Basil Rathbone

Biography

Basil Rathbone was an English actor, born in Johannesburg and raised in Derbyshire, who first made his name as a Shakespearean stage actor in Britain before appearing in more than 70 films. He often played suave villains and morally ambiguous figures, among them Mr. Murdstone in David Copperfield (1935) and Tybalt in Romeo and Juliet (1936), and in The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938) he was Sir Guy of Gisbourne. He became most widely recognized as Sherlock Holmes, playing him in fourteen Hollywood films released from 1939 to 1946, beginning with The Hound of the Baskervilles (1939) and The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes (1939), and in a radio series. Later work included Broadway, where he shared a Tony Award in 1948 for best actor in a play, and self-ironic film and television parts. He earned two Academy Award nominations and also had three Hollywood Walk of Fame stars.

75years old at death

Born June 13, 1892Johannesburg
Died July 21, 1967The Langham
Star sign: GeminiThe sign runs May 21 to June 20
Philip St. John Basil Rathbone (birth name)

Movie Career

Films: 48
Career span: 56 years1930 to 1986

Genres

Drama31%, 15 films
Mystery29%, 14 films
Crime27%, 13 films
Adventure25%, 12 films
Comedy25%, 12 films

First and latest

Photos

Did you know?!

Own stunts
Rathbone won the British Army fencing championship twice. That skill helped him in movies, where he taught swordsmanship to actors Errol Flynn and Tyrone Power.
Behind the award
For his portrayal of Dr. Austin Sloper in the original stage version of The Heiress, Rathbone received the 1948 Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play, an honor he shared with Henry Fonda and Paul Kelly.

Basil Rathbone movies on Netflix

The Great Mouse Detective1986IMDb rating 7.1as Sherlock Holmes (archive sound) (voice)
Madhouse1974IMDb rating 6.2as Basil
Hillbillys in a Haunted House1967IMDb rating 2.8as Gregor
Queen of Blood1966IMDb rating 5.3as Dr. Farraday
The Ghost in the Invisible Bikini1966IMDb rating 4.6as Reginald Ripper
Voyage to the Prehistoric Planet1965IMDb rating 3.8as Prof. Hartman, Lunar 7
The Comedy of Terrors1963IMDb rating 6.5as Mr. John F. Black
Tri plyus dva1963IMDb rating 7.4as Frankenstein
Pontius Pilate1962IMDb rating 5.5as Caiaphas
Tales of Terror1962IMDb rating 6.8as Carmichael (segment "The Case of M. Valdemar")
The Magic Sword1962IMDb rating 4.8as Lodac
The Last Hurrah1958IMDb rating 7.3as Norman Cass Sr.
The Black Sleep1956IMDb rating 6.0as Sir Joel Cadman
The Court Jester1955IMDb rating 7.8as Sir Ravenhurst
We're No Angels1955IMDb rating 7.3as Andre Trochard
The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad1949IMDb rating 6.8as Narrating the Story of Mr. Toad / Policeman (voice)
Dressed to Kill1946IMDb rating 6.8as Sherlock Holmes
Terror by Night1946IMDb rating 6.7as Sherlock Holmes
The House of Fear1945IMDb rating 7.1as Sherlock Holmes
The Woman in Green1945IMDb rating 6.6as Sherlock Holmes
Bathing Beauty1944IMDb rating 6.4as George Adams
Frenchman's Creek1944IMDb rating 6.1as Lord Rockingham
The Pearl of Death1944IMDb rating 7.1as Sherlock Holmes
The Scarlet Claw1944IMDb rating 7.1as Sherlock Holmes
Above Suspicion1943IMDb rating 6.5as Sig von Aschenhausen
Sherlock Holmes Faces Death1943IMDb rating 6.9as Sherlock Holmes
Sherlock Holmes in Washington1943IMDb rating 6.6as Sherlock Holmes
The Spider Woman1943IMDb rating 7.0as Sherlock Holmes
Crossroads1942IMDb rating 6.7as Henri Sarrou
Sherlock Holmes and the Secret Weapon1942IMDb rating 6.5as Sherlock Holmes
Sherlock Holmes and the Voice of Terror1942IMDb rating 6.4as Sherlock Holmes
The Black Cat1941IMDb rating 6.1as Montague Hartley
Rhythm on the River1940IMDb rating 6.8as Oliver Courtney
The Mark of Zorro1940IMDb rating 7.5as Capt. Esteban Pasquale
Son of Frankenstein1939IMDb rating 7.1as Baron Wolf von Frankenstein
The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes1939IMDb rating 7.2as Sherlock Holmes
The Hound of the Baskervilles1939IMDb rating 7.4as Sherlock Holmes
Tower of London1939IMDb rating 6.6as Richard - Duke of Gloucester
The Adventures of Robin Hood1938IMDb rating 7.9as Sir Guy of Gisbourne
The Dawn Patrol1938IMDb rating 7.5as Maj. Brand
Romeo and Juliet1936IMDb rating 6.4as Tybalt
The Garden of Allah1936IMDb rating 5.8as Count Ferdinand Anteoni
A Tale of Two Cities1935IMDb rating 7.8as Marquis St. Evremonde
Anna Karenina1935IMDb rating 7.0as Alexei Alexandrovitch Karenin
Captain Blood1935IMDb rating 7.7as Levasseur
David Copperfield1935IMDb rating 7.3as Mr. Edward Murdstone
Loyalties1933IMDb rating 6.4as Ferdinand de Levis
Sin Takes a Holiday1930IMDb rating 6.1as Reggie Durant

