Roddy McDowall

Biography

Roddy McDowall was an actor who was born in Britain and became an American citizen, working for more than 60 years in film, television and theater. He grew up in London and started as a child in British movies, then crossed to the United States, where Man Hunt (1941) launched his Hollywood career and How Green Was My Valley (1941) brought him fame, followed by Lassie Come Home (1943) and My Friend Flicka (1943). He moved into adult parts, taking the role of Mordred in the Broadway musical Camelot and winning a Tony Award for The Fighting Cock plus a Golden Globe nomination for Cleopatra (1963). Cornelius in the Planet of the Apes series was his most memorable part, and he went on to play Caesar as well. Later credits included The Poseidon Adventure (1972), Fright Night (1985), A Bug's Life (1998), Overboard (1987) and Bedknobs and Broomsticks (1971), and he directed Tam Lin (1970).

70years old at death

Born September 17, 1928Herne Hill
Died October 3, 1998Studio City
Star sign: VirgoThe sign runs August 23 to September 22
Roderick Andrew Anthony Jude McDowall (birth name)Also credited as Roderick Andrew Anthony Jude

Movie Career

Films: 65
Career span: 57 years1941 to 1998

Genres

Comedy40%, 26 films
Drama40%, 26 films
Action22%, 14 films
Horror20%, 13 films
Adventure15%, 10 films

First and latest

Photos

Did you know?!

Behind the camera
Tam Lin, released in 1970 and also called The Ballad of Tam Lin and The Devil's Widow, was the only movie McDowall directed.
First role
Roddy McDowall's American film career started with Man Hunt, a 1941 thriller directed by Fritz Lang and made by 20th Century Fox. That studio also produced his next film, How Green Was My Valley.
Behind the camera
McDowall agreed to a three-year deal with Monogram Pictures for two films annually. He starred in seven Monogram films and also served as associate producer on them.

Roddy McDowall movies on Netflix

A Bug's Life1998IMDb rating 7.2as Mr. Soil (voice)
Behind the Planet of the Apes1998IMDb rating 7.4as Himself - Host
Something to Believe In1998IMDb rating 6.2as Gambler
The Second Jungle Book: Mowgli & Baloo1997IMDb rating 4.5as King Murphy
It's My Party1996IMDb rating 7.1as Damian Knowles
Unlikely Angel1996IMDb rating 6.4as Saint Peter
Last Summer in the Hamptons1995IMDb rating 5.7as Thomas
The Grass Harp1995IMDb rating 6.6as Amos Legrand
Mirror Mirror 2: Raven Dance1994IMDb rating 3.7as Dr. Lasky
Double Trouble1992IMDb rating 4.3as Philip Chamberlain
Going Under1991IMDb rating 3.5as Secretary Neighbor
Shakma1990IMDb rating 5.0as Sorenson
Cutting Class1989IMDb rating 4.6as Mr. Dante
The Big Picture1989IMDb rating 6.2as Judge
Doin' Time on Planet Earth1988IMDb rating 4.7as Minister
Fright Night Part 21988IMDb rating 6.0as Peter Vincent
Dead of Winter1987IMDb rating 6.2as Mr. Murray
Overboard1987IMDb rating 6.9as Andrew
GoBots: Battle of the Rock Lords1986IMDb rating 5.5as Nuggit (voice)
Fright Night1985IMDb rating 7.1as Peter Vincent
The Zany Adventures of Robin Hood1984IMDb rating 5.1as Prince John
Class of 19841982IMDb rating 6.5as Terry Corrigan
Evil Under the Sun1982IMDb rating 7.1as Rex Brewster
Mae West1982IMDb rating 6.4as Rene Valentine
Charlie Chan and the Curse of the Dragon Queen1981IMDb rating 4.1as Gillespie
Back to the Planet of the Apes1980IMDb rating 5.4as Galen
The Return of the King1980IMDb rating 5.7as Samwise Gamgee (voice)
Scavenger Hunt1979IMDb rating 5.8as Jenkins
The Black Hole1979IMDb rating 5.9as V.I.N.CENT. (voice)
Circle of Iron1978IMDb rating 5.7as White Robe
Laserblast1978IMDb rating 2.9as Doctor Mellon
The Cat from Outer Space1978IMDb rating 6.0as Mr. Stallwood
Embryo1976IMDb rating 5.2as Frank Riley
Funny Lady1975IMDb rating 6.2as Bobby
Mean Johnny Barrows1975IMDb rating 5.1as Tony Da Vince
Arnold1973IMDb rating 5.9as Robert
Battle for the Planet of the Apes1973IMDb rating 5.4as Caesar / Cornelius
The Legend of Hell House1973IMDb rating 6.6as Benjamin Franklin Fischer
Conquest of the Planet of the Apes1972IMDb rating 6.1as Caesar
The Life and Times of Judge Roy Bean1972IMDb rating 6.8as Frank Gass
The Poseidon Adventure1972IMDb rating 7.1as Acres
A Taste of Evil1971IMDb rating 6.2as Dr. Michael Lomas
Bedknobs and Broomsticks1971IMDb rating 7.1as Mr. Jelk
Escape from the Planet of the Apes1971IMDb rating 6.3as Cornelius
Pretty Maids All in a Row1971IMDb rating 6.1as Mr. Proffer
Night Gallery1969IMDb rating 7.5as Jeremy Evans
5 Card Stud1968IMDb rating 6.5as Nick Evers
It!1967IMDb rating 5.6as Arthur Pimm
The Adventures of Bullwhip Griffin1967IMDb rating 6.4as Bullwhip Griffin
Lord Love a Duck1966IMDb rating 6.2as Alan Musgrave
Inside Daisy Clover1965IMDb rating 6.2as Walter Baines
That Darn Cat!1965IMDb rating 6.8as Gregory Benson
The Greatest Story Ever Told1965IMDb rating 6.6as Matthew
The Loved One1965IMDb rating 6.9as D.J. Jr.
Cleopatra1963IMDb rating 7.0as Octavian - Caesar Augustus
Midnight Lace1960IMDb rating 6.8as Malcolm
The Big Country1958IMDb rating 7.9as Hannassey Watchman
Macbeth1948IMDb rating 7.4as Malcolm
Molly and Me1945IMDb rating 6.9as Jimmy Graham
The Keys of the Kingdom1944IMDb rating 7.2as Francis Chisholm, as a boy
The White Cliffs of Dover1944IMDb rating 7.0as John Ashwood II as a Boy
Lassie Come Home1943IMDb rating 7.1as Joe Carraclough
My Friend Flicka1943IMDb rating 6.5as Ken McLaughlin
How Green Was My Valley1941IMDb rating 7.7as Huw
Man Hunt1941IMDb rating 7.1as Vaner

