Basil Rathbone – MovieActors.com

Philip St. John Basil Rathbone was born in South Africa, in 1892. Three years later, Rathbone's family was forced to flee the country and seek refuge in England.

In 1911, at the age of 19, Basil began his acting career under the more simplified name, Basil Rathbone. Basil's career was briefly interrupted by the approach of World War One, however, where he would serve in the military as a second lieutenant.

In 1919, Basil Rathbone would begin his theater career as a member of the Shakespearean troupe that appeared in Stratford Upon Avon. Finally, in 1921, Basil made his way to America's Broadway, finding immediate success. That same year. Basil Rathbone would land his first film role, the silent flick "The Innocent". He returned to Broadway in 1929. Basil co-wrote and starred as the protagonist in the Broadway production, "Judas".

In 1939, Basil Rathbone would find his most notable success playing the renowned detective Sherlock Holmes, starring alongside Nigel Bruce as Dr. Watson, in the "The Hound of the Baskervilles". Rathbone would re-appear as Holmes in over 12 classic feature films.

Basil Rathbone's notable movie credits include...

A TALE OF TWO CITIES (1935)
CAPTAIN BLOOD (1935)
ANNA KARENINA (1935)
A TALE OF TWO CITIES (1935)
ROMEO AND JULIET (1936)
THE ADVENTURES OF ROBIN HOOD (1938)
THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES (1939)
THE MARK OF ZORRO (1940)
THE WIND AND THE WILLOWS (1949)
CASANOVA'S BIG NIGHT (1954)
WE'RE NO ANGELS (1955)
THE COURT JESTER (1956)
THE LAST HURRAH (1958)
TWO BEFORE ZERO (1962)
TALES OF TERROR (1962)
THE MAGIC SWORD (1962)
PONTIUS PILATE (1962)
THE COMEDY OF TERRORS (1963)
VOYAGE TO THE PREHISTORIC PLANET (1965)
THE GHOST IN THE INVISIBLE BIKINI (1966)
QUEEN OF BLOOD (1966)
HILLBILLYS IN A HAUNTED HOUSE (1967)
THE GREAT MOUSE DETECTIVE (1968)
AUTOPSY OF A GHOST (1968)

Basil Rathbone's television credits include...

THE MOTOROLA TELEVISION HOUR (TV SERIES 1953)
SEASON'S GREETING (TV MOVIE) (1953)
DANGER (TV SERIES 1953)
SHOWER OF STARS (TV SERIES 1954)
SCHLITZ PLAYHOUSE (TV SERIES 1954)
STUDIO ONE IN HOLLYWOOD (TV SERIES 1954)
LOVE STORY (TV SERIES 1954)
THE PHILLP MORRIS PLAYHOUSE (TV SERIES 1954)
STAR TONIGHT (TV SERIES 1955)
SCIENCE FICTION THEATRE (TV SERIES 1955)
THE EDDIE CANTOR COMEDY THEATRE (TV SERIES 1955)
ENCOURTER (TV SERIES 1955)
KRAFT THEATRE (TV SERIES 1956-1957)
THE DUPONT SHOW OF THE MONTH (TV SERIES 1958)
HANS BRINKER AND THE SILVER SKATES (TV MOVIE) (1958)
FREDRIC MARCH PRESENTS TALES FROM DICKENS (TV SERIES 1958)
THE CHRISTOPHERS (TV SERIES 1956-1960)
THE RED SKELTON HOUR (TV SERIES 1956-1960)
VICTORIA REGINA (TV MOVIE) (1961)
SUSPENSE (TV SERIES 1964)
DR. KILDARE (TV SERIES 1965)
BURKE'S LAW (TV SERIES 1965)
SUMMER FUN (1966)
SOLDIER IN LOVE (TV MOVIE) (1967)