Best known for

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

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The Hound of the Baskervilles1939 Crime, Horror, Mystery, Thrilleras Sherlock Holmes
IMDb rating 7.413K votes
The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes1939 Crime, Mystery, Thrilleras Sherlock Holmes
IMDb rating 7.28.3K votes
Sherlock Holmes and the Secret Weapon1942as Sherlock Holmes
IMDb rating 6.57.4K votes
The Adventures of Robin Hood1938as Sir Guy of Gisbourne
IMDb rating 7.958K votes
The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad1949as Narrating the Story of Mr. Toad / Policemanvoice
IMDb rating 6.821K votes
Son of Frankenstein1939as Baron Wolf von Frankenstein
IMDb rating 7.114K votes
The Court Jester1955as Sir Ravenhurst
IMDb rating 7.815K votes
Captain Blood1935as Levasseur
IMDb rating 7.718K votes

Most often with

Roy William Neill directed ten of these films, Michael Curtiz three and Rowland V. Lee two. Nigel Bruce appears in fourteen of them, more than any other actor. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.

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Nigel Bruce

Harry Cording

Mary Gordon

Holmes Herbert

John Carradine

Dennis HoeyRoy William NeillDirector, 10 films Michael CurtizDirector, 3 films Rowland V. LeeDirector, 2 films

