Personal Info
Known For
Acting
Born
June 13, 1892
Died
July 21, 1967 (age 75)
Place of Birth
Johannesburg, South African Republic
Also Known As
Philip St. John Basil Rathbone
Бэзил Рэтбоун
Basil Rathbone
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.
Basil Rathbone 1959
VideoKnown For
TV
The Merv Griffin Show
Self
1962
TV
What's My Line?
Self
1950
TV
Dr. Kildare
Frederick Foray
1961
TV
Studio One
Hazelton Crome
1948
TV
Suspense
Dr. Jekyll / Mr. Hyde
1949
TV
Suspense
Sherlock Holmes
1949
TV
Burke's Law
Milo James
1963
TV
Lights Out
1949
TV
Your Show of Shows
1950
TV
The Jack Benny Program
Basil Rathbone
1950
Film
The Great Mouse Detective
Sherlock Holmes (voice)
1986
TV
Screen Director's Playhouse
Paul Charters
1955
TV
DuPont Show of the Month
Emperor
1957
Film
The Adventures of Robin Hood
Sir Guy of Gisbourne
1938
Film
The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad
Narrator (segment "The Wind in the Willows")
1949
TV
Lux Video Theatre
Frampton
1950
TV
Lux Video Theatre
Sir Paul Maxim
1950
TV
Lux Video Theatre
Ambrose Wallington
1950
Film
Captain Blood
Levasseur
1935
Film
Bathing Beauty
George Adams
1944
Filmography
2005FilmThe Adventures of Errol Flynnas Self / Various Roles (archive sound) (archive footage)1996FilmIn the Footsteps of Sherlock Holmes1992FilmDracula in the Moviesas (archive footage)1991FilmFrankenstein: A Cinematic Scrapbookas Baron Wolf von Frankenstein (archive footage)1986FilmThe Great Mouse Detectiveas Sherlock Holmes (voice)1985FilmThe Many Faces of Sherlock Holmesas Sherlock Holmes (archive footage)1983FilmThe Horror of It Allas Carmichael (archive footage)1979FilmThe Horror Showas (archive footage)1974FilmMadhouseas Basil (archive footage)1968FilmAutopsy of a Ghostas Canuto Pérez1968FilmThe Movie Orgyas Self (archival footage)1967FilmHillbillys in a Haunted Houseas Gregor1967FilmSoldier in Loveas Duke of York1966TVSummer Fun1966FilmThe Ghost in the Invisible Bikinias Reginald Ripper1966FilmQueen of Bloodas Dr. Farraday1965FilmVoyage to the Prehistoric Planetas Prof. Hartman, Lunar 71964FilmThe Comedy of Terrorsas John F. Black1963TVBurke's Lawas Milo James1962FilmTwo Before Zero1962TVThe Merv Griffin Showas Self1962FilmTales of Terroras Carmichael ("The Case of M. Valdemar")1962FilmThe Magic Swordas Lodac1962FilmPontius Pilateas Caiaphas1961FilmVictoria Reginaas Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli (Lord Beaconsfield)1961TVDr. Kildareas Frederick Foray1961FilmMystic Prophecies and Nostradamusas Narrator1960FilmThe Black Cat1959FilmA Christmas Carolas Scrooge1959TVTales from Dickensas Scrooge1958FilmThe Last Hurrahas Norman Cass Sr.1958FilmAladdinas Emperor1958FilmHans Brinker or the Silver Skatesas Dr. Boekman1957TVDuPont Show of the Monthas Emperor1957FilmThe Larkas Chief Inquisitor1956FilmThe Stingiest Man in Townas Ebenezer Scrooge1956FilmThe Black Sleepas Sir Joel Cadman1956FilmAffair in Sumatraas Paul Charters1955FilmThe Court Jesteras Sir Ravenhurst1955TVScreen Director's Playhouseas Paul Charters1955FilmWe're No Angelsas Andre Trochard1954FilmA Christmas Carolas Marley's Ghost1954FilmThe General's Bootsas General Lee1954FilmCasanova's Big Nightas Lucio / Narrator1951TVHallmark Hall of Fameas Inquisitor1951TVSchlitz Playhouse of Starsas Self - Host / General Lee1950TVThe Jack Benny Programas Basil Rathbone1950TVLux Video Theatreas Frampton1950TVYour Show of Shows1950TVWhat's My Line?as Self1949FilmThe Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toadas Narrator (segment "The Wind in the Willows")1949TVLights Out1949FilmThe Wind in the Willowsas Narrator (voice)1949TVSuspenseas Dr. Jekyll / Mr. Hyde1948TVStudio Oneas Hazelton Crome1946FilmDressed to Killas Sherlock Holmes1946FilmHeartbeatas Professor Aristide1946FilmTerror by Nightas Sherlock Holmes1945FilmPursuit to Algiersas Sherlock Holmes1945FilmThe Woman in Greenas Sherlock Holmes1945FilmThe House of Fearas Sherlock Holmes1944FilmFrenchman's Creekas Lord Rockingham1944FilmThe Pearl of Deathas Sherlock Holmes1944FilmBathing Beautyas George Adams1944FilmThe Scarlet Clawas Sherlock Holmes1943FilmThe Spider Womanas Sherlock Holmes1943FilmCrazy Houseas Sherlock Holmes1943FilmSherlock Holmes Faces Deathas Sherlock Holmes1943FilmAbove Suspicionas Sig von Aschenhausen1943FilmSherlock Holmes in Washingtonas Sherlock Holmes1942FilmSherlock Holmes and the Secret Weaponas Sherlock Holmes1942FilmHedda Hopper’s Hollywood No. 6as Himself1942FilmSherlock Holmes and the Voice of Terroras Sherlock Holmes1942FilmCrossroadsas Henri Sarrou1942FilmFingers at the Windowas Cesar Ferrari / Dr. H. Santelle1941FilmParis Callingas Andre Benoit1941FilmInternational Ladyas Reggie Oliver1941FilmThe Black Catas Montague Hartley1940FilmThe Mad Doctoras Dr. George Sebastian / Dr. Langamann1940FilmThe Mark of Zorroas Captain Esteban Pasquale1940FilmRhythm on the Riveras Oliver Courtney1939FilmTower of Londonas Richard - Duke of Gloucester1939FilmRioas Paul Reynard1939FilmThe Adventures of Sherlock Holmesas Sherlock Holmes1939FilmThe Sun Never Setsas Clive Randolph1939FilmThe Hound of the Baskervillesas Sherlock Holmes1939FilmSon of Frankensteinas Baron Wolf von Frankenstein1938FilmBreakdowns of 1938as Basil (archive footage) (uncredited)1938FilmThe Dawn Patrolas Maj. Brand1938FilmIf I Were Kingas Louis XI1938FilmThe Adventures of Robin Hoodas Sir Guy of Gisbourne1938FilmThe Adventures of Marco Poloas Ahmed1937FilmTovarichas Commissar Dimitri Gorotchenko1937FilmMake a Wishas Johnny Selden1937FilmConfessionas Michael Michailow1937FilmLove from a Strangeras Gerald Lovell1936FilmThe Garden of Allahas Count Ferdinand Anteoni1936FilmRomeo and Julietas Tybalt1936FilmPrivate Numberas Thomas Wroxton1935FilmCaptain Bloodas Levasseur1935FilmA Tale of Two Citiesas Marquis St. Evremonde1935FilmKind Ladyas Henry Abbott1935FilmA Feather in Her Hatas Captain Randolph Courtney1935FilmThe Last Days of Pompeiias Pontius Pilate1935FilmAnna Kareninaas Alexei Alexandrovitch Karenin1935FilmDavid Copperfieldas Mr. Edward Murdstone1933FilmLoyaltiesas Ferdinand de Levis1933FilmOne Precious Yearas Derek Nagel1932FilmAfter the Ballas Jack Harrowby1932FilmA Woman Commandsas Capt. Alex Pastitsch1930FilmSin Takes a Holidayas Reginald 'Reggie' Durant1930FilmA Lady Surrendersas Carl Vandry1930FilmThe Lady of Scandalas Edward1930FilmThe Flirting Widowas Col. Smith1930FilmA Notorious Affairas Paul Gherardi1930FilmThis Mad Worldas Paul Parisot1929FilmThe Bishop Murder Caseas Philo Vance1929FilmThe Last of Mrs. Cheyneyas Lord Arthur Dilling1926FilmThe Great Deceptionas Rizzio1925FilmThe Masked Brideas Antoine1924FilmTrouping with Ellenas Tony Winterslip1924FilmThe Loves of Mary, Queen of Scotsas Undetermined Subordinate Role1923FilmThe School for Scandalas Joseph Surface1921FilmThe Fruitful Vineas Don Cesare Carelli1921FilmInnocentas Amadis de Jocelyn—FilmMarlene Dietrich: Home Moviesas Himself