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; May 15, 1909 – July 27, 1984) was an English actor who made a significant impact on both British and American cinema. His 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

2020

Kubrick by Kubrick as Self (archive footage)

2019

Churchill and the Movie Mogul as Self (archive footage)
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

1991

Halloween Monster Bash as Stephen Deremid (archive footage)

1985

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

1984

George Washington as Gen. Edward Braddock
James Mason: The Star They Loved to Hate as Self
Dr. Fischer of Geneva as Dr. Fischer
House Without Foundation as Self - Narrator

1983

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

1982

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

1981

The Search for Alexander the Great as Narrator

1980

Hollywood as Self - Narrator
North Sea Hijack as Admiral Brindsen

1979

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

1978

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

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

Origins of the Mafia as Vianisi
Voyage of the Damned as Dr. Juan Remos
Bob Hope's World of Comedy as (archive footage)
Fear in the City as Chief of Police
People of the Wind as Jafar Qoli (voice)

1975

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

1974

Frankenstein: The True Story as Dr. John Polidori
The Yin and the Yang of Mr. Go as Y.Y. Go
The Marseille Contract as Jacques Brizard
Great Expectations as Magwitch
11 Harrowhouse as Charles D. Watts

1973

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

1972

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

1971

Film '72 as Self
V.I.P. Schaukel as Self
Bad Man's River as Francisco Paco Montero
Appointment With Destiny as Narrator
Kill! as Alan Hamilton
The Search for the Nile as Narrator

1970

Cold Sweat as Captain Ross
Spring and Port Wine as Rafe Crompton

1969

Age of Consent as Bradley Morahan

1968

Mayerling as Franz Joseph I of Austria
The Sea Gull as Trigorin
Duffy as Charles Calvert
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

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

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 Merv Griffin Show as Self
The Alfred Hitchcock Hour as Warren Barrow
Stoney Burke as The Derelict
Lolita as Prof. Humbert Humbert
Tiara Tahiti as Captain Brett Aimsley
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
John Brown's Raid as John Brown
Playhouse 90: The Hiding Place as Hans Frick
A Touch of Larceny as Cmdr. Max Easton

1959

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

1958

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

1957

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

1956

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

1954

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

1953

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

1952

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

1951

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

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
East Side, West Side as Brandon Bourne
The Reckless Moment as Martin Donnelly

1948

The Ed Sullivan Show as Self

1947

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

1945

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

1944

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

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

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

1941

The Patient Vanishes as Mick Cardby

1939

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

1938

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

1937

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

1936

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

1935

Late Extra as Jim Martin