Acting
Basil Rathbone
Born June 13, 1892 · Johannesburg, South African Republic · Died July 21, 1967
Biography
Basil Rathbone, MC, Kt (13 June 1892 – 21 July 1967), was an English actor. 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, occasionally, horror films. He frequently portrayed suave villains or morally ambiguous characters, such as Murdstone in David Copperfield (1935) and Sir Guy of Gisbourne in The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938). His most famous role, however, was heroic—that of Sherlock Holmes in fourteen Hollywood films made between 1939 and 1946 and in a radio series. His later career included Broadway and television work; he received a Tony Award in 1948 as Best Actor in a Play.
Known for
7.1
The Great Mouse Detective
Sherlock Holmes (voice)
7.9
The Adventures of Robin Hood
Sir Guy of Gisbourne
6.8
The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad
Narrator (segment "The Wind in the Willows")
7.7
Captain Blood
Levasseur
7.0
Son of Frankenstein
Baron Wolf von Frankenstein
7.5
The Mark of Zorro
Captain Esteban Pasquale
7.4
The Hound of the Baskervilles
Sherlock Holmes
7.8
The Court Jester
Sir Ravenhurst
7.3
We're No Angels
Andre Trochard
6.8
Tales of Terror
Carmichael ("The Case of M. Valdemar")
7.2
The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes
Sherlock Holmes
6.5
The Comedy of Terrors
John F. Black
6.7
Terror by Night
Sherlock Holmes
6.6
The Woman in Green
Sherlock Holmes
6.5
Sherlock Holmes and the Secret Weapon
Sherlock Holmes
6.7
Dressed to Kill
Sherlock Holmes
6.2
Madhouse
Basil (archive footage)
7.1
The House of Fear
Sherlock Holmes
6.4
Sherlock Holmes and the Voice of Terror
Sherlock Holmes
7.1
The Scarlet Claw
Sherlock Holmes
Filmography
- 2005The Adventures of Errol FlynnSelf / Various Roles (archive sound) (archive footage)Movie
- 1992Dracula in the Movies(archive footage)Movie
- 1991Frankenstein: A Cinematic ScrapbookBaron Wolf von Frankenstein (archive footage)Movie
- 1986The Great Mouse DetectiveSherlock Holmes (voice)Movie
- 1985The Many Faces of Sherlock HolmesSherlock Holmes (archive footage)Movie
- 1983The Horror of It AllCarmichael (archive footage)Movie
- 1979The Horror Show(archive footage)Movie
- 1974MadhouseBasil (archive footage)Movie
- 1968Autopsy of a GhostCanuto PérezMovie
- 1968The Movie OrgySelf (archival footage)Movie
- 1967Hillbillys in a Haunted HouseGregorMovie
- 1967Soldier in LoveDuke of YorkMovie
- 1966The Ghost in the Invisible BikiniReginald RipperMovie
- 1966Queen of BloodDr. FarradayMovie
- 1965Voyage to the Prehistoric PlanetProf. Hartman, Lunar 7Movie
- 1964The Comedy of TerrorsJohn F. BlackMovie
- 1963Burke's LawMilo JamesSeries
- 1962Two Before ZeroMovie
- 1962The Merv Griffin ShowSelfSeries
- 1962Tales of TerrorCarmichael ("The Case of M. Valdemar")Movie
- 1962The Magic SwordLodacMovie
- 1962Pontius PilateCaiaphasMovie
- 1961Victoria ReginaPrime Minister Benjamin Disraeli (Lord Beaconsfield)Movie
- 1961Dr. KildareFrederick ForaySeries
- 1961Mystic Prophecies and NostradamusNarratorMovie
- 1960The Black CatMovie
- 1959A Christmas CarolScroogeMovie
- 1959Tales from DickensScroogeSeries
- 1958The Last HurrahNorman Cass Sr.Movie
- 1958AladdinEmperorMovie
- 1958Hans Brinker or the Silver SkatesDr. BoekmanMovie
- 1957DuPont Show of the MonthEmperorSeries
- 1956The Stingiest Man in TownEbenezer ScroogeMovie
- 1956The Black SleepSir Joel CadmanMovie
- 1955The Court JesterSir RavenhurstMovie
- 1955Screen Director's PlayhousePaul ChartersSeries
- 1955We're No AngelsAndre TrochardMovie
- 1954A Christmas CarolMarley's GhostMovie
- 1954Casanova's Big NightLucio / NarratorMovie
- 1951Hallmark Hall of FameInquisitor, Dr. Boekman, Lord Beaconsfield, The Duke of YorkSeries
