Ernest Thesiger

Biography

Ernest Thesiger was an English actor whose career was rooted in the theater, though he became best known for his film work. Born in London in 1879, he studied at Marlborough College and at the Slade School of Art before turning to drama and making his professional debut in 1909. He first gained public attention in the farce A Little Bit of Fluff, playing Bertrand Tully more than 1,200 times and reprising the role in a 1919 film. After meeting James Whale, he was cast as Horace Femm in The Old Dark House (1932), which launched his Hollywood career. His most famous part was Dr. Septimus Pretorius in Bride of Frankenstein (1935). Later films included The Man in the White Suit (1951), The Robe (1953), The Horse's Mouth (1958), Sons and Lovers (1960), and The Roman Spring of Mrs. Stone (1961). He was appointed a CBE in 1960 and died in 1961.

81years old at death

Born January 15, 1879London
Died January 14, 1961London
Star sign: CapricornThe sign runs December 22 to January 19
Also credited as Ernest Frederic Graham Thesiger

Movie Career

Films: 16
Career span: 29 years1932 to 1961

Genres

Drama69%, 11 films
Comedy50%, 8 films
Horror19%, 3 films
History13%, 2 films
Romance13%, 2 films

First and latest

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First role
Ernest Thesiger's first film role came in 1916, in The Real Thing at Last, a spoof that imagined Macbeth staged by an American company. He appeared in drag as one of the Witches.
Big break
James Whale insisted on casting Thesiger as Dr. Septimus Pretorius in Bride of Frankenstein (1935) over the studio's choice of Claude Rains, and it became Thesiger's most famous role.
A role that slipped away
Thesiger was originally cast as the Luddite sculptor Theotocopolous in Things to Come (1936), but H. G. Wells deemed his performance unsuitable and replaced him with Cedric Hardwicke.
Big break
Ernest Thesiger worked closely with George Bernard Shaw, who created the part of the Dauphin in Saint Joan with him in mind.
Big break
In 1925, Thesiger played a drag role in Noël Coward's On with the Dance. He went on to play the Dauphin in Shaw's Saint Joan, showing a talent for camp-like parts that drew James Whale's attention.

Ernest Thesiger movies on Netflix

The Roman Spring of Mrs. Stone1961IMDb rating 6.4as Stefano
Sons and Lovers1960IMDb rating 7.1as Mr. Hadlock
The Battle of the Sexes1960IMDb rating 6.6as Old Macpherson
The Horse's Mouth1958IMDb rating 6.9as Hickson
The Truth About Women1957IMDb rating 5.9as Judge
Man with a Million1954IMDb rating 6.8as Mr. Garrett, Bank Director
The Robe1953IMDb rating 6.7as Emperor Tiberius
Laughter in Paradise1951IMDb rating 7.1as Endicott
Scrooge1951IMDb rating 8.1as The Undertaker
The Man in the White Suit1951IMDb rating 7.2as Sir John Kierlaw
Last Holiday1950IMDb rating 7.3as Sir Trevor Lampington
Caesar and Cleopatra1945IMDb rating 6.2as Theodotus
Henry V1944IMDb rating 7.0as Duke of Berri - French Ambassador
The Bride of Frankenstein1935IMDb rating 7.8as Dr. Pretorius
The Ghoul1933IMDb rating 5.8as Laing
The Old Dark House1932IMDb rating 7.0as Horace Femm

Best known for

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

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The Bride of Frankenstein1935 Drama, Horror, Sci-Fias Dr. Pretorius
IMDb rating 7.860K votes
The Old Dark House1932 Drama, Horror, Thrilleras Horace Femm
IMDb rating 7.015K votes
The Man in the White Suit1951as Sir John Kierlaw
IMDb rating 7.212K votes
Henry V1944as Duke of Berri - French Ambassador
IMDb rating 7.07.8K votes
The Ghoul1933as Laing
IMDb rating 5.83.8K votes
The Roman Spring of Mrs. Stone1961as Stefano
IMDb rating 6.43.3K votes
The Robe1953as Emperor Tiberius
IMDb rating 6.713K votes
Scrooge1951as The Undertaker
IMDb rating 8.129K votes

Most often with

James Whale directed two of these films, Ronald Neame two. Four actors appear in three of them each. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.

