James Donald

Biography

James Donald was a Scottish actor who often played authority figures, especially military doctors. Born in Aberdeen and raised in Galashiels, he initially intended to teach, but performances by Cedric Hardwicke and Edith Evans led him toward acting. He studied at a London theater studio for two years and made his stage debut in The White Guard. He appeared in war films such as In Which We Serve (1942) and The Way Ahead (1944), and gained stage fame in Noël Coward's Present Laughter. After the war he had a major stage success in The Heiress and later appeared as Theo Van Gogh in Lust for Life (1956), Major Clipton in The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957) and Group Captain Ramsey in The Great Escape (1963). Later films included King Rat (1965), Cast a Giant Shadow (1966), Hannibal Brooks (1969), The Big Sleep (1978) and Conduct Unbecoming (1975). He received an Emmy nomination for playing Prince Albert in Victoria Regina.

76years old at death

Born May 18, 1917Aberdeen
Died August 3, 1993Wiltshire
Star sign: TaurusThe sign runs April 20 to May 20

Movie Career

Films: 19
Career span: 36 years1942 to 1978

Genres

Drama74%, 14 films
Adventure42%, 8 films
War37%, 7 films
History21%, 4 films
Comedy16%, 3 films

First and latest

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A change of course
Donald planned to become a teacher, but after watching Cedric Hardwicke and Edith Evans in The Late Christopher Bean, he chose acting instead. He then saw many shows and spent two years studying at the London Theatre Studio.
First role
Donald's first stage appearance came in 1938 with The White Guard, after which he found regular stage work. His credits included Twelfth Night alongside Michael Redgrave and understudying John Gielgud in King Lear.
Big break
After appearing in The Heiress in 1949 alongside Ralph Richardson, Peggy Ashcroft and Donald Sinden, Donald won the role of Captain Caravallo in 1950, cast there by Laurence Olivier.

James Donald movies on Netflix

The Big Sleep1978IMDb rating 5.8as Inspector Gregory
Conduct Unbecoming1975IMDb rating 6.6as The Doctor
Hannibal Brooks1969IMDb rating 6.6as Padre
The Royal Hunt of the Sun1969IMDb rating 6.0as King Carlos
Five Million Years to Earth1967IMDb rating 7.0as Dr. Mathew Roney
The Jokers1967IMDb rating 6.5as Col. Gurney-Simms
Cast a Giant Shadow1966IMDb rating 6.3as Maj. Safir
King Rat1965IMDb rating 7.5as Dr. Kennedy
The Great Escape1963IMDb rating 8.2as Ramsey 'The SBO'
Third Man on the Mountain1959IMDb rating 7.0as Franz Lerner
The Vikings1958IMDb rating 7.0as Egbert
The Bridge on the River Kwai1957IMDb rating 8.1as Major Clipton
Lust for Life1956IMDb rating 7.3as Theo Van Gogh
Beau Brummell1954IMDb rating 6.4as Lord Edwin Mercer
Gift Horse1952IMDb rating 6.3as Lt. Richard Jennings, No. 1
The Pickwick Papers1952IMDb rating 6.9as Nathaniel Winkle
Edward, My Son1949IMDb rating 6.5as Bronton
The Way Ahead1944IMDb rating 6.9as Pvt. Evans Lloyd
In Which We Serve1942IMDb rating 7.2as Doc

Best known for

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

Top

The Great Escape1963 Adventure, Drama, Historyas Ramsey 'The SBO'
IMDb rating 8.2280K votes
The Bridge on the River Kwai1957 Adventure, Drama, Waras Major Clipton
IMDb rating 8.1251K votes
Five Million Years to Earth1967as Dr. Mathew Roney
IMDb rating 7.013K votes
Lust for Life1956as Theo Van Gogh
IMDb rating 7.313K votes
The Vikings1958as Egbert
IMDb rating 7.018K votes
King Rat1965as Dr. Kennedy
IMDb rating 7.55.6K votes
The Way Ahead1944as Pvt. Evans Lloyd
IMDb rating 6.92.5K votes
Cast a Giant Shadow1966as Maj. Safir
IMDb rating 6.34.5K votes

Most often with

Michael Winner directed three of these films, David Lean two and George Cukor two. Richard Attenborough appears in four 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.

