Sebastian Shaw
Biography
Sebastian Shaw was an English actor, theater director, writer, and poet who worked for seven decades on stage, screen, and television. Born in Holt, Norfolk, he first acted in London at age eight and trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art. After a 1929 Broadway appearance in Rope's End, he made his film debut in Caste in 1930 and became a leading man in British movies. His Shakespeare roles were often seen as daring, and from 1966 he spent ten years with the Royal Shakespeare Company, playing parts such as Cymbeline, the Duke of York in Richard II, and Polonius in Hamlet. His films included The Spy in Black (1939), It Happened Here (1966), and Return of the Jedi (1983), where he portrayed the redeemed Anakin Skywalker. He also wrote plays, poetry, and the novel The Christening, which appeared in 1975.
89years old at death
- Born Norfolk
- Died Brighton
- Star sign: GeminiThe sign runs May 21 to June 20
- Also credited as Sebastian Lewis Shaw
Movie Career
- Films
- 4
- Career span
- 44 years1939 to 1983
Every film, newest first
- 1983Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the JediIMDb rating 8.3
- 1966It Happened HereIMDb rating 6.7
- 1953Laxdale HallIMDb rating 6.3
- 1939The Spy in BlackIMDb rating 6.9
Genres
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First role
At the age of eight, Shaw began his acting career on the London stage, appearing with the juvenile band in The Cockyolly Bird at the Royal Court Theatre in Chelsea.
Getting ready for a role
Shaw played Prince Hal and, when the character rejects Falstaff, showed inward regrets about leaving him and taking on new responsibilities. Critics disliked this at the time, but it later became the standard approach.
A first
Shaw's unmasking scene in Return of the Jedi lasted two minutes and seven seconds and had 24 words of his dialogue, yet it brought him more fan mail and autograph requests than any other role in his career.
Sebastian Shaw movies on Netflix
Worked with
Sebastian Shaw made one film with each of them. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.
Films together
Mark Hamill's page
Harrison Ford's page
James Earl Jones's page
Carrie Fisher's page
Alec Guinness's page
Frank Oz's page
Richard MarquandDirector, 1 film, 1983
All films by Richard Marquand
All films by Michael Powell
Andrew MolloDirector, 1 film, 1966
All films by Andrew Mollo
Online
Official profiles and reference pages.