Films together

Nigel Bruce14 films together, 1939 to 1946
Nigel Bruce's page
- Dressed to Kill1946IMDb rating 6.8Rathbone as Sherlock HolmesBruce as Dr. John H. Watson
- Terror by Night1946IMDb rating 6.7Rathbone as Sherlock HolmesBruce as Dr. John H. Watson
- The House of Fear1945IMDb rating 7.1Rathbone as Sherlock HolmesBruce as Dr. John Watson
- The Woman in Green1945IMDb rating 6.6Rathbone as Sherlock HolmesBruce as Dr. Watson
- Frenchman's Creek1944IMDb rating 6.1Rathbone as Lord RockinghamBruce as Lord Godolphin
- The Pearl of Death1944IMDb rating 7.1Rathbone as Sherlock HolmesBruce as Dr. John Watson
- The Scarlet Claw1944IMDb rating 7.1Rathbone as Sherlock HolmesBruce as Doctor Watson
- Sherlock Holmes Faces Death1943IMDb rating 6.9Rathbone as Sherlock HolmesBruce as Doctor Watson
- Sherlock Holmes in Washington1943IMDb rating 6.6Rathbone as Sherlock HolmesBruce as Doctor Watson
- The Spider Woman1943IMDb rating 7.0Rathbone as Sherlock HolmesBruce as Dr. John H. Watson
- Sherlock Holmes and the Secret Weapon1942IMDb rating 6.5Rathbone as Sherlock HolmesBruce as Doctor Watson
- Sherlock Holmes and the Voice of Terror1942IMDb rating 6.4Rathbone as Sherlock HolmesBruce as Doctor Watson
- The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes1939IMDb rating 7.2Rathbone as Sherlock HolmesBruce as Dr. Watson
- The Hound of the Baskervilles1939IMDb rating 7.4Rathbone as Sherlock HolmesBruce as Doctor John H. Watson
Harry Cording10 films together, 1935 to 1946
Harry Cording's page
- Dressed to Kill1946IMDb rating 6.8Rathbone as Sherlock HolmesCording as Hamid
- Terror by Night1946IMDb rating 6.7Rathbone as Sherlock HolmesCording as Mock
- The House of Fear1945IMDb rating 7.1Rathbone as Sherlock HolmesCording as John Simpson
- The Pearl of Death1944IMDb rating 7.1Rathbone as Sherlock HolmesCording as George Gelder
- The Spider Woman1943IMDb rating 7.0Rathbone as Sherlock HolmesCording as Fred Garvin
- Sherlock Holmes and the Secret Weapon1942IMDb rating 6.5Rathbone as Sherlock HolmesCording as Jack Brady
- Sherlock Holmes and the Voice of Terror1942IMDb rating 6.4Rathbone as Sherlock HolmesCording as Camberwell
- Son of Frankenstein1939IMDb rating 7.1Rathbone as Baron Wolf von FrankensteinCording as Bearded Gendarme
- The Adventures of Robin Hood1938IMDb rating 7.9Rathbone as Sir Guy of GisbourneCording as Dickon Malbete
- Captain Blood1935IMDb rating 7.7Rathbone as LevasseurCording as Kent
Mary Gordon10 films together, 1939 to 1946
Mary Gordon's page
- Dressed to Kill1946IMDb rating 6.8Rathbone as Sherlock HolmesGordon as Mrs. Hudson
- The Woman in Green1945IMDb rating 6.6Rathbone as Sherlock HolmesGordon as Mrs. Hudson
- The Pearl of Death1944IMDb rating 7.1Rathbone as Sherlock HolmesGordon as Mrs. Hudson
- Sherlock Holmes Faces Death1943IMDb rating 6.9Rathbone as Sherlock HolmesGordon as Mrs. Hudson
- Sherlock Holmes in Washington1943IMDb rating 6.6Rathbone as Sherlock HolmesGordon as Mrs. Hudson
- The Spider Woman1943IMDb rating 7.0Rathbone as Sherlock HolmesGordon as Mrs. Hudson
- Sherlock Holmes and the Secret Weapon1942IMDb rating 6.5Rathbone as Sherlock HolmesGordon as Mrs. Hudson
- Sherlock Holmes and the Voice of Terror1942IMDb rating 6.4Rathbone as Sherlock HolmesGordon as Mrs. Hudson
- The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes1939IMDb rating 7.2Rathbone as Sherlock HolmesGordon as Mrs. Hudson
- The Hound of the Baskervilles1939IMDb rating 7.4Rathbone as Sherlock HolmesGordon as Mrs. Hudson
Holmes Herbert7 films together, 1935 to 1946
Holmes Herbert's page
- Dressed to Kill1946IMDb rating 6.8Rathbone as Sherlock HolmesHerbert as Ebenezer Crabtree
- The House of Fear1945IMDb rating 7.1Rathbone as Sherlock HolmesHerbert as Alan Cosgrave
- The Pearl of Death1944IMDb rating 7.1Rathbone as Sherlock HolmesHerbert as James Goodram, courier
- Sherlock Holmes in Washington1943IMDb rating 6.6Rathbone as Sherlock HolmesHerbert as Mr. Ahrens