Best known for

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

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Escape from the Planet of the Apes1971 Action, Sci-Fias Cornelius
IMDb rating 6.345K votes
Conquest of the Planet of the Apes1972 Action, Sci-Fias Caesar
IMDb rating 6.141K votes
Battle for the Planet of the Apes1973as Caesar / Cornelius
IMDb rating 5.438K votes
Fright Night1985as Peter Vincent
IMDb rating 7.189K votes
Bedknobs and Broomsticks1971as Mr. Jelk
IMDb rating 7.144K votes
Overboard1987as Andrew
IMDb rating 6.978K votes
Fright Night Part 21988as Peter Vincent
IMDb rating 6.016K votes
The Legend of Hell House1973as Benjamin Franklin Fischer
IMDb rating 6.615K votes

Most often with

J. Lee Thompson directed two of these films, Robert Stevenson two and Charles Matthau two. Natalie Trundy 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.

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Natalie Trundy

Charlton Heston

Elsa Lanchester

Ruth Gordon

Vincent Price

Ernest Borgnine

J. Lee ThompsonDirector, 2 films Robert StevensonDirector, 2 films

Charles MatthauDirector, 2 films

Films together

Natalie Trundy4 films together, 1971 to 1998
Natalie Trundy's page
- Behind the Planet of the Apes1998IMDb rating 7.4McDowall as Himself - HostTrundy as Himself
- Battle for the Planet of the Apes1973IMDb rating 5.4McDowall as Caesar / CorneliusTrundy as Lisa
- Conquest of the Planet of the Apes1972IMDb rating 6.1McDowall as CaesarTrundy as Lisa
- Escape from the Planet of the Apes1971IMDb rating 6.3McDowall as CorneliusTrundy as Dr. Stephanie 'Stevie' Branton
Charlton Heston3 films together, 1958 to 1998
Charlton Heston's page
- Behind the Planet of the Apes1998IMDb rating 7.4McDowall as Himself - HostHeston as Himself
- The Greatest Story Ever Told1965IMDb rating 6.6McDowall as MatthewHeston as John the Baptist
- The Big Country1958IMDb rating 7.9McDowall as Hannassey WatchmanHeston as Steve Leech
Elsa Lanchester3 films together, 1943 to 1973
Elsa Lanchester's page
- Arnold1973IMDb rating 5.9McDowall as RobertLanchester as Hester
- That Darn Cat!1965IMDb rating 6.8McDowall as Gregory BensonLanchester as Mrs. MacDougall
- Lassie Come Home1943IMDb rating 7.1McDowall as Joe CarracloughLanchester as Mrs. Helen Carraclough
Ruth Gordon3 films together, 1965 to 1979
Ruth Gordon's page
- Scavenger Hunt1979IMDb rating 5.8McDowall as JenkinsGordon as Arvilla Droll
- Lord Love a Duck1966IMDb rating 6.2McDowall as Alan MusgraveGordon as Stella Bernard
- Inside Daisy Clover1965IMDb rating 6.2McDowall as Walter BainesGordon as The Dealer - Mrs. Clover
Vincent Price2 films together, 1944 to 1979
Vincent Price's page
- Scavenger Hunt1979IMDb rating 5.8McDowall as JenkinsPrice as Milton Parker
- The Keys of the Kingdom1944IMDb rating 7.2McDowall as Francis Chisholm, as a boyPrice as Angus Mealey
Ernest Borgnine2 films together, 1972 to 1979
Ernest Borgnine's page
- The Black Hole1979IMDb rating 5.9McDowall as V.I.N.CENT.voiceBorgnine as Harry Booth
- The Poseidon Adventure1972IMDb rating 7.1McDowall as AcresBorgnine as Rogo
J. Lee ThompsonDirector, 2 films, 1972 to 1973
All films by J. Lee Thompson
- Battle for the Planet of the Apes1973IMDb rating 5.4McDowall as Caesar / Cornelius
- Conquest of the Planet of the Apes1972IMDb rating 6.1McDowall as Caesar
Robert StevensonDirector, 2 films, 1965 to 1971
All films by Robert Stevenson
- Bedknobs and Broomsticks1971IMDb rating 7.1McDowall as Mr. Jelk
- That Darn Cat!1965IMDb rating 6.8McDowall as Gregory Benson
Charles MatthauDirector, 2 films, 1988 to 1995
All films by Charles Matthau
- The Grass Harp1995IMDb rating 6.6McDowall as Amos Legrand
- Doin' Time on Planet Earth1988IMDb rating 4.7McDowall as Minister
Also two films together63 more actors
- Colleen CampFunny Lady (1975) and Battle for the Planet of the Apes (1973)
- David CarradineDouble Trouble (1992) and Circle of Iron (1978)
- Ned BeattyGoing Under (1991) and The Life and Times of Judge Roy Bean (1972)
- Keenan WynnLaserblast (1978) and Pretty Maids All in a Row (1971)
- Mary SteenburgenThe Grass Harp (1995) and Dead of Winter (1987)
- Angela LansburyBedknobs and Broomsticks (1971) and The Greatest Story Ever Told (1965)
- Martin LandauThe Greatest Story Ever Told (1965) and Cleopatra (1963)
