James Mason

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.

Known For

The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson

The Mike Douglas Show

The Alfred Hitchcock Hour

The Merv Griffin Show

What's My Line?

Dr. Kildare

The Ed Sullivan Show

The Steve Allen Show

All Movies (150)

• Kubrick by Kubrick2020 · as Self (archive footage)
• Sid & Judy2019 · as Self (archive footage)
• Lasseter's Bones2012 · as Archival Footage
• Hollywood Singing and Dancing: A Musical History - The 1950s: The Golden Era of the Musical2009 · as Self (archive)
• Sir John Mills' Moving Memories2000 · as Self (archive footage)
• Roger Moore: A Matter of Class1995 · as Self (archive footage)
• Halloween Monster Bash1991 · as Stephen Deremid (archive footage)
• The Assisi Underground1985 · as Bishop Nicolini
• The Shooting Party1985 · as Sir Randolph Nettleby
• Dr. Fischer of Geneva1984 · as Dr. Fischer
• James Mason: The Star They Loved to Hate1984 · as Self
• Don't Eat the Pictures: Sesame Street at the Metropolitan Museum of Art1983 · as Demon
• Yellowbeard1983 · as Captain Hughes
• Group Madness1983 · as Self
• Alexandre1983 · as The Father
• The Popes and Their Art1983 · as Presentor
• The Verdict1982 · as Ed Concannon
• A Dangerous Summer1982 · as George Engels
• The Glory of the Garden1982 · as Narrator
• Night of 100 Stars1982 · as Self
• Evil Under the Sun1982 · as Odell Gardener
• Ivanhoe1982 · as Isaac of York
• The Making of Agatha Christie's 'Evil Under the Sun'1982 · as Self / Odell Gardener
• The Search for Alexander the Great1981 · as Narrator
• North Sea Hijack1980 · as Admiral Brindsen
• Bloodline1979 · as Sir Alec Nichols
• The Passage1979 · as Professor Bergson
• Murder by Decree1979 · as Dr. Watson
• The Boys from Brazil1978 · as Eduard Seibert
• Heaven Can Wait1978 · as Mr. Jordan
• The Water Babies1978 · as Mr. Grimes / Voice of Killer Shark
• Homage to Chagall: The Colours of Love1977 · as Narrator - English version
• Cross of Iron1977 · as Oberst Brandt
• Voyage of the Damned1976 · as Dr. Juan Remos
• People of the Wind1976 · as Jafar Qoli (voice)
• Bob Hope's World of Comedy1976 · as Self (archive footage)
• Fear in the City1976 · as Chief of Police
• The Flower in His Mouth1975 · as Avv. Antonio Bellocampo
• Inside Out1975 · as Ernst Furben
• Autobiography of a Princess1975 · as Cyril Sahib
• The Left Hand of the Law1975 · as Senatore Leandri
• Kidnap Syndicate1975 · as Filippini
• Mandingo1975 · as Warren Maxwell
• The Yin and the Yang of Mr. Go1974 · as Y.Y. Go
• 11 Harrowhouse1974 · as Charles D. Watts
• Frankenstein: The True Story1974 · as Dr. John Polidori
• The Marseille Contract1974 · as Jacques Brizard
• Great Expectations1974 · as Magwitch
• The MacKintosh Man1973 · as Sir George Wheeler
• The Last of Sheila1973 · as Philip Dexter
• The Reformation: Age of Revolt1973 · as Narrator
• John Keats: His Life and Death1973 · as Narrator
• Child's Play1972 · as Jerome Malley
• Home, James1972 · as Self
• The Wind in the Wires1972 · as Narrator
• Kill!1971 · as Alan Hamilton
• Bad Man's River1971 · as Francisco Paco Montero
• Cold Sweat1970 · as Captain Ross
• Spring and Port Wine1970 · as Rafe Crompton
• Age of Consent1969 · as Bradley Morahan
• The Sea Gull1968 · as Trigorin
• The London Nobody Knows1968 · as Himself - Narrator
• Mayerling1968 · as Franz Joseph I of Austria
• Duffy1968 · as Charles Calvert
• Stranger in the House1967 · as John Sawyer
• The Deadly Affair1967 · as Charles Dobbs
• Georgy Girl1966 · as James Leamington
• The Blue Max1966 · as General Count von Klugermann
• Uncertain Verification1965 · as (archive footage)
• The Uninhibited1965 · as Pascal Regnier
• Genghis Khan1965 · as Kam Ling
• Lord Jim1965 · as Gentleman Brown
• The Pumpkin Eater1964 · as Bob Conway
• The Fall of the Roman Empire1964 · as Timonides
• Torpedo Bay1963 · as Captain Blayne
• Hero's Island1962 · as Jacob Weber
• Tiara Tahiti1962 · as Captain Brett Aimsley
• Lolita1962 · as Prof. Humbert Humbert
• Escape from Zahrain1962 · as Johnson
• Theatre 62: Rebecca1962 · as Maxim de Winter
• The Marriage-Go-Round1961 · as Paul Delville
• John Brown's Raid1960 · as John Brown
• The Trials of Oscar Wilde1960 · as Edward Carson
• Playhouse 90: The Hiding Place1960 · as Hans Frick
• A Touch of Larceny1960 · as Cmdr. Max Easton
• Journey to the Center of the Earth1959 · as Sir Oliver S. Lindenbrook
• North by Northwest1959 · as Phillip Vandamm
• The Decks Ran Red1958 · as Capt. Edwin Rummill
• Cry Terror!1958 · as Jim Molner
• Island in the Sun1957 · as Maxwell Fleury
• Bigger Than Life1956 · as Ed Avery
• Forever, Darling1956 · as The Guardian Angel
• 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea1954 · as Captain Nemo
• The Star of Bethlehem1954 · as Himself
• A Star Is Born1954 · as Norman Maine
• Prince Valiant1954 · as Sir Brack
• The Tell-Tale Heart1953 · as Narrator
• The Man Between1953 · as Ivo Kern
• Charade1953 · as The Murderer / Maj. Linden / Jonah Watson
• Julius Caesar1953 · as Brutus
• The Desert Rats1953 · as Field Marshal Erwin von Rommel
• The Story of Three Loves1953 · as Charles Coutray
• Botany Bay1952 · as Capt. Paul Gilbert
• The Prisoner of Zenda1952 · as Rupert of Hentzau
• Face to Face1952 · as The Captain
• Ellis in Freedomland1952 · as The Refrigerator (voice)
• 5 Fingers1952 · as Ulysses Diello
• Lady Possessed1952 · as Jimmy Del Palma
• The Desert Fox: The Story of Rommel1951 · as Field Marshal Erwin Rommel
• Pandora and the Flying Dutchman1951 · as Hendrick van der Zee
• One Way Street1950 · as Dr. Frank Matson
• East Side, West Side1949 · as Brandon Bourne
• The Reckless Moment1949 · as Martin Donnelly
• Madame Bovary1949 · as Gustave Flaubert
• Caught1949 · as Larry Quinada
• The Upturned Glass1947 · as Michael Joyce
• Odd Man Out1947 · as Johnny McQueen
• The Wicked Lady1945 · as Captain Jerry Jackson
• The Seventh Veil1945 · as Nicholas Cunningham
• They Were Sisters1945 · as Geoffrey Lee
• A Place of One's Own1945 · as Henry Smedhurst
• Hotel Reserve1944 · as Peter Vadassy
• Fanny by Gaslight1944 · as Lord Manderstoke
• Candlelight in Algeria1944 · as Alan Thurston
• They Met in the Dark1943 · as Richard Francis Heritage
• The Man in Grey1943 · as Lord Rohan
• The Bells Go Down1943 · as Ted Robbins
• Thunder Rock1942 · as Streeter
• Secret Mission1942 · as Raoul de Carnot
• Alibi1942 · as Andre Laurent
• The Night Has Eyes1942 · as Stephen Deremid
• Hatter's Castle1942 · as Dr. Renwick
• The Patient Vanishes1941 · as Mick Cardby
• The Circle1939 · as Edward Luton
• The Miser1939 · as Valere - In love with Elise
• I Met a Murderer1939 · as Mark Warrow
• Bees on the Boat-Deck1939 · as Robert Patch
• The Moon in the Yellow River1938 · as Darrell Blake
• Cyrano de Bergerac1938 · as Christian de Neuvillette
• Return of the Scarlet Pimpernel1937 · as Jean Tallien
• The High Command1937 · as Capt. Heverell
• Catch as Catch Can1937 · as Robert Leyland
• Fire Over England1937 · as Hillary Vane
• The Mill on the Floss1937 · as Tom Tulliver
• The Secret of Stamboul1936 · as Larry
• Twice Branded1936 · as Henry Hamilton
• Blind Man's Bluff1936 · as Stephen Neville
• Troubled Waters1936 · as John Merriman
• Prison Breaker1936 · as 'Bunny' Barnes
• Late Extra1935 · as Jim Martin

