Robert Shaw
Biography
Robert Archibald Shaw was born on 9 August 1927 in Westhoughton, Lancashire, England, and died on 28 August 1978 at the age of 51. An English stage and film actor as well as a novelist, Shaw built a career that encompassed sixty‑three credited performances. He is remembered for his roles in The Sting, From Russia with Love, A Man for All Seasons, the original The Taking of Pelham One Two Three (1974), Black Sunday (1977), The Deep (1977) and Jaws, in which he portrayed the shark hunter Quint. Shaw’s work spanned both theatre and cinema, and his contributions are catalogued under the acting category in major film databases.
Career overview
Robert Shaw was born on 9 August 1927 in Westhoughton, Lancashire, England. He pursued a career as an English stage and film actor as well as a novelist, building a body of work that includes sixty‑three credited performances. Shaw’s early work was rooted in theatre, where he developed a reputation for intensity and presence, which later translated to a successful transition to the screen. Over the course of his career he appeared in a range of genres, from espionage thrillers to historical dramas, establishing himself as a versatile character actor.
Among Shaw’s most widely recognized film roles are his performances in The Sting, the James Bond entry From Russia with Love, and A Man for All Seasons.
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Frequent co-stars
Career timeline
Full Filmography
64 titles- Jaws @ 50: The Definitive Inside Story (2025) as Self
- Godzilla Apex (2021) as "TAKE CLEAR OF THE LINE"
- Discovering Hamlet (2011) as Claudius (archive footage)
- Avalanche Express (1979) as General Markenkov
- The Horror Show (1979) as (archive footage)
- Force 10 from Navarone (1978) as Mallory
- End of the Game (1978) as Richard Gastmann
- Black Sunday (1977) as Kabakov
- The Deep (1977) as Romer Treece
- Robin and Marian (1976) as Sheriff of Nottingham
- Swashbuckler (1976) as Ned Lynch
- Jaws (1975) as Quint
- The Man in the Glass Booth (1975) Theatre Play
- Diamonds (1975) as Charles / Earl Hodgson
- The Taking of Pelham One Two Three (1974) as Blue
- The Break (1974) as Giles
- New England Our Way (1974) as Self
- The Sting (1973) as Doyle Lonnegan
- The Golden Voyage of Sinbad (1973) as The Oracle of all knowledge
- The Hireling (1973) as Steven Ledbetter
- Young Winston (1972) as Lord Randolph Churchill
- A Reflection of Fear (1972) as Michael
- A Town Called Bastard (1971) as The Priest
- Figures in a Landscape (1970) as MacConnachie
- Figures in a Landscape (1970) Writer
- Battle of Britain (1969) as Squadron Leader Skipper
- The Royal Hunt of the Sun (1969) as Francisco Pizarro
- The Dick Cavett Show (1968) as Self - Guest
- The Birthday Party (1968) as Stanley Webber
- Luther (1968) as Martin Luther
- Omnibus (1967) as Self
- Custer of the West (1967) as General George Armstrong Custer
- A Man for All Seasons (1966) as King Henry VIII
- The Incredible World of James Bond (1965) as Self (archive footage)
- Battle of the Bulge (1965) as Col Hessler
- Situation Hopeless — But Not Serious (1965) Novel
- The Caretaker (1964) as Aston
- Hamlet at Elsinore (1964) as Claudius
- Carol for Another Christmas (1964) as Ghost of Christmas Future
- The Luck of Ginger Coffey (1964) as Ginger Coffey
- From Russia with Love (1963) as Donald 'Red' Grant
- Festival (1963) as Simone
- Tomorrow at Ten (1963) as Marlowe
- The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (1962) as Self
- The Valiant (1962) as Lieutenant Field
- The Winter's Tale (1962) as Leontes
- North to the Dales (1962) as Narrator (voice)
- Danger Man (1960) as Tony Costello
- Playhouse 90: The Hiding Place (1960) Novel
- Libel (1959) as First Photographer
- The Adventures of William Tell (1958) as Peter von Breck
- Sea Fury (1958) as Gorman
- White Hunter (1957)
- Rupert of Hentzau (1957) as Rupert of Hentzau
- Holiday (1957) as Narrator (voice)
- The Buccaneers (1956) as Capt. Dan Tempest
- Doublecross (1956) as Ernest
- A Hill in Korea (1956) as LCpl. Hodge
- The Adventures of the Scarlet Pimpernel (1955) as Lord Anthony Dewhurst
- The Dam Busters (1955) as Flt / Sgt. J. Pulford, D.F.M.
- Yorkshire Sands (1955) as Narrator (voice)
- The Peak District (1954) as Self – Narrator (voice)
- The Lavender Hill Mob (1951) as Chemist at Police Exhibition
- Sunday Night Theatre (1950) as Herbert
Frequently Asked Questions
What movies or TV shows is Robert Shaw best known for?
Robert Shaw is widely recognized for notable roles and projects including The Single Guy (1995), Force 10 from Navarone (1978), Black Sunday (1977), The Deep (1977).
When and where was Robert Shaw born?
Robert Shaw was born on August 9, 1927 in Westhoughton, Lancashire, England, UK. They passed away on August 28, 1978.
How many credits does Robert Shaw have?
Robert Shaw has accumulated over 64 film and television credits across a career spanning from 1950 to 2025.
What is Robert Shaw's background in cinema and television?
Robert Archibald Shaw was born on 9 August 1927 in Westhoughton, Lancashire, England, and died on 28 August 1978 at the age of 51. An English stage and film actor as well as a novelist, Shaw built a career that encompassed sixty‑three credited performances. He is remembered for his roles in The Sting, From Russia with ...
Robert Shaw by the numbers
Age in their best-rated roles
- The Valiant (1962) as Lieutenant Field — aged about 34
- The Sting (1973) as Doyle Lonnegan — aged about 45
- Festival (1963) as Simone — aged about 35
- The Adventures of the Scarlet Pimpernel (1955) as Lord Anthony Dewhurst — aged about 27
- Jaws (1975) as Quint — aged about 47
- Doublecross (1956) as Ernest — aged about 28
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