Holmes Herbert

Biography

Holmes Herbert was an English character actor who spent his screen career in Hollywood, usually playing British gentlemen. Born Horace Edward Jenner in Mansfield, he was the son of an actor and comedian in the British theater, and he moved to the United States in 1912. He never made a film in his home country, yet appeared in 228 films, starting with leading roles in the silent era; the arrival of sound exposed the British accents he and his contemporaries had previously been able to hide. He was perhaps best known as Dr. Lanyon in Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1931), and he worked steadily in horror, including Mystery of the Wax Museum (1933), The Invisible Man (1933), Mark of the Vampire (1935), The Ghost of Frankenstein (1942) and The Mummy's Curse (1944). He also appeared in Universal's Sherlock Holmes films and in supporting roles in Captain Blood (1935) and The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938), retiring in 1952.

74years old at death

Born July 30, 1882Mansfield
Died December 26, 1956Hollywood
Star sign: LeoThe sign runs July 23 to August 22

Movie Career

Films: 37
Career span: 24 years1927 to 1951

Genres

Drama46%, 17 films
Romance35%, 13 films
Thriller35%, 13 films
Mystery32%, 12 films
Horror24%, 9 films

First and latest

Did you know?!

Languages
Because silent films had no audible dialogue, Herbert could play characters of different nationalities, but the arrival of sound films revealed his pronounced British accent.

Holmes Herbert movies on Netflix

Anne of the Indies1951IMDb rating 6.6as English Sea Captain
South of St. Louis1949IMDb rating 6.0
Sorry, Wrong Number1948IMDb rating 7.3as Wilkins
Singapore1947IMDb rating 6.5as Rev. Barnes
Dressed to Kill1946IMDb rating 6.8as Ebenezer Crabtree
Love Laughs at Andy Hardy1946IMDb rating 5.9as Dr. White
The Verdict1946IMDb rating 7.2as Sir William Dawson
Confidential Agent1945IMDb rating 6.5as Lord Benditch
The House of Fear1945IMDb rating 7.1as Alan Cosgrave
The Mummy's Curse1944IMDb rating 5.4as Dr. Cooper
The Pearl of Death1944IMDb rating 7.1as James Goodram, courier
The Uninvited1944IMDb rating 7.2as Charlie Jessup
Calling Dr. Death1943IMDb rating 6.1as Bryant, the Butler
Sherlock Holmes in Washington1943IMDb rating 6.6as Mr. Ahrens
Invisible Agent1942IMDb rating 5.9as Sir Alfred Spencer
Sherlock Holmes and the Secret Weapon1942IMDb rating 6.5as Sir. Reginald
The Ghost of Frankenstein1942IMDb rating 6.1as Magistrate
The Undying Monster1942IMDb rating 6.1as Chief Constable
This Above All1942IMDb rating 6.6as Dr. Mathias
Man Hunt1941IMDb rating 7.1as Saul Farnsworthy
British Intelligence1939IMDb rating 6.1as Arthur Bennett
Intermezzo: A Love Story1939IMDb rating 6.6as Doctor
Stanley and Livingstone1939IMDb rating 7.0as Frederick Holcomb
The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes1939IMDb rating 7.2as Justice
The Mystery of Mr. Wong1939IMDb rating 6.1as Ed Janney
The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex1939IMDb rating 7.0as Majordomo
Wife vs. Secretary1936IMDb rating 7.0as Frawley
Captain Blood1935IMDb rating 7.7as Capt. Gardner
Mark of the Vampire1935IMDb rating 6.3as Sir Karell Borotyn
The House of Rothschild1934IMDb rating 6.4as Rowerth
Mystery of the Wax Museum1933IMDb rating 6.8as Dr. Rasmussen
The Invisible Man1933IMDb rating 7.6as Chief of Police
Daughter of the Dragon1931IMDb rating 5.7as Sir John Petrie
Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde1931IMDb rating 7.6as Dr. John Lanyon
The Kiss1929IMDb rating 6.8as Lassalle
Mr. Wu1927IMDb rating 6.3as Mr. Gregory
When a Man Loves1927IMDb rating 7.0as Jean Tiberge