- Gregory PeckThe Big Country (1958) and The Keys of the Kingdom (1944)
- Rock HudsonEmbryo (1976) and Pretty Maids All in a Row (1971)
- Elizabeth TaylorCleopatra (1963) and Lassie Come Home (1943)
- Robert MorleyScavenger Hunt (1979) and The Loved One (1965)
- Donald CrispLassie Come Home (1943) and How Green Was My Valley (1941)
- James BrolinBehind the Planet of the Apes (1998) and Mae West (1982)
- Richard MasurGoing Under (1991) and Scavenger Hunt (1979)
- Alan NapierMacbeth (1948) and Lassie Come Home (1943)
- George SegalIt's My Party (1996) and The Zany Adventures of Robin Hood (1984)
- Peter UstinovEvil Under the Sun (1982) and Charlie Chan and the Curse of the Dragon Queen (1981)
- Angie DickinsonCharlie Chan and the Curse of the Dragon Queen (1981) and Pretty Maids All in a Row (1971)
- Doris LloydMidnight Lace (1960) and Molly and Me (1945)
- Roy JensonThe Life and Times of Judge Roy Bean (1972) and 5 Card Stud (1968)
- Arthur O'ConnellThe Poseidon Adventure (1972) and A Taste of Evil (1971)
- John HustonThe Return of the King (1980) and Battle for the Planet of the Apes (1973)
- Rhys WilliamsMidnight Lace (1960) and How Green Was My Valley (1941)
- Lee GrantIt's My Party (1996) and Charlie Chan and the Curse of the Dragon Queen (1981)
- Walter PidgeonHow Green Was My Valley (1941) and Man Hunt (1941)
- Sally KellermanIt's My Party (1996) and Mirror Mirror 2: Raven Dance (1994)
- Stella StevensArnold (1973) and The Poseidon Adventure (1972)
- Telly SavalasGoBots: Battle of the Rock Lords (1986) and Pretty Maids All in a Row (1971)
- Piper LaurieThe Grass Harp (1995) and Mae West (1982)
- Chuck RobersonThe Adventures of Bullwhip Griffin (1967) and The Big Country (1958)
- Arthur ShieldsLassie Come Home (1943) and How Green Was My Valley (1941)
- Cyril DelevantiBedknobs and Broomsticks (1971) and Man Hunt (1941)
- Matthew BoultonMolly and Me (1945) and The White Cliffs of Dover (1944)
- Patric KnowlesArnold (1973) and How Green Was My Valley (1941)
- Ricardo MontalbanBehind the Planet of the Apes (1998) and Conquest of the Planet of the Apes (1972)
- Severn DardenBattle for the Planet of the Apes (1973) and Conquest of the Planet of the Apes (1972)
- James NaughtonBehind the Planet of the Apes (1998) and Back to the Planet of the Apes (1980)
- John AldersonEvil Under the Sun (1982) and The Cat from Outer Space (1978)
- Rex HarrisonCleopatra (1963) and Midnight Lace (1960)
- William WindomA Taste of Evil (1971) and Escape from the Planet of the Apes (1971)
- Carroll BakerThe Greatest Story Ever Told (1965) and The Big Country (1958)
- Christopher AtkinsIt's My Party (1996) and Shakma (1990)
- Chuck Hayward5 Card Stud (1968) and The Big Country (1958)
- Edmund GwennThe Keys of the Kingdom (1944) and Lassie Come Home (1943)
- Frederick WorlockHow Green Was My Valley (1941) and Man Hunt (1941)
- Hermione BaddeleyThe Adventures of Bullwhip Griffin (1967) and Midnight Lace (1960)
- Bing RussellOverboard (1987) and A Taste of Evil (1971)
- Kim HunterBehind the Planet of the Apes (1998) and Escape from the Planet of the Apes (1971)
- James DoohanDouble Trouble (1992) and Pretty Maids All in a Row (1971)
- Norman AldenCutting Class (1989) and Back to the Planet of the Apes (1980)
- Sam JaffeBedknobs and Broomsticks (1971) and Night Gallery (1969)
- Dame May WhittyThe White Cliffs of Dover (1944) and Lassie Come Home (1943)
- Ethel GriffiesMolly and Me (1945) and How Green Was My Valley (1941)
- John RandolphConquest of the Planet of the Apes (1972) and Escape from the Planet of the Apes (1971)
- William RagsdaleFright Night Part 2 (1988) and Fright Night (1985)
- Victor BuonoArnold (1973) and The Greatest Story Ever Told (1965)
- Sal MineoEscape from the Planet of the Apes (1971) and The Greatest Story Ever Told (1965)
- Ernie SabellaGoing Under (1991) and Fright Night Part 2 (1988)
- Alexander FolkCutting Class (1989) and Fright Night Part 2 (1988)
- Byron WebsterFunny Lady (1975) and The Poseidon Adventure (1972)
- Richard EasthamBattle for the Planet of the Apes (1973) and That Darn Cat! (1965)
- Bobby PorterBack to the Planet of the Apes (1980) and Battle for the Planet of the Apes (1973)
- Lou RichardsGoing Under (1991) and GoBots: Battle of the Rock Lords (1986)
When several people share the same number of films, the ones with the most films on Netflix are in the chart.