- Sherlock Holmes and the Secret Weapon1942IMDb rating 6.5Rathbone as Sherlock HolmesHerbert as Sir. Reginald
- The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes1939IMDb rating 7.2Rathbone as Sherlock HolmesHerbert as Justice
- Captain Blood1935IMDb rating 7.7Rathbone as LevasseurHerbert as Capt. Gardner
John Carradine6 films together, 1936 to 1967
John Carradine's page
- Hillbillys in a Haunted House1967IMDb rating 2.8Rathbone as GregorCarradine as Dr. Himmel
- The Last Hurrah1958IMDb rating 7.3Rathbone as Norman Cass Sr.Carradine as Amos Force
- The Black Sleep1956IMDb rating 6.0Rathbone as Sir Joel CadmanCarradine as Borg aka Bohemond
- The Court Jester1955IMDb rating 7.8Rathbone as Sir RavenhurstCarradine as Giacomo
- The Hound of the Baskervilles1939IMDb rating 7.4Rathbone as Sherlock HolmesCarradine as Barryman
- The Garden of Allah1936IMDb rating 5.8Rathbone as Count Ferdinand AnteoniCarradine as Sand Diviner
Dennis Hoey6 films together, 1942 to 1946
Dennis Hoey's page
- Terror by Night1946IMDb rating 6.7Rathbone as Sherlock HolmesHoey as Inspector Lestrade
- The House of Fear1945IMDb rating 7.1Rathbone as Sherlock HolmesHoey as Inspector Lestrade
- The Pearl of Death1944IMDb rating 7.1Rathbone as Sherlock HolmesHoey as Inspector Lestrade
- Sherlock Holmes Faces Death1943IMDb rating 6.9Rathbone as Sherlock HolmesHoey as Inspector Lestrade
- The Spider Woman1943IMDb rating 7.0Rathbone as Sherlock HolmesHoey as Insp. Lestrade
- Sherlock Holmes and the Secret Weapon1942IMDb rating 6.5Rathbone as Sherlock HolmesHoey as Lestrade
Roy William NeillDirector, 10 films, 1942 to 1946
All films by Roy William Neill
- Dressed to Kill1946IMDb rating 6.8Rathbone as Sherlock Holmes
- Terror by Night1946IMDb rating 6.7Rathbone as Sherlock Holmes
- The House of Fear1945IMDb rating 7.1Rathbone as Sherlock Holmes
- The Woman in Green1945IMDb rating 6.6Rathbone as Sherlock Holmes
- The Pearl of Death1944IMDb rating 7.1Rathbone as Sherlock Holmes
- The Scarlet Claw1944IMDb rating 7.1Rathbone as Sherlock Holmes
- Sherlock Holmes Faces Death1943IMDb rating 6.9Rathbone as Sherlock Holmes
- Sherlock Holmes in Washington1943IMDb rating 6.6Rathbone as Sherlock Holmes
- The Spider Woman1943IMDb rating 7.0Rathbone as Sherlock Holmes
- Sherlock Holmes and the Secret Weapon1942IMDb rating 6.5Rathbone as Sherlock Holmes
Michael CurtizDirector, 3 films, 1935 to 1955
All films by Michael Curtiz
- We're No Angels1955IMDb rating 7.3Rathbone as Andre Trochard
- The Adventures of Robin Hood1938IMDb rating 7.9Rathbone as Sir Guy of Gisbourne
- Captain Blood1935IMDb rating 7.7Rathbone as Levasseur
Rowland V. LeeDirector, 2 films, 1939
All films by Rowland V. Lee
- Son of Frankenstein1939IMDb rating 7.1Rathbone as Baron Wolf von Frankenstein
- Tower of London1939IMDb rating 6.6Rathbone as Richard - Duke of Gloucester

Box office

What Basil Rathbone's films earned in cinemas worldwide.

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Combined worldwide box office

$68.3 million

10 of the 48 films have a worldwide figure.

10Worldwide figure
1US gross only
1Never in cinemas
36Figure not found

Top grosser

The Great Mouse Detective1986Sherlock Holmes (archive sound)$38.6 million

Highest grossing

The eight biggest films earned 95% of the total. The bars are drawn to scale.

1
The Great Mouse Detective1986as Sherlock Holmes (archive sound) (voice)
$39M56.5% of the total
2
Bathing Beauty1944as George Adams
$6.9M10.1% of the total
3
The Mark of Zorro1940as Capt. Esteban Pasquale
$4.0M5.9% of the total
4
The Adventures of Robin Hood1938as Sir Guy of Gisbourne
$4.0M5.8% of the total
5
The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad1949as Narrating the Story of Mr. Toad / Policeman (voice)
$3.2M4.8% of the total
6
David Copperfield1935as Mr. Edward Murdstone
$3.1M4.5% of the total
7
We're No Angels1955as Andre Trochard
$3.0M4.4% of the total
8
Crossroads1942as Henri Sarrou
$2.3M3.4% of the total