Best known for

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

Top

The Invisible Man1933 Horror, Sci-Fias Chief of Police
IMDb rating 7.645K votes
Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde1931 Drama, Horror, Sci-Fias Dr. John Lanyon
IMDb rating 7.618K votes
Dressed to Kill1946as Ebenezer Crabtree
IMDb rating 6.87.8K votes
Sherlock Holmes and the Secret Weapon1942as Sir. Reginald
IMDb rating 6.57.4K votes
The House of Fear1945as Alan Cosgrave
IMDb rating 7.16.3K votes
The Pearl of Death1944as James Goodram, courier
IMDb rating 7.15.5K votes
The Uninvited1944as Charlie Jessup
IMDb rating 7.214K votes
The Kiss1929as Lassalle
IMDb rating 6.81.4K votes

Most often with

Roy William Neill directed five of these films, Michael Curtiz three and Anatole Litvak two. Two actors appear in seven of them each. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.

Top

Basil Rathbone

Nigel Bruce

Harry Cording

Mary Gordon

Lionel Atwill

Ian WolfeRoy William NeillDirector, 5 films Michael CurtizDirector, 3 films Anatole LitvakDirector, 2 films

Films together

Basil Rathbone7 films together, 1935 to 1946
Basil Rathbone's page
- Dressed to Kill1946IMDb rating 6.8Herbert as Ebenezer CrabtreeRathbone as Sherlock Holmes
- The House of Fear1945IMDb rating 7.1Herbert as Alan CosgraveRathbone as Sherlock Holmes
- The Pearl of Death1944IMDb rating 7.1Herbert as James Goodram, courierRathbone as Sherlock Holmes
- Sherlock Holmes in Washington1943IMDb rating 6.6Herbert as Mr. AhrensRathbone as Sherlock Holmes
- Sherlock Holmes and the Secret Weapon1942IMDb rating 6.5Herbert as Sir. ReginaldRathbone as Sherlock Holmes
- The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes1939IMDb rating 7.2Herbert as JusticeRathbone as Sherlock Holmes
- Captain Blood1935IMDb rating 7.7Herbert as Capt. GardnerRathbone as Levasseur
Nigel Bruce7 films together, 1939 to 1946
Nigel Bruce's page
- Dressed to Kill1946IMDb rating 6.8Herbert as Ebenezer CrabtreeBruce as Dr. John H. Watson
- The House of Fear1945IMDb rating 7.1Herbert as Alan CosgraveBruce as Dr. John Watson
- The Pearl of Death1944IMDb rating 7.1Herbert as James Goodram, courierBruce as Dr. John Watson
- Sherlock Holmes in Washington1943IMDb rating 6.6Herbert as Mr. AhrensBruce as Doctor Watson
- Sherlock Holmes and the Secret Weapon1942IMDb rating 6.5Herbert as Sir. ReginaldBruce as Doctor Watson
- This Above All1942IMDb rating 6.6Herbert as Dr. MathiasBruce as Ramsbottom
- The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes1939IMDb rating 7.2Herbert as JusticeBruce as Dr. Watson
Harry Cording6 films together, 1935 to 1946
Harry Cording's page
- Dressed to Kill1946IMDb rating 6.8Herbert as Ebenezer CrabtreeCording as Hamid
- The House of Fear1945IMDb rating 7.1Herbert as Alan CosgraveCording as John Simpson
- The Pearl of Death1944IMDb rating 7.1Herbert as James Goodram, courierCording as George Gelder
- Sherlock Holmes and the Secret Weapon1942IMDb rating 6.5Herbert as Sir. ReginaldCording as Jack Brady
- The Ghost of Frankenstein1942IMDb rating 6.1Herbert as MagistrateCording as Mob Leader
- Captain Blood1935IMDb rating 7.7Herbert as Capt. GardnerCording as Kent
Mary Gordon5 films together, 1939 to 1946
