Basil Sydney

Basil Sydney was an English actor best known for his roles in Treasure Island, Went the Day Well?, and Caesar and Cleopatra. He had a successful career in theatre and film, becoming a recognizable figure in British cinema.

Personal and Family Life

Basil Sydney was born as Basil Sydney Nugent on April 23, 1894, in St. Osyth, Essex, England. He came from a theatrical background, as his father was a stage manager. Basil was married three times, first to Doris Keane, then to Mary Ellis, and finally to Joyce Howard, with whom he had three children.

Acting Career

Basil began his acting career in 1909 and became popular on the London stage in the 1920s. After serving in World War I, he returned to acting with a focus on Shakespearean roles. His film career took off in the early 1930s, where he became a well-known character actor, often playing authoritative or military figures. His performances included memorable roles such as Captain Smollett in Treasure Island and military aide Rufio in Caesar and Cleopatra.

Death and Legacy

Basil Sydney passed away on January 10, 1968, in London due to pleurisy. His contributions to both theatre and cinema have left a lasting impact, with several of his performances still celebrated today.

Filmography

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Title Release Date Character
Treasure Island 1950-07-19 Captain Smollett
Went the Day Well? 1942-12-07 Major Hammond / Kommandant Orlter
Caesar and Cleopatra 1945-12-11 Rufio
Ivanhoe 1952-07-31 Waldemar Fitzurse
Salome 1953-03-24 Pontius Pilate
The Hands of Orlac 1960-12-01 Maurice Seidelman
Simba 1955-01-07 Mr Crawford
Sea Wife 1957-08-20 Bulldog
Accused 1936-12-18 Eugene Roget
Hell Below Zero 1954-01-13 Bland
The Black Sheep of Whitehall 1942-02-23 Costello
A Story of David 1960-12-01 King Saul
Mayerling 1957-02-04 The Emperor Franz Joseph
The Riverside Murder 1935-03-02 Inspector Philip Winton
Jassy 1947-08-13 Nick Helmar
The Angel with the Trumpet 1950-03-20 Francis Alt
Dirty Work 1934-12-07 Hugh Stafford
The Dam Busters 1955-05-16 Air Chief Marshal Sir Arthur Harris
The 3 Worlds of Gulliver 1960-11-30 Emperor of Lilliput
The Amateur Gentleman 1936-04-26 Louis Chichester
Blind Man’s Bluff 1936-03-01 Dr. Peter Fairfax
The Midshipmaid 1932-12-08 Cmdr. Fosberry
The Four Just Men 1939-06-01 Frank Snell
The Tunnel 1935-10-27 Mostyn
Hamlet 1948-12-10 Claudius – The King
The Third Clue 1934-11-20 Reinhardt Conway
Rhodes of Africa 1936-06-30 Dr. Jim Jameson
Ships with Wings 1941-11-10 Capt. Fairfax
The Next of Kin 1942-06-15 Naval captain
Spring Meeting 1941-01-23 James
The Farmer’s Wife 1941-04-20 Samuel Sweetland
Around the World in Eighty Days 1956-10-17 Reform Club Member
Star of India 1954-01-02 King Louis XIV
The Magic Box 1952-01-01 William Fox-Talbot
Crime Over London 1936-10-21 ‘Joker’ Finnigan
The Devil’s Disciple 1959-08-20 Lawyer Hawkins
Talk of the Devil 1936-12-09
John Paul Jones 1959-06-16 Sir William Young
Romance 1920-05-16
Island in the Sun 1957-06-12 Julian Fleury
The Man Within 1947-05-19 Sir Henry Merriman