All TV Shows (34)

• Talking Pictures2013 · as Self (archive footage)
• A.D.1985 · as Tiberius
• George Washington1984 · as Gen. Edward Braddock
• Unknown Chaplin1983 · as Narrator (voice)
• The Search for Alexander the Great1981 · as Narrator
• Hollywood1980 · as Self - Narrator
• Salem's Lot1979 · as Richard K. Straker
• Jesus of Nazareth1977 · as Joseph of Arimathea
• Origins of the Mafia1976 · as Vianisi
• Frankenstein: The True Story1973 · as Dr. John Polidori
• Appointment With Destiny1971 · as Narrator
• Film '721971 · as Self
• The Search for the Nile1971 · as Narrator
• V.I.P. Schaukel1971 · as Self
• Apropos Film1967 · as Self
• The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour1967 · as Self
• ABC Stage 671966 · as Otto Hoffman
• The Merv Griffin Show1962 · as Self
• Stoney Burke1962 · as The Derelict
• The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson1962 · as Self
• The Alfred Hitchcock Hour1962 · as Warren Barrow
• The Mike Douglas Show1961 · as Self
• Dr. Kildare1961 · as Dr. Maxwell Becker
• The DuPont Show with June Allyson1959 · as Henry Chambers
• Tonight Starring Jack Paar1957 · as Self
• Panic!1957
• The Steve Allen Show1956 · as Self - Guest
• General Electric Theater1953 · as Wayne Sebastian
• Schlitz Playhouse of Stars1951 · as Captain Vialez
• Schlitz Playhouse of Stars1951 · as Self - Host
• Lux Video Theatre1950 · as Self - Host
• The Bob Hope Show1950 · as Self
• What's My Line?1950 · as Self
• The Ed Sullivan Show1948 · as Self