Box office

What Roddy McDowall's films earned in cinemas worldwide.

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Combined worldwide box office

$761 million

25 of the 65 films have a worldwide figure.

25Worldwide figure
6US gross only
9Never in cinemas
25Figure not found

Top grosser

A Bug's Life1998Mr. Soil$363 million

Highest grossing

The eight biggest films earned 87% of the total. The bars are drawn to scale.

1
A Bug's Life1998as Mr. Soil (voice)
$363M47.7% of the total
2
The Poseidon Adventure1972as Acres
$85M11.1% of the total
3
Cleopatra1963as Octavian - Caesar Augustus
$58M7.6% of the total
4
Funny Lady1975as Bobby
$40M5.3% of the total
5
The Black Hole1979as V.I.N.CENT. (voice)
$36M4.7% of the total
6
That Darn Cat!1965as Gregory Benson
$28M3.7% of the total
7
Overboard1987as Andrew
$27M3.5% of the total
8
Fright Night1985as Peter Vincent
$25M3.3% of the total

Bedknobs and Broomsticks (1971), $17.9 million

The Greatest Story Ever Told (1965), $15.5 million

Escape from the Planet of the Apes (1971), $12.3 million

Conquest of the Planet of the Apes (1972), $9.7 million

Battle for the Planet of the Apes (1973), $8.8 million

How Green Was My Valley (1941), $4.8 million

Fright Night Part 2 (1988), $3.0 million

The Keys of the Kingdom (1944), $2.4 million

The Second Jungle Book: Mowgli & Baloo (1997), $479,099

$100.0 millionfrom the other 17 films with a worldwide figure, 13% of the total

Awards

Three awards and honors, two of them major.

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Roddy McDowall's awards and nominations, grouped by award
Year	Award	Result
Emmy Awards
	Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series	Won
Tony Awards
1960	Best Featured Actor in a Play	Won
Other honors
	Star on Hollywood Walk of Fame	Honored

Online

Official profiles and reference pages.

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