 |
Philip St. John Basil RathboneEnglish actor
Date of Birth: 13.06.1892
Country:  USA |
Content:
- Basil Rathbone: A Theatrical and Cinematic Legend
- Early Stage and Screen Career
- Hollywood Success
- Notable roles included:
- Sherlock Holmes
- Other Film and Television Roles
- Later Years and Death
Basil Rathbone: A Theatrical and Cinematic Legend
Birth and EducationBasil Rathbone was born on April 22, 1911, in Johannesburg, South Africa. His father, Edgar Philip Rathbone, was a mining engineer from Liverpool, and his mother, Anna Barbara, was a violinist. Basil had two siblings, Beatrice and John. When Basil was three years old, his family returned to England after his father was accused of spying.
Basil received his education at Repton School. He initially pursued a career as an insurance agent. However, in 1916, he enlisted in the London Scottish Regiment and served in World War I alongside future colleagues Claude Rains, Ronald Colman, and Herbert Marshall. He rose to the rank of captain.
Early Stage and Screen Career
Rathbone's stage debut occurred in 1911 at the Royal Theatre in Ipswich, where he played Hortensio in William Shakespeare's "The Taming of the Shrew." In 1912, he toured the United States with the Royal Theatre company, performing in productions such as "Romeo and Juliet," "The Merry Wives of Windsor," and "As You Like It."
Upon his return to London, Rathbone became a regular performer at renowned English theaters. In the 1920s, he starred in numerous Shakespearean and other roles, traveling extensively. In 1923, he appeared on Broadway at the Cort Theatre in New York City. He continued to perform on Broadway in 1925 and shared the stage with Ethel Barrymore in 1927 and 1931.
Hollywood Success
Rathbone made his film debut in 1925's "The Masked Bride." He went on to appear in several silent films, including "The Bishop Murder Case" (1930), in which he played the detective Philo Vance. By the 1930s, Rathbone had established himself as one of Hollywood's most popular actors, often portraying aristocratic villains in costume dramas and swashbuckling adventures.
Notable roles included:
Mr. Murdstone in "David Copperfield" (1935)Prince Karagin in "Anna Karenina" (1935)
Pontius Pilate in "The Last Days of Pompeii" (1935)
Captain Blood in "Captain Blood" (1935)
Sydney Carton in "A Tale of Two Cities" (1935)
Sir Guy of Gisbourne in "The Adventures of Robin Hood" (1938)
Marco Polo in "The Adventures of Marco Polo" (1938)
Captain Estevan Pasquale in "The Mark of Zorro" (1940)
Rathbone also appeared in early horror films, such as "Tower of London" (1939), in which he played Richard III, and "Son of Frankenstein" (1939), in which he portrayed Baron Wolf Frankenstein.
Sherlock Holmes
Basil Rathbone is most closely associated with his portrayal of Sherlock Holmes in a series of films produced between 1939 and 1946. Partnered by Nigel Bruce as Dr. Watson, their first two films, "The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes" and "The Hound of the Baskervilles," became box office smash hits. The series ultimately spanned fourteen films. Rathbone and Bruce also portrayed the characters on radio.
Rathbone's reputation as Holmes became so strong that he continued to be associated with the role after the final film, "Dressed to Kill" (1946). He made numerous television appearances as Holmes in the 1950s and 1960s. He also starred in a stage play written by his wife, Ouida. After Nigel Bruce's death in 1953, Rathbone refused to perform the play without him, leading to its closure after only three performances.
Other Film and Television Roles
In the 1950s, Rathbone parodied his earlier roles as villains in two comedies: "Casanova's Big Night" (1954) with comedian Bob Hope and "The Court Jester" (1955) with Danny Kaye. He also appeared in numerous television shows and films, including "We're No Angels" (1955) and "The Last Hurrah" (1958).
Rathbone continued to work on stage, winning a Tony Award for Best Actor (Dramatic) in 1948 for his role in "The Heiress." He remained active in radio, television, and film throughout the 1950s and 1960s. To meet his wife's lavish spending habits, Rathbone often took on low-budget films in which he played villainous roles for high salaries.
Later Years and Death
In 1962, Rathbone published his autobiography, "In and Out of Character," and embarked on a speaking tour of America. He performed Shakespeare and poetry and read from his book. That same year, he appeared in "Tales of Terror," an Edgar Allan Poe-inspired thriller featuring Boris Karloff, Vincent Price, and Peter Lorre.
In 1964, Rathbone co-starred in the black comedy "The Comedy of Terrors" alongside Price, Lorre, and Karloff. He played the role of the evil wizard Lodac in the 1962 film "The Magic Sword."
Basil Rathbone received three stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame: one each for his work in film, radio, and television. He was married to actress Ethel Marion Forman from 1914 to 1926. They had one son, Rodion. In 1927, Rathbone married writer Ouida Bergere. They had no children of their own but adopted a daughter, Cynthia, in 1940.
Unlike many other actors, Rathbone retained his British citizenship even after obtaining American citizenship. Basil Rathbone died of a heart attack on July 21, 1967, in New York City. His body was entombed in a mausoleum, later becoming a family plot. His last words to his wife were, "You know, I'm not afraid of death, I just don't want to be there when it happens."