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Boris Karloff

Wilfrid Hyde-White

Alec Guinness

George Cole

Donald Pleasence

Michael GoughJames WhaleDirector, 2 films Ronald NeameDirector, 2 films

Films together

Boris Karloff3 films together, 1932 to 1935
Boris Karloff's page
- The Bride of Frankenstein1935IMDb rating 7.8Thesiger as Dr. PretoriusKarloff as The Monster
- The Ghoul1933IMDb rating 5.8Thesiger as LaingKarloff as Prof. Morlant
- The Old Dark House1932IMDb rating 7.0Thesiger as Horace FemmKarloff as Morgan
Wilfrid Hyde-White3 films together, 1950 to 1957
Wilfrid Hyde-White's page
- The Truth About Women1957IMDb rating 5.9Thesiger as JudgeHyde-White as Sir George Tavistock
- Man with a Million1954IMDb rating 6.8Thesiger as Mr. Garrett, Bank DirectorHyde-White as Roderick Montpelier
- Last Holiday1950IMDb rating 7.3Thesiger as Sir Trevor LampingtonHyde-White as Chalfont
Alec Guinness3 films together, 1950 to 1958
Alec Guinness's page
- The Horse's Mouth1958IMDb rating 6.9Thesiger as HicksonGuinness as Gulley Jimson
- The Man in the White Suit1951IMDb rating 7.2Thesiger as Sir John KierlawGuinness as Sidney Stratton
- Last Holiday1950IMDb rating 7.3Thesiger as Sir Trevor LampingtonGuinness as George Bird
George Cole3 films together, 1944 to 1951
George Cole's page
- Laughter in Paradise1951IMDb rating 7.1Thesiger as EndicottCole as Herbert Russell
- Scrooge1951IMDb rating 8.1Thesiger as The UndertakerCole as Young Ebenezer Scrooge
- Henry V1944IMDb rating 7.0Thesiger as Duke of Berri - French AmbassadorCole as Boy
Donald Pleasence2 films together, 1960
Donald Pleasence's page
- Sons and Lovers1960IMDb rating 7.1Thesiger as Mr. HadlockPleasence as Mr. Pappleworth
- The Battle of the Sexes1960IMDb rating 6.6Thesiger as Old MacphersonPleasence as Irwin Hoffman
Michael Gough2 films together, 1951 to 1958
Michael Gough's page
- The Horse's Mouth1958IMDb rating 6.9Thesiger as HicksonGough as Abel [Bisson]
- The Man in the White Suit1951IMDb rating 7.2Thesiger as Sir John KierlawGough as Michael Corland
James WhaleDirector, 2 films, 1932 to 1935
All films by James Whale
- The Bride of Frankenstein1935IMDb rating 7.8Thesiger as Dr. Pretorius
- The Old Dark House1932IMDb rating 7.0Thesiger as Horace Femm
Ronald NeameDirector, 2 films, 1954 to 1958
All films by Ronald Neame
- The Horse's Mouth1958IMDb rating 6.9Thesiger as Hickson
- Man with a Million1954IMDb rating 6.8Thesiger as Mr. Garrett, Bank Director
Also two films together17 more actors
- Cecil ParkerThe Man in the White Suit (1951) and Caesar and Cleopatra (1945)
- Miles MallesonScrooge (1951) and The Man in the White Suit (1951)
- Michael RennieThe Robe (1953) and Caesar and Cleopatra (1945)
- Reginald BeckwithThe Horse's Mouth (1958) and Man with a Million (1954)
- Kay WalshThe Horse's Mouth (1958) and Last Holiday (1950)
- Leo GennCaesar and Cleopatra (1945) and Henry V (1944)
- Ronald AdamMan with a Million (1954) and Laughter in Paradise (1951)
- Vivien LeighThe Roman Spring of Mrs. Stone (1961) and Caesar and Cleopatra (1945)
- Brian OultonMan with a Million (1954) and Last Holiday (1950)
- Alastair SimLaughter in Paradise (1951) and Scrooge (1951)
- Kathleen HarrisonScrooge (1951) and The Ghoul (1933)
- Joyce GrenfellMan with a Million (1954) and Laughter in Paradise (1951)
- Moultrie KelsallThe Battle of the Sexes (1960) and Last Holiday (1950)
- Brian WorthScrooge (1951) and Last Holiday (1950)
- Charlotte MitchellLaughter in Paradise (1951) and The Man in the White Suit (1951)
- A.E. MatthewsMan with a Million (1954) and Laughter in Paradise (1951)
- Beatrice CampbellLaughter in Paradise (1951) and Last Holiday (1950)
When several people share the same number of films, the ones with the most films on Netflix are in the chart.

Awards

One award and honor.

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Ernest Thesiger's awards and nominations, grouped by award
Year	Award	Film	Result
Other honors
	Commander of the Order of the British Empire		Won

Online

Official profiles and reference pages.

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