Top

Richard Attenborough

Kirk Douglas

Oliver Reed

John Mills

Walter Fitzgerald

Christopher Plummer

Michael WinnerDirector, 3 films David LeanDirector, 2 films

George CukorDirector, 2 films

Films together

Richard Attenborough4 films together, 1942 to 1975
Richard Attenborough's page
- Conduct Unbecoming1975IMDb rating 6.6Donald as The DoctorAttenborough as Major Lionel E. Roach
- The Great Escape1963IMDb rating 8.2Donald as Ramsey 'The SBO'Attenborough as Bartlett 'Big X'
- Gift Horse1952IMDb rating 6.3Donald as Lt. Richard Jennings, No. 1Attenborough as Dripper Daniels
- In Which We Serve1942IMDb rating 7.2Donald as DocAttenborough as Young Stoker
Kirk Douglas3 films together, 1956 to 1966
Kirk Douglas's page
- Cast a Giant Shadow1966IMDb rating 6.3Donald as Maj. SafirDouglas as Col. David 'Mickey' Marcus
- The Vikings1958IMDb rating 7.0Donald as EgbertDouglas as Einar
- Lust for Life1956IMDb rating 7.3Donald as Theo Van GoghDouglas as Vincent Van Gogh
Oliver Reed3 films together, 1967 to 1978
Oliver Reed's page
- The Big Sleep1978IMDb rating 5.8Donald as Inspector GregoryReed as Eddie Mars
- Hannibal Brooks1969IMDb rating 6.6Donald as PadreReed as Stephen 'Hannibal' Brooks
- The Jokers1967IMDb rating 6.5Donald as Col. Gurney-SimmsReed as David Tremayne
John Mills3 films together, 1942 to 1978
John Mills's page
- The Big Sleep1978IMDb rating 5.8Donald as Inspector GregoryMills as Inspector Carson
- King Rat1965IMDb rating 7.5Donald as Dr. KennedyMills as Smedley-Taylor
- In Which We Serve1942IMDb rating 7.2Donald as DocMills as Ordinary Seaman Blake / Shorty Blake
Walter Fitzgerald3 films together, 1949 to 1959
Walter Fitzgerald's page
- Third Man on the Mountain1959IMDb rating 7.0Donald as Franz LernerFitzgerald as Herr Hempel
- The Pickwick Papers1952IMDb rating 6.9Donald as Nathaniel WinkleFitzgerald as Mr. Wardle
- Edward, My Son1949IMDb rating 6.5Donald as BrontonFitzgerald as Mr. Kedner
Christopher Plummer2 films together, 1969 to 1975
Christopher Plummer's page
- Conduct Unbecoming1975IMDb rating 6.6Donald as The DoctorPlummer as Major Alastair Wimbourne
- The Royal Hunt of the Sun1969IMDb rating 6.0Donald as King CarlosPlummer as Atahuallpa
Michael WinnerDirector, 3 films, 1967 to 1978
All films by Michael Winner
- The Big Sleep1978IMDb rating 5.8Donald as Inspector Gregory
- Hannibal Brooks1969IMDb rating 6.6Donald as Padre
- The Jokers1967IMDb rating 6.5Donald as Col. Gurney-Simms
David LeanDirector, 2 films, 1942 to 1957
All films by David Lean
- The Bridge on the River Kwai1957IMDb rating 8.1Donald as Major Clipton
- In Which We Serve1942IMDb rating 7.2Donald as Doc
George CukorDirector, 2 films, 1949 to 1956
All films by George Cukor
- Lust for Life1956IMDb rating 7.3Donald as Theo Van Gogh
- Edward, My Son1949IMDb rating 6.5Donald as Bronton
Also two films together13 more actors
- Trevor HowardConduct Unbecoming (1975) and Gift Horse (1952)
- Michael HordernThe Jokers (1967) and Cast a Giant Shadow (1966)
- Harry AndrewsThe Big Sleep (1978) and The Jokers (1967)
- Peter UstinovBeau Brummell (1954) and The Way Ahead (1944)
- Edward FoxThe Big Sleep (1978) and The Jokers (1967)
- Percy HerbertThe Royal Hunt of the Sun (1969) and The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957)
- Laurence NaismithThird Man on the Mountain (1959) and Lust for Life (1956)
- Gordon JacksonCast a Giant Shadow (1966) and The Great Escape (1963)
- Andrew KeirThe Royal Hunt of the Sun (1969) and Five Million Years to Earth (1967)
- William HartnellThe Pickwick Papers (1952) and The Way Ahead (1944)
- James HayterBeau Brummell (1954) and The Pickwick Papers (1952)
- Noel HowlettFive Million Years to Earth (1967) and Lust for Life (1956)
- William RussellThe Great Escape (1963) and Gift Horse (1952)
When several people share the same number of films, the ones with the most films on Netflix are in the chart.