Basil Rathbone
Known For
Acting
Born
1892-06-13 in Johannesburg, South African Republic
Died
1967-07-21
Biography
Sir Basil Rathbone, KBE, 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.
Most Known For
What's My Line?
as Self
Studio One
as Hazelton Crome
The Merv Griffin Show
as Self
Dr. Kildare
as Frederick Foray
Burke's Law
as Milo James
The Jack Benny Program
as Basil Rathbone
Your Show of Shows
Screen Director's Playhouse
as Paul Charters
DuPont Show of the Month
as Emperor
Suspense
as Dr. Jekyll / Mr. Hyde
Suspense
as Sherlock Holmes
Lights Out
Lux Video Theatre
as Frampton
Lux Video Theatre
as Sir Paul Maxim
Lux Video Theatre
as Ambrose Wallington
The Great Mouse Detective
as Sherlock Holmes (voice)
Madhouse
as Basil (archive footage)
The Adventures of Robin Hood
as Sir Guy of Gisbourne
The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad
as Narrator (segment "The Wind in the Willows")
International Lady
as Reggie Oliver