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Basil Rathbone

Basil Rathbone

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Also Known As: Philip St John Basil Rathbone Died: July 21, 1967
Born: June 13, 1892 Cause of Death: heart attack
Birth Place: South Africa Profession: actor, insurance salesman
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Biography CLOSE THE FULL BIOGRAPHY

Rathbone was an established stage star on both sides of the Atlantic before making his US film debut in 1924. With the emergence of sound his precise, clipped diction, combined with his suave, somewhat pointed features, confirmed him as Hollywood's debonair villain of choice, at home in both swashbucklers and drawing room fare. He played elegant, sardonic and thoroughly worthless characters in films such as 1935's "David Copperfield" (as Mr. Murdstone), 1938's "The Adventures of Robin Hood", opposite Errol Flynn, and 1940's "The Mark of Zorro", opposite Tyrone Power. Rathbone also won supporting Oscar nominations for his villainous Tybalt in George Cukor's version of "Romeo and Juliet" (1936) and as the scheming Louis XI in the Ronald Colman vehicle, "If I Were King" (1938). Capable of being stiff-upper-lip heroic as well, Rathbone is best remembered as Sherlock Holmes in two fine 1939 films--"The Hound of the Baskervilles" and "The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes"--which were followed by 12 popular but generally inferior variations on the same theme.

Rathbone was an established stage star on both sides of the Atlantic before making his US film debut in 1924. With the emergence of sound his precise, clipped diction, combined with his suave, somewhat pointed features, confirmed him as Hollywood's debonair villain of choice, at home in both swashbucklers and drawing room fare. He played elegant, sardonic and thoroughly worthless characters in films such as 1935's "David Copperfield" (as Mr. Murdstone), 1938's "The Adventures of Robin Hood", opposite Errol Flynn, and 1940's "The Mark of Zorro", opposite Tyrone Power. Rathbone also won supporting Oscar nominations for his villainous Tybalt in George Cukor's version of "Romeo and Juliet" (1936) and as the scheming Louis XI in the Ronald Colman vehicle, "If I Were King" (1938). Capable of being stiff-upper-lip heroic as well, Rathbone is best remembered as Sherlock Holmes in two fine 1939 films--"The Hound of the Baskervilles" and "The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes"--which were followed by 12 popular but generally inferior variations on the same theme.

Filmographyclose complete filmography

CAST: (feature film)

1.
 Great Mouse Detective, The (1986) Voice Of Of Sherlock Holmes
2.
 Hillbillys in a Haunted House (1967) Gregor
3.
 Queen of Blood (1966) Dr. Farraday
4.
 The Ghost in the Invisible Bikini (1966) Reginald Ripper
5.
 Voyage to the Prehistoric Planet (1965) Professor Hartman
6.
 The Comedy of Terrors (1963) John F. Black
7.
 Two Before Zero (1962)
8.
 Tales of Terror (1962) Carmichael
9.
 The Magic Sword (1962) Lodac
10.
 The Last Hurrah (1958) Norman Cass, Sr.
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Milestones close milestones

:
Sent to London to receive his education
:
Briefly worked in business before embarking on acting career
:
Accepted into a touring company; began training for the stage
:
Served in the London Scottish Regiment and later the Liverpool Scottish Regiment (achieving rank of lieutenant) during WWI
:
Following WWI, joined the Shakespeare company at Stratford-upon-Avon that was founded by his cousin
1921:
Film acting debut in the British-produced "The Fruitful Vine"
:
Invited to appear on Broadway; moved to NYC and acted in several shows, most notably "The Swan" (1923) opposite Eva Le Gallienne
1924:
First notable feature film credit, "Trouping with Ellen"
1929:
First films for several years and talkie debut, "The Last of Mrs. Cheyney", as Norma Shearer's leading man
:
Acted opposite Katharine Cornell on Broadway and on tour
1935:
Returned to films after several years: enjoyed landmark villain roles as Mr. Murdstone in George Cukor's "David Copperfield", as Karenin in Clarence Brown's "Anna Karenina" and as Errol Flynn's dueling adversary in Michael Curtiz's "Captain Blood"
1936:
Supported Norma Shearer and Leslie Howard as Tybalt in "Romeo and Juliet"; nominated for Best Supporting Actor Oscar
1936:
Had featured role in the Technicolor film "The Garden of Allah"
1938:
Cast as the villain Sir Guy of Gisbourne in "The Adventures of Robin Hood", featuring Errol Flynn and Olivia de Havilland
1938:
Garnered second Best Supporting Actor Academy Award nomination for "If I Were King"
1939:
First played Sherlock Holmes in "The Hound of the Baskervilles" and "The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes"
1939:
Had title role in "Son of Frankenstein"
1939:
Cast as Richard III in "The Tower of London"
1940:
Again displayed his dueling abilities opposite Tyrone Power in "The Mask of Zorro"
1944:
Once again displayed his flair for scoundrels as the ill-fated Lord Rockingham in "Frenchman's Creek"
1946:
Last Sherlock Holmes films, "Dressed to Kill" and "Terror By Night"
1947:
Returned to Broadway to play Mr. Sloper in "The Heiress"; received Tony Award
:
Toured on and off in the 1950s in one-man show "An Evening with Basil Rathbone"
1954:
First film in eight years, "Casanova's Big Night", starring Bob Hope; played Hope's valet
1956:
Appeared as Scrooge in the NBC production "The Stingiest Man in Town"
1957:
Acted alongside Julie Harris and Boris Karloff in the "Hallmark Hall of Fame" presentation "The Lark" (NBC)
1958:
Gave an effective performance as Spencer Tracy's political enemy in "The Last Hurrah"
1967:
Last film, "Hillbillys in a Haunted House"
1986:
Voice used as Sherlock Holmes in the animated children's film, "The Great Mouse Detective"
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Education

Repton College: -

Notes

"Two profiles pasted together." --Dorothy Parker describing Rathbone

"Basil Rathbone was the best all around villain the movies ever had ... adept at any kind of role, including romantic drama and comedy ... at his best in villainy (including modern wife-killers and Nazis) and was absolutely unmatched at playing swaggering scoundrels of other days, where his rich delivery of full-blooded dialogue, while attired in doublets or court finery, made him truly a sight to behold -- and listen to." --From "The Bad Guys" by William K. Everson

Companions close complete companion listing

wife:
Ethel Marian Forman. Actor. Married in October 1914; separated after WWI; divorced c. 1924.
wife:
Ouida Bergere. Actor, manager, writer. Born in 1886; met Rathbone c. 1923; died of complications of a broken hip in 1974.

Family close complete family listing

cousin:
Sir Frank Benson. Founder of the Stratford-upon-Avon Shakespeare Festival and one of the founders of British Actors Equity.
son:
Rodion Rathbone. Born in 1915.

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