James Mason

Born: 1909-05-15 in Huddersfield, Yorkshire, England, UK

Died: 1984-07-27

Known For: Acting

Biography

James Neville Mason, known as James Mason, was an accomplished English actor who made a significant impact on both British and American cinema. He was born on May 15, 1909, in Huddersfield, Yorkshire, England, and passed away on July 27, 1984, in Lausanne, Switzerland. Mason's acting career began in the 1930s, where he initially gained recognition for his stage performances in London's West End. He made his film debut in 1935 with the British film "Late Extra," marking the start of his illustrious on-screen journey. Throughout his career, Mason showcased his exceptional acting abilities, often portraying complex and morally ambiguous characters. His commanding presence, distinctive voice, and versatile range allowed him to effortlessly transition between genres, from dramas to thrillers and even period pieces. One of Mason's most acclaimed performances came in 1945 when he starred as the troubled and enigmatic Johnny McQueen in the film "Odd Man Out." His portrayal of the wounded Irish nationalist earned him widespread praise and established him as a respected leading man. Mason's notable filmography includes memorable roles in films such as "The Wicked Lady" (1945), "Pandora and the Flying Dutchman" (1951), "A Star Is Born" (1954), "North by Northwest" (1959), and "Lolita" (1962). His ability to bring depth, sophistication, and complexity to his characters captivated audiences and garnered critical acclaim. Beyond his film career, Mason also dabbled in producing and directing. He co-produced and starred in the acclaimed film "A Star Is Born," showcasing his multifaceted talent and creative vision. Throughout his life, Mason was recognized with numerous awards and nominations, including three Academy Award nominations for Best Actor. He was highly regarded by his peers and critics alike for his impeccable craft and his ability to elevate any production he was a part of.

Filmography

2019

Sid & Judy as Self (archive footage)

2016

Bob the Builder: Building Sky High ... (Writer)

2013

Talking Pictures as Self (archive footage)

2012

Lasseter's Bones as Archival Footage

1985

A.D. as Tiberius
The Assisi Underground as Bishop Nicolini
The Shooting Party as Sir Randolph Nettleby

1984

Thomas & Friends ... (Writer)
Dr. Fischer of Geneva as Dr. Fischer
George Washington as Gen. Edward Braddock
James Mason: The Star They Loved to Hate as Self

1983

Group Madness as Self
Yellowbeard as Captain Hughes
Don't Eat the Pictures: Sesame Street at the Metropolitan Museum of Art as Demon
Unknown Chaplin as Narrator (voice)
Alexandre as The Father
The Popes and Their Art as Presentor

1982

Evil Under the Sun as Odell Gardener
Ivanhoe as Isaac of York
Night of 100 Stars as Self
A Dangerous Summer as George Engels
The Verdict as Ed Concannon
The Making of Agatha Christie's 'Evil Under the Sun' as Self / Odell Gardener
The Glory of the Garden as Narrator

1981

The Search for Alexander the Great as Narrator

1980

North Sea Hijack as Admiral Brindsen
Hollywood as Self - Narrator

1979

Bloodline as Sir Alec Nichols
Salem's Lot as Richard K. Straker
The Passage as Professor Bergson
Murder by Decree as Dr. Watson

1978

The Boys from Brazil as Eduard Seibert
The Water Babies as Mr. Grimes / Voice of Killer Shark
Heaven Can Wait as Mr. Jordan

1977

Jesus of Nazareth as Joseph of Arimathea
Cross of Iron as Oberst Brandt
Homage to Chagall: The Colours of Love as Narrator - English version

1976

Voyage of the Damned as Dr. Juan Remos
Fear in the City as Chief of Police
Origins of the Mafia as Vianisi
People of the Wind as Jafar Qoli (voice)

1975

Mandingo as Warren Maxwell
The Flower in His Mouth as Avv. Antonio Bellocampo
Kidnap Syndicate as Filippini
Inside Out as Ernst Furben
Autobiography of a Princess as Cyril Sahib
The Left Hand of the Law as Senatore Leandri

1974

Great Expectations as Magwitch
11 Harrowhouse as Charles D. Watts
The Marseille Contract as Jacques Brizard
Frankenstein: The True Story as Dr. John Polidori

1973

The Last of Sheila as Philip
The MacKintosh Man as Sir George Wheeler
The Reformation: Age of Revolt as Narrator
John Keats: His Life and Death as Narrator
Frankenstein: The True Story as Dr. John Polidori

1972

Child's Play as Jerome Malley
The Wind in the Wires as Narrator
Home, James as Self

1971

Bad Man's River as Francisco Paco Montero
V.I.P. Schaukel as Self
Kill! as Alan Hamilton
Appointment With Destiny as Narrator
The Search for the Nile as Narrator

1970

Spring and Port Wine as Rafe Crompton
The Yin and the Yang of Mr. Go as Y.Y. Go
Cold Sweat as Captain Ross

