Robert Newton
Born: 1905-06-01 in Shaftesbury, Dorset, England, UK
Died: 1956-03-25
Known For: Acting
Biography
Robert Newton was one of the great character actors -- and great characters -- of the British cinema, best remembered today for playing Long John Silver in Treasure Island (1950) and its sequel in 1954. His portrayal of Long John Silver and of Blackbeard, the Pirate (1952) created a persona that was so indelible that his vocal intonations created the paradigm for scores of people who want to "Talk Like a Pirate." The performance overshadows Newton's legacy, which is based on many first-rate performances in such movies as This Happy Breed (1944), Odd Man Out (1947) and Oliver Twist (1948), where his Bill Sykes is truly chilling. Oliver Reed, who played Sykes in the Oscar-winning movie musical Oliver! (1968) was influenced by Newton.
Filmography
1969
- The Epic That Never Was as Cassius, Captain of Caligula's guard (archive footage; uncredited)
1957
- The Adventures of Long John Silver as Long John Silver
- Jingle All the Way! Christmas Stories Vol. 2
1956
- Around the World in 80 Days as Mr. Fix
1955
- Alfred Hitchcock Presents as Peter J. Goodfellow
1954
- Climax! as Keith Dorrant
- The High and the Mighty as Gustave Pardee
- The Wonderful World of Disney
- Long John Silver as Long John Silver
- The Beachcomber as Ted Wilson
1953
- The Desert Rats as Tom Bartlett
- General Electric Theater
1952
- Les Miserables as Etienne Javert
- Androcles and the Lion as Ferrovius
- Blackbeard, the Pirate as Blackbeard
1951
- Soldiers Three as Pvt. Bill Sykes
- Tom Brown's Schooldays as Thomas Arnold
- Schlitz Playhouse of Stars as John Lindsey, the Baker
1950
- Treasure Island as Long John Silver
- Waterfront as Peter McCabe
- Lux Video Theatre as Mr. Fishkettle
1949
- Obsession as Dr. Clive Riordan
1948
- Snowbound as Derek Engles
- Kiss the Blood Off My Hands as Harry Carter
- Oliver Twist as Bill Sykes
1947
- Odd Man Out as Lukey
- Temptation Harbour as Bert Mallinson
1946
- Night Boat to Dublin as Capt. David Grant
1944
- Henry V as Ancient Pistol
- This Happy Breed as Frank Gibbons
1942
- They Flew Alone as Jim Mollison
- Hatter's Castle as James Brodie
1941
- Major Barbara as Bill Walker
1940
- Channel Incident as Tanner
- Busman's Honeymoon as Frank Crutchley
- 21 Days Together as Tolly
- Gaslight as Ullswater
1939
- Poison Pen as Sam Hurrin
- Jamaica Inn as James "Jem" Trehearne
- Dead Men Are Dangerous as Aylmer Franklyn
- Hell's Cargo as Cmdr. Tomasou
1938
- Vessel of Wrath as The Controleur
1937
- Dark Journey as Officer of U-Boat
- The Squeaker as Larry Graeme
- Fire Over England as Don Pedro
- The Green Cockatoo as Dave Connor
- Farewell Again as Jim Carter