Mary Gordon's page
- Dressed to Kill1946IMDb rating 6.8Herbert as Ebenezer CrabtreeGordon as Mrs. Hudson
- The Pearl of Death1944IMDb rating 7.1Herbert as James Goodram, courierGordon as Mrs. Hudson
- Sherlock Holmes in Washington1943IMDb rating 6.6Herbert as Mr. AhrensGordon as Mrs. Hudson
- Sherlock Holmes and the Secret Weapon1942IMDb rating 6.5Herbert as Sir. ReginaldGordon as Mrs. Hudson
- The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes1939IMDb rating 7.2Herbert as JusticeGordon as Mrs. Hudson
Lionel Atwill5 films together, 1933 to 1942
Lionel Atwill's page
- Sherlock Holmes and the Secret Weapon1942IMDb rating 6.5Herbert as Sir. ReginaldAtwill as Moriarty
- The Ghost of Frankenstein1942IMDb rating 6.1Herbert as MagistrateAtwill as Doctor Theodore Bohmer
- Captain Blood1935IMDb rating 7.7Herbert as Capt. GardnerAtwill as Colonel Bishop
- Mark of the Vampire1935IMDb rating 6.3Herbert as Sir Karell BorotynAtwill as Inspector Neumann
- Mystery of the Wax Museum1933IMDb rating 6.8Herbert as Dr. RasmussenAtwill as Ivan Igor
Ian Wolfe4 films together, 1943 to 1946
Ian Wolfe's page
- Dressed to Kill1946IMDb rating 6.8Herbert as Ebenezer CrabtreeWolfe as Commissioner of Scotland Yard
- Confidential Agent1945IMDb rating 6.5Herbert as Lord BenditchWolfe as Dr. Bellows
- The Pearl of Death1944IMDb rating 7.1Herbert as James Goodram, courierWolfe as Amos Hodder
- Sherlock Holmes in Washington1943IMDb rating 6.6Herbert as Mr. AhrensWolfe as Antiques Store Sales Clerk
Roy William NeillDirector, 5 films, 1942 to 1946
All films by Roy William Neill
- Dressed to Kill1946IMDb rating 6.8Herbert as Ebenezer Crabtree
- The House of Fear1945IMDb rating 7.1Herbert as Alan Cosgrave
- The Pearl of Death1944IMDb rating 7.1Herbert as James Goodram, courier
- Sherlock Holmes in Washington1943IMDb rating 6.6Herbert as Mr. Ahrens
- Sherlock Holmes and the Secret Weapon1942IMDb rating 6.5Herbert as Sir. Reginald
Michael CurtizDirector, 3 films, 1933 to 1939
All films by Michael Curtiz
- The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex1939IMDb rating 7.0Herbert as Majordomo
- Captain Blood1935IMDb rating 7.7Herbert as Capt. Gardner
- Mystery of the Wax Museum1933IMDb rating 6.8Herbert as Dr. Rasmussen
Anatole LitvakDirector, 2 films, 1942 to 1948
All films by Anatole Litvak
- Sorry, Wrong Number1948IMDb rating 7.3Herbert as Wilkins
- This Above All1942IMDb rating 6.6Herbert as Dr. Mathias
Also four films together4 more actors
- Doris LloydThe House of Fear (1945), The Ghost of Frankenstein (1942), Intermezzo: A Love Story (1939) and The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex (1939)
- Henry StephensonThis Above All (1942), The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes (1939), The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex (1939) and Captain Blood (1935)
- Leyland HodgsonDressed to Kill (1946), The Pearl of Death (1944), The Ghost of Frankenstein (1942) and British Intelligence (1939)
- Lawrence GrantConfidential Agent (1945), The Ghost of Frankenstein (1942), British Intelligence (1939) and Daughter of the Dragon (1931)
When several people share the same number of films, the ones with the most films on Netflix are in the chart.