Basil Rathbone

Actor, Film actor

1892 – 1967

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Who was Basil Rathbone?

Philip St. John Basil Rathbone, MC was a South African-born English actor. He rose to prominence in the UK 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 Mr. Murdstone in David Copperfield and Sir Guy of Gisbourne in The Adventures of Robin Hood. 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 roles on Broadway, as well as self-ironic film and television work. He received a Tony Award in 1948 as Best Actor in a Play.

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Born
Jun 13, 1892
Johannesburg
Also known as
  • Philip St. John Basil Rathbone
  • Ratters
  • Sir Basil Rathbone
  • Philip St. John Basil Rathbone, MC
Parents
Siblings
Spouses
Children
Nationality
  • United Kingdom
  • South Africa
Profession
Education
  • Repton School
Died
Jul 21, 1967
New York City
Resting place
Ferncliff Cemetery

Submitted
on July 23, 2013

Citation

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"Basil Rathbone." Biographies.net. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 29 Mar. 2024. <https://www.biographies.net/people/en/basil_rathbone>.

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