Roland Young
Biography
Roland Young was an English actor. He made his first stage appearance in London's West End in 1908 in the play Find the Woman. Young then made his Broadway debut in 1912 in Hindle Wakes. He appeared in two comedies written for him by Clare Kummer, Good Gracious Annabelle! and A Successful Calamity, before serving with the United States Army during World War I. Young made his film debut in the 1922 silent film Sherlock Holmes, where he played Watson opposite John Barrymore as Holmes. He signed a contract and went on to have a career in acting, with 72 known credits. Young was born in London, England, on November 10, 1887, and died on June 5, 1953.
Career overview
Roland Young began his stage career in London's West End with a performance in Find the Woman in 1908. He made his Broadway debut in Hindle Wakes in 1912. Young appeared in two comedies written for him by Clare Kummer, Good Gracious Annabelle! in 1916 and A Successful Calamity in 1917. He served with the United States Army during World War I before returning to New York and marrying Clare Kummer's daughter, Frances.
Young alternated between New York and London for a few years before making his film debut in the 1922 silent film Sherlock Holmes. In this film, he played the role of Watson opposite John Barrymore as Holmes. Young went on to have a significant acting career, with 72 known credits. His early work in stage and film laid the foundation for his future success.
Roland Young's acting career spanned multiple continents and mediums, with notable performances in both stage and film. His early work in London's West End and on Broadway established him as a talented actor, and his transition to film in the 1920s marked the beginning of a long and distinguished career.
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Frequent co-stars
Career timeline
Full Filmography
72 titles- That's Entertainment! III (1994) as (archive footage)
- That Man from Tangier (1953) as George
- St. Benny the Dip (1951) as Matthew
- What's My Line? (1950) as Self
- Lux Video Theatre (1950) as Sumner
- Let's Dance (1950) as Edmund Pohlwhistle
- The Great Lover (1949) as C.J. Dabney
- Studio One (1948) as Harold. Mummery
- The Ed Sullivan Show (1948) as Self
- You Gotta Stay Happy (1948) as Ralph Tutwiler
- Bond Street (1948) as George Chester-Barrett
- And Then There Were None (1945) as William Blore
- Standing Room Only (1944) as Ira Cromwell
- Forever and a Day (1943) as Henry Barringer
- They All Kissed the Bride (1942) as Marsh
- Tales of Manhattan (1942) as Edgar
- The Lady Has Plans (1942) as Ronald Dean
- The Flame of New Orleans (1941) as Charles Giraud
- Topper Returns (1941) as Cosmo Topper
- Two-Faced Woman (1941) as Oscar 'O.O.' Miller
- The Philadelphia Story (1940) as Uncle Willie
- He Married His Wife (1940) as Bill Carter
- No, No, Nanette (1940) as Mr. 'Happy' Jimmy Smith
- Irene (1940) as Mr. Smith
- Dulcy (1940) as Roger Forbes
- Star Dust (1940) as Thomas Brooke
- Private Affairs (1940) as Amos Bullerton
- Yes, My Darling Daughter (1939) as Titus Jaywood
- The Night of Nights (1939) as Barry Keith-Trimble
- Here I Am a Stranger (1939) as Professor Daniels
- The Young in Heart (1938) as Col. Anthony 'Sahib' Carleton
- Topper Takes a Trip (1938) as Cosmo Topper
- Sailing Along (1938) as Anthony Gulliver
- Topper (1937) as Cosmo Topper
- Ali Baba Goes to Town (1937) as Sultan
- King Solomon's Mines (1937) as Cmdr. John Good
- Call It a Day (1937) as Frank Haines
- The Man Who Could Work Miracles (1936) as George McWhirter Fotheringay
- One Rainy Afternoon (1936) as Maillot
- The Unguarded Hour (1936) as William "Bunny" Jeffers
- Give Me Your Heart (1936) as Edward 'Tubbs' Barrow
- Gypsy (1936) as Alan Brooks
- David Copperfield (1935) as Uriah Heep
- Ruggles of Red Gap (1935) as Earl of Burnstead
- Here Is My Heart (1934) as Nicki
- A Lady's Profession (1933) as Lord Reginald Withers
- They Just Had to Get Married (1933) as Hillary Hume
- Blind Adventure (1933) as Holmes
- Pleasure Cruise (1933) as Andrew Poole
- His Double Life (1933) as Priam Farrel
- This Is the Night (1932) as Gerald Gray
- One Hour with You (1932) as Professor Olivier
- Street of Women (1932) as Linkhorne 'Link' Gibson
- Wedding Rehearsal (1932) as Reggie Buckley Candysshe - Marquis of Buckminster
- Lovers Courageous (1932) as Jeffrey
- A Woman Commands (1932) as King Alexander
- Hollywood on Parade No. A-5 (1932) as Self
- The Squaw Man (1931) as Sir John Applegate
- The Pagan Lady (1931) as Dr. Heath
- The Guardsman (1931) as The Critic
- Annabelle's Affairs (1931) as Roland Wimbleton
- Don't Bet on Women (1931) as Herbert Drake
- The Prodigal (1931) as Doc
- Madam Satan (1930) as Jimmy Wade
- New Moon (1930) as Count Strogoff
- Wise Girls (1929) as Duke Merrill
- Her Private Life (1929) as Charteris
- The Unholy Night (1929) as Lord Montague
- The Bishop Murder Case (1929) as Sigurd 'Erik' Arnesson
- Camille: The Fate of a Coquette (1926) as Lord Kyne
- Grit (1924) as Houdini Hart
- Sherlock Holmes (1922) as Dr. Watson
Frequently Asked Questions
What movies or TV shows is Roland Young best known for?
Roland Young is widely recognized for notable roles and projects including That's Entertainment! III (1994), What's My Line? (1950), Undercover Brother (2002), Let's Dance (1950).
When and where was Roland Young born?
Roland Young was born on November 10, 1887 in London, England, UK. They passed away on June 5, 1953.
How many credits does Roland Young have?
Roland Young has accumulated over 72 film and television credits across a career spanning from 1922 to 1994.
What is Roland Young's background in cinema and television?
Roland Young was an English actor. He made his first stage appearance in London's West End in 1908 in the play Find the Woman. Young then made his Broadway debut in 1912 in Hindle Wakes. He appeared in two comedies written for him by Clare Kummer, Good Gracious Annabelle! and A Successful Calamity, before serving with ...
Roland Young by the numbers
Age in their best-rated roles
- The Philadelphia Story (1940) as Uncle Willie — aged about 52
- That's Entertainment! III (1994) as (archive footage) — aged about 106
- What's My Line? (1950) as Self — aged about 62
- And Then There Were None (1945) as William Blore — aged about 57
- The Ed Sullivan Show (1948) as Self — aged about 60
- Lux Video Theatre (1950) as Sumner — aged about 62
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