Arthur Wontner

Biography

Arthur Wontner was a British actor and actor-manager who was born in London and made his first stage appearance in 1897 in The Sorrows of Satan. He then acted with Sarah Thorne's company, taking on nearly thirty leading roles, and made his London debut in 1898. After touring with Florence West and Edward Compton and performing in Australia, he returned to the West End and achieved success in Madame X in 1909. He appeared in Shakespearean roles such as Bassanio and Laertes, and in 1916 he played Captain Hook in Peter Pan. He was particularly remembered for his portrayal of Sherlock Holmes in five films released between 1931 and 1937, including The Triumph of Sherlock Holmes (1935). He acted in films until 1955 and retired that year. He died in 1960.

85years old at death

Born January 21, 1875London
Died July 10, 1960London
Star sign: AquariusThe sign runs January 20 to February 18

Movie Career

Films: 6
Career span: 18 years1935 to 1953

Genres

Comedy50%, 3 films
Romance50%, 3 films
Drama33%, 2 films
Thriller33%, 2 films
Action17%, 1 film

First and latest

Did you know?!

Big break
Wontner got the part of Sherlock Holmes because of how he played Sexton Blake, a Holmes derivative, in a stage production in 1930.
A first
Wontner played Sherlock Holmes in five films. One of them, The Missing Rembrandt, can no longer be seen and is officially a lost film.

Arthur Wontner movies on Netflix

Genevieve1953IMDb rating 7.0as Old Gentleman
Sea Devils1953IMDb rating 5.6as Baron de Baudrec
Blanche Fury1948IMDb rating 6.7as Lord Rudford
The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp1943IMDb rating 8.0as Embassy Counsellor
Storm in a Teacup1937IMDb rating 6.5as Fiscal
The Triumph of Sherlock Holmes1935IMDb rating 5.7as Sherlock Holmes

Best known for

The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.

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The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp1943 Comedy, Drama, Romanceas Embassy Counsellor
IMDb rating 8.018K votes
The Triumph of Sherlock Holmes1935 Crime, Mystery, Thrilleras Sherlock Holmes
IMDb rating 5.7970 votes
Genevieve1953as Old Gentleman
IMDb rating 7.03.8K votes
Sea Devils1953as Baron de Baudrec
IMDb rating 5.6992 votes
Storm in a Teacup1937as Fiscal
IMDb rating 6.51.3K votes
Blanche Fury1948as Lord Rudford
IMDb rating 6.71.3K votes

Worked with

Arthur Wontner shares two films with Ivor Barnard, and one with each of the others. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.

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Ivor Barnard

Ursula Jeans

Michael Gough

Rock Hudson

Geoffrey Keen

Maurice Denham

Emeric PressburgerDirector, 1 film

Michael PowellDirector, 1 film Henry CorneliusDirector, 1 film

Films together

Ivor Barnard2 films together, 1937 to 1953
Ivor Barnard's page
- Sea Devils1953IMDb rating 5.6Wontner as Baron de BaudrecBarnard as Benson
- Storm in a Teacup1937IMDb rating 6.5Wontner as FiscalBarnard as Watkins
Ursula Jeans2 films together, 1937 to 1943
Ursula Jeans's page
- The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp1943IMDb rating 8.0Wontner as Embassy CounsellorJeans as Frau von Kalteneck
- Storm in a Teacup1937IMDb rating 6.5Wontner as FiscalJeans as Lisbet Skirving
Michael Gough1 film together, 1948
Michael Gough's page
- Blanche Fury1948IMDb rating 6.7Wontner as Lord RudfordGough as Laurence Fury
Rock Hudson1 film together, 1953
Rock Hudson's page
- Sea Devils1953IMDb rating 5.6Wontner as Baron de BaudrecHudson as Gilliatt
Geoffrey Keen1 film together, 1953
Geoffrey Keen's page
- Genevieve1953IMDb rating 7.0Wontner as Old GentlemanKeen as Policeman
Maurice Denham1 film together, 1948
Maurice Denham's page
- Blanche Fury1948IMDb rating 6.7Wontner as Lord RudfordDenham as Maj. Fraser
Emeric PressburgerDirector, 1 film, 1943
All films by Emeric Pressburger
- The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp1943IMDb rating 8.0Wontner as Embassy Counsellor
Michael PowellDirector, 1 film, 1943
All films by Michael Powell
- The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp1943IMDb rating 8.0Wontner as Embassy Counsellor
Henry CorneliusDirector, 1 film, 1953
All films by Henry Cornelius
- Genevieve1953IMDb rating 7.0Wontner as Old Gentleman

Online

Official profiles and reference pages.

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