William Sylvester
Biography
William Sylvester was an American actor who built his career largely in Britain, becoming a star of British B movies. Born in Oakland, California, he trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, graduating in 1948, and soon took top billing in minor films. He took lead roles in British horror films, including Gorgo (1961) and Devil Doll (1964), and starred as Stanley Kowalski in a UK touring production of A Streetcar Named Desire. He gained widespread recognition for playing Dr. Heywood Floyd in Stanley Kubrick's 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968). After that, he appeared mostly in smaller film parts and television roles, among them a BBC version of Julius Caesar in which he played Mark Antony, and he held a regular role on the science-fiction series Gemini Man. He also acted in West End plays such as Summer and Smoke. He died in 1995.
72years old at death
- Born California
- Died Butte County
- Star sign: AquariusThe sign runs January 20 to February 18
Movie Career
- Films
- 10
- Career span
- 23 years1953 to 1976
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Big break
Stanley Kubrick gave Sylvester the part of Dr. Heywood R. Floyd in the landmark film 2001 A Space Odyssey. That notable role did not lead to another prominent motion picture part for him.
Early training
Sylvester graduated from the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in 1948, after settling in Britain following his U.S. Navy service in the Second World War.
Beyond film
Sylvester took the role of Stanley Kowalski in a 1950 UK touring production of Tennessee Williams' A Streetcar Named Desire. Betty Ann Davies played Blanche, and Theodore Bikel appeared as Mitch.
A change of course
Sylvester was a regular in British B films, since American and Canadian actors were wanted to help those films sell in the United States. He got top billing in House of Blackmail (1953), directed by Maurice Elvey.
William Sylvester movies on Netflix
Best known for
The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.
Worked with
William Sylvester shares two films with Alan Gifford, and one with each of the others. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.
Films together
Alan Gifford's page
Margaret Tyzack's page
Elliott Gould's page
Michael Lerner's page
Marianne Stone's page
Sid Haig's page
All films by Stanley Kubrick
All films by Eugène Lourié
All films by John Newland
Online
Official profiles and reference pages.