Nigel Bruce
Biography
Nigel Bruce was an English actor who worked on stage and screen and became best known as Dr. Watson opposite Basil Rathbone. Born in Ensenada, Mexico, he was educated in England before making his London stage debut in 1920 in Why Marry?. He later went to Canada as an actor and stage manager, began appearing in silent films, and made his Broadway debut in 1926 in Noël Coward's This Was a Man, returning to Broadway several times in the 1930s. After moving to Hollywood in 1934, he typically played buffoonish, fuzzy-minded gentlemen. His films included Treasure Island (1934), Becky Sharp (1935), The Charge of the Light Brigade (1936), Rebecca (1940), Suspicion (1941), Limelight (1952), and Lassie Come Home (1943). His career signature was Dr. Watson in the Sherlock Holmes film series from 1939 to 1946 with Rathbone, appearing in all fourteen films and more than 200 radio programs. World for Ransom, his last film, came out in 1954.
58years old at death
- Born Ensenada
- Died Santa Monica
- Star sign: AquariusThe sign runs January 20 to February 18
- Also credited as William Nigel Ernle Bruce
Movie Career
- Films
- 35
- Career span
- 20 years1934 to 1954
Genres
Photos
Share
Did you know?!
A first
Bruce had roles in two landmark films. Becky Sharp, released in 1935, was the first feature film made in full Technicolor, while Bwana Devil, from 1952, was the first 3-D feature.
First role
Bruce's first stage role came on 12 May 1920, when he played a footman in Why Marry? at the Comedy Theatre in London.
First role
Bruce's Broadway debut came in 1926, when he played Major Evelyn Bathurst in the Noël Coward play This Was a Man.
A first
Bruce took an unusual part as a detestable figure in The Rains Came (1939). That film was the first to win an Oscar for special effects.
Nigel Bruce movies on Netflix
Best known for
The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.
- Suspicion1941 Film-Noir, Mystery, Thrilleras Gordon Cochran Thwaite aka Beaky
IMDb rating 7.246K votes
Most often with
Roy William Neill directed ten of these films, Alfred Hitchcock two. Basil Rathbone 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.
Films together
Basil Rathbone's page
Mary Gordon's page
Harry Cording's page
Holmes Herbert's page
Leyland Hodgson's page
Dennis Hoey's page
Roy William NeillDirector, 10 films, 1942 to 1946
All films by Roy William Neill
Box office
What Nigel Bruce's films earned in cinemas worldwide.
Combined worldwide box office
$18.1 million
6 of the 35 films have a worldwide figure.
Of the 35 films: 6 worldwide figure; 1 us gross only; 28 figure not found.
- 6Worldwide figure
- 1US gross only
- 28Figure not found
Highest grossing
The six biggest films earned 100% of the total. The bars are drawn to scale.
- 1$4.5M24.9% of the total
- 2$4.5M24.8% of the total
- 3$3.6M19.7% of the total
- 4$2.7M15.1% of the total
- 5$1.8M9.9% of the total
- 6$1.0M5.5% of the total
Awards
One award and honor.
| Year | Award | Film | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Other honors | |||
| British War Medal | Won | ||
Online
Official profiles and reference pages.