the Stable (1949) as The Bishop
- Clippers at War (1945) as Narrator (voice)
- Dr. Terror's House of Horrors (1943) as Narrator
- The Archives (1940) as Narrator
- The Romance of Iron and Steel (1938) as Narrator
- Dealers in Death (1934) as Narrator
- The Cocoanuts (1929) as Detective Hennessy
Frequently Asked Questions
What movies or TV shows is Basil Ruysdael best known for?
Basil Ruysdael is widely recognized for notable roles and projects including The Story of Ruth (1960), Fresh (1994), The Horse Soldiers (1959), The Last Hurrah (1958).
When and where was Basil Ruysdael born?
Basil Ruysdael was born on July 23, 1888 in Jersey City, New Jersey, USA. They passed away on October 10, 1960.
How many credits does Basil Ruysdael have?
Basil Ruysdael has accumulated over 38 film and television credits across a career spanning from 1929 to 1960.
What is Basil Ruysdael's background in cinema and television?
Basil Ruysdael was born on July 24, 1888, in Jersey City, New Jersey, and died on October 10, 1960. He was an American film actor and opera singer who began his career as a baritone singer for the Metropolitan Opera Company in the early 1900s. He appeared on the New York stage in 1918. In 1923, he relocated to Californ...
Basil Ruysdael by the numbers
Age in their best-rated roles
- Davy Crockett Goes to Congress (1955) as Andrew Jackson — aged about 66
- Perry Mason (1957) as Henry W. Dameron — aged about 68
- The Story of Ruth (1960) as Shammah — aged about 71
- The Last Hurrah (1958) as The Episcopal Bishop — aged about 69
- People Will Talk (1951) as Lyman Brockwell — aged about 62
- The Horse Soldiers (1959) as The Reverend (Jefferson Military Academy) — aged about 70
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