- 1951Schlitz Playhouse of StarsSelf - Host / General Lee, The Jewel ThiefSeries
- 1950The Jack Benny ProgramBasil RathboneSeries
- 1950Lux Video TheatreFrampton, Sir Paul Maxim, Ambrose WallingtonSeries
- 1950Your Show of ShowsSeries
- 1950What's My Line?SelfSeries
- 1949The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. ToadNarrator (segment "The Wind in the Willows")Movie
- 1949Lights OutSeries
- 1949The Wind in the WillowsNarrator (voice)Movie
- 1949SuspenseDr. Jekyll / Mr. Hyde, Sherlock HolmesSeries
- 1948Studio OneHazelton CromeSeries
- 1946Dressed to KillSherlock HolmesMovie
- 1946HeartbeatProfessor AristideMovie
- 1946Terror by NightSherlock HolmesMovie
- 1945Pursuit to AlgiersSherlock HolmesMovie
- 1945The Woman in GreenSherlock HolmesMovie
- 1945The House of FearSherlock HolmesMovie
- 1944Frenchman's CreekLord RockinghamMovie
- 1944The Pearl of DeathSherlock HolmesMovie
- 1944Bathing BeautyGeorge AdamsMovie
- 1944The Scarlet ClawSherlock HolmesMovie
- 1943The Spider WomanSherlock HolmesMovie
- 1943Crazy HouseSherlock HolmesMovie
- 1943Sherlock Holmes Faces DeathSherlock HolmesMovie
- 1943Above SuspicionSig von AschenhausenMovie
- 1943Sherlock Holmes in WashingtonSherlock HolmesMovie
- 1942Sherlock Holmes and the Secret WeaponSherlock HolmesMovie
- 1942Hedda Hopper’s Hollywood No. 6SelfMovie
- 1942Sherlock Holmes and the Voice of TerrorSherlock HolmesMovie
- 1942CrossroadsHenri SarrouMovie
- 1942Fingers at the WindowCesar Ferrari / Dr. H. SantelleMovie
- 1941Paris CallingBenoitMovie
- 1941International LadyReggie OliverMovie
- 1941The Black CatMontague HartleyMovie
- 1940The Mad DoctorDr. George Sebastian / Dr. LangamannMovie
- 1940The Mark of ZorroCaptain Esteban PasqualeMovie
- 1940Rhythm on the RiverOliver CourtneyMovie
- 1939Tower of LondonRichard - Duke of GloucesterMovie
- 1939RioPaul ReynardMovie
- 1939The Adventures of Sherlock HolmesSherlock HolmesMovie
- 1939The Sun Never SetsClive RandolphMovie
- 1939The Hound of the BaskervillesSherlock HolmesMovie
- 1939Son of FrankensteinBaron Wolf von FrankensteinMovie
- 1938Breakdowns of 1938Basil (archive footage) (uncredited)Movie
- 1938The Dawn PatrolMaj. BrandMovie
- 1938If I Were KingLouis XIMovie
- 1938The Adventures of Robin HoodSir Guy of GisbourneMovie
- 1938The Adventures of Marco PoloAhmedMovie
- 1937TovarichCommissar Dimitri GorotchenkoMovie
- 1937Make a WishJohnny SeldenMovie
- 1937ConfessionMichael MichailowMovie
- 1937Love from a StrangerGerald LovellMovie
- 1936The Garden of AllahCount Ferdinand AnteoniMovie
- 1936Romeo and JulietTybaltMovie
- 1936Private NumberThomas WroxtonMovie
- 1935Captain BloodLevasseurMovie
- 1935A Tale of Two CitiesMarquis St. EvremondeMovie
- 1935Kind LadyHenry AbbottMovie
- 1935A Feather in Her HatCaptain Randolph CourtneyMovie
- 1935The Last Days of PompeiiPontius PilateMovie
- 1935Anna KareninaAlexei Alexandrovitch KareninMovie
- 1935David CopperfieldMr. Edward MurdstoneMovie
- 1933LoyaltiesFerdinand de LevisMovie
- 1933One Precious YearDerek NagelMovie
- 1932After the BallJack HarrowbyMovie
- 1932A Woman CommandsCapt. Alex PastitschMovie
- 1930Sin Takes a HolidayReginald 'Reggie' DurantMovie
- 1930A Lady SurrendersCarl VandryMovie
- 1930The Lady of ScandalEdwardMovie
- 1930The Flirting WidowCol. SmithMovie
- 1930A Notorious AffairPaul GherardiMovie
- 1930This Mad WorldPaul ParisotMovie
- 1929The Bishop Murder CasePhilo VanceMovie
- 1929The Last of Mrs. CheyneyLord Arthur DillingMovie
- 1926The Great DeceptionRizzioMovie
- 1925The Masked BrideAntoineMovie
- 1924Trouping with EllenTony WinterslipMovie
- 1924The Loves of Mary, Queen of ScotsUndetermined Subordinate RoleMovie
- 1923The School for ScandalJoseph SurfaceMovie
- 1921The Fruitful VineDon Cesare CarelliMovie
- 1921InnocentAmadis de JocelynMovie