1969

Age of Consent as Bradley Morahan

1968

Mayerling as Franz Joseph I of Austria
Duffy as Charles Calvert
The Sea Gull as Trigorin
The London Nobody Knows as Himself - Narrator

1967

The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour as Self
The Deadly Affair as Charles Dobbs
Stranger in the House as John Sawyer
Apropos Film as Self

1966

Georgy Girl as James Leamington
The Blue Max as General Count von Klugermann
ABC Stage 67 as Otto Hoffman

1965

Lord Jim as Gentleman Brown
Genghis Khan as Kam Ling
The Uninhibited as Pascal Regnier
Uncertain Verification as (archive footage)

1964

The Fall of the Roman Empire as Timonides
The Pumpkin Eater as Bob Conway

1963

Torpedo Bay as Captain Blayne

1962

The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson as Self
The Alfred Hitchcock Hour as Warren Barrow
The Merv Griffin Show as Self
Lolita as Prof. Humbert Humbert
Tiara Tahiti as Captain Brett Aimsley
Stoney Burke as The Derelict
Escape from Zahrain as Johnson
Hero's Island as Jacob Weber
Theatre 62: Rebecca as Maxim de Winter

1961

The Mike Douglas Show as Self
Dr. Kildare as Dr. Maxwell Becker
The Marriage-Go-Round as Paul Delville

1960

The Trials of Oscar Wilde as Edward Carson
A Touch of Larceny as Cmdr. Max Easton
John Brown's Raid as John Brown
The Hiding Place as Hans Frick

1959

North by Northwest as Phillip Vandamm
Journey to the Center of the Earth as Sir Oliver S. Lindenbrook
The DuPont Show with June Allyson as Henry Chambers

1958

The Decks Ran Red as Capt. Edwin Rummill
Cry Terror! as Jim Molner

1957

Tonight Starring Jack Paar as Self
Island in the Sun as Maxwell Fleury
Panic!

1956

The Steve Allen Show as Self - Guest
Forever, Darling as The Guardian Angel
Bigger Than Life as Ed Avery

1954

Prince Valiant as Sir Brack
20,000 Leagues Under the Sea as Captain Nemo
A Star Is Born as Norman Maine
The Star of Bethlehem as Himself
The Child ... (Director)

1953

Julius Caesar as Brutus
Charade as The Murderer / Maj. Linden / Jonah Watson
The Man Between as Ivo Kern
The Desert Rats as Field Marshal Erwin von Rommel
The Story of Three Loves as Charles Coutray
The Tell-Tale Heart as Narrator
General Electric Theater as Wayne Sebastian

1952

Lady Possessed as Jimmy Del Palma
5 Fingers as Ulysses Diello
Botany Bay as Capt. Paul Gilbert
The Prisoner of Zenda as Rupert of Hentzau
Face to Face as The Captain
Ellis in Freedomland as The Refrigerator (voice)

1951

Pandora and the Flying Dutchman as Hendrik van der Zee
The Desert Fox: The Story of Rommel as Field Marshal Erwin Rommel
Schlitz Playhouse of Stars as Captain Vialez

1950

What's My Line? as Self
The Bob Hope Show as Self
Lux Video Theatre as Self - Host
One Way Street as Dr. Frank Matson

1949

Madame Bovary as Gustave Flaubert
Caught as Larry Quinada
The Reckless Moment as Martin Donnelly
East Side, West Side as Brandon Bourne

1948

The Ed Sullivan Show as Self

1947

Odd Man Out as Johnny McQueen
The Upturned Glass as Michael Joyce

1945

The Wicked Lady as Captain Jerry Jackson
The Seventh Veil as Nicholas Cunningham
A Place of One's Own as Henry Smedhurst
They Were Sisters as Geoffrey Lee

1944

Candlelight in Algeria as Alan Thurston
Fanny by Gaslight as Lord Manderstoke
Hotel Reserve as Peter Vadassy

1943

The Man in Grey as Lord Rohan
The Bells Go Down as Ted Robbins
They Met in the Dark as Richard Francis Heritage

1942

Secret Mission as Raoul de Carnot
The Night Has Eyes as Stephen Deremid
Hatter's Castle as Dr. Renwick
Thunder Rock as Streeter
Alibi as Andre Laurent

1941

The Patient Vanishes as Mick Cardby

1939

The Circle as Edward Luton
I Met a Murderer as Mark Warrow
The Miser as Valere - In love with Elise
Bees on the Boat-Deck as Robert Patch

1938

Cyrano de Bergerac as Christian de Neuvillette
The Moon in the Yellow River as Darrell Blake

1937

Return of the Scarlet Pimpernel as Jean Tallien
The High Command as Capt. Heverell
Fire Over England as Hillary Vane
The Mill on the Floss as Tom Tulliver
Catch as Catch Can as Robert Leyland

1936

Prison Breaker as 'Bunny' Barnes
Blind Man's Bluff as Stephen Neville
Twice Branded as Henry Hamilton
The Secret of Stamboul as Larry
Troubled Waters as John Merriman

1935

Late Extra as Jim Martin