Sebastian Shaw

Biography

Sebastian Lewis Shaw was an English actor, director, novelist, playwright and poet. During his 65-year career, he appeared in dozens of stage performances and more than 40 film and television productions. Shaw was born and brought up in Holt, Norfolk, and made his acting debut at age eight at a London theatre. He studied acting at Gresham's School and the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art. Although he worked primarily on the London stage, he made his Broadway debut in 1929, when he played one of the two murderers in Rope's End. He appeared in his first film, Caste, in 1930 and quickly began to create a name for himself in films. He described himself as a "rotten actor" as a youth and said his success was primarily due to his good looks. He claimed to mature as a performer only after returning from service in the Royal Air Force during World War II. Shaw was particularly known for his performances in productions of Shakespeare plays which were considered daring and ahead of their time. In 1966, he joined the Royal Shakespeare Company, where he remained for a decade and delivered some of his most acclaimed performances. He also wrote several poems and a novel, The Christening, in 1975.

Known For

Casualty

Rumpole of the Bailey

Playhouse

Theatre 625

Return of the Jedi

BBC2 Play of the Week

Out of the Unknown

Reilly: Ace of Spies

All Movies (44)

• The Story of Star Wars2004 · as Anakin Skywalker (archive footage)
• Monkey Boy1992 · as Dr. Liawski
• Chernobyl: The Final Warning1991 · as Grandpa
• The Master Builder1988 · as Knut Brovik
• High Season1987 · as Sharp
• Assembled Memories: Jack B. Yeats, 1871-19571985 · as Yeats (voice)
• The Weather in the Streets1983 · as Mr. Curtis
• Return of the Jedi1983 · as Anakin Skywalker
• A Bit of Singing and Dancing1982 · as Uncle Cecil
• Timon of Athens1981 · as Old Athenian
• Fothergill1981 · as Crusty Old Party
• Liza1978 · as Carl Fiodorich
• A Choice of Evils1977 · as Abbot General
• A Midsummer Night's Dream1968 · as Quince
• All's Well That Ends Well1968 · as King of France
• Walk's End1966 · as Major Gregory
• It Happened Here1966 · as Dr. Richard Fletcher
• Laxdale Hall1953 · as Hugh Marvell, M.P.
• Landfall1949 · as Wing Commander Dickens
• The Glass Mountain1949 · as Bruce McLeod
• Journey Together1945 · as Squadron Leader Marshall
• East of Piccadilly1941 · as Tamsie Green
• The Flying Squad1940 · as Inspector Bradley
• Bulldog Sees It Through1940
• Three Silent Men1940 · as Sir James Quentin
• Now You're Talking1940 · as Charles Hampton
• The Spy in Black1939 · as Ashington
• Prison Without Bars1939
• Julius Caesar1938 · as Marcus Brutus
• The Squeaker1937 · as Frank Sutton
• Farewell Again1937 · as Capt. Gilbert Reed
• Men Are Not Gods1936 · as Edmund Davey
• Tomorrow We Live1936 · as Eric Morton
• Birds of a Feather1936 · as Jack Wortle
• Jury's Evidence1936 · as Philip
• Department Store1935 · as John Goodman Johnson
• The Way of Youth1935 · as Lieut. Alan Marmon
• Adventure