Basil Rathbone
Philip St. John Basil Rathbone MC (13 June 1892 – 21 July 1967) was an Anglo-South African actor. He rose to prominence in the United Kingdom as a Shakespearean stage actor and went on to appear in more than 70 films, primarily costume dramas, swashbucklers, and, occasionally, horror films.
Basil Rathbone MC | |
|---|---|
Basil Rathbone (1935) | |
| Born | Philip St. John Basil Rathbone 13 June 1892 Johannesburg, South African Republic |
| Died | 21 July 1967 (aged 75) New York City, U.S. |
| Resting place | Ferncliff Cemetery Shrine of Memories, Hartsdale, New York, U.S. |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1911–1967 |
| Spouses | Ethel Marian Foreman
(m. 1914; div. 1926)Ouida Bergère (m. 1926) |
| Children | 3 |
| Relatives | Sir Frank Benson (cousin) |
| Military career | |
| Allegiance | United Kingdom |
| Service/ | British Army |
| Years of service | 1915–18 |
| Rank | Captain |
| Unit | London Scottish Regiment Liverpool Scottish |
| Awards |
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Rathbone frequently portrayed suave villains or morally ambiguous characters, such as Mr. Murdstone in David Copperfield (1935), Tybalt in Romeo and Juliet (1936) and Sir Guy of Gisbourne in The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938). His most famous role was that of Sherlock Holmes in fourteen Hollywood films made between 1939 and 1946 and in a radio series.
His later career included roles on Broadway, as well as self-ironic film and television work. In 1948, he shared the Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play with two others. He was also nominated for two Academy Awards and was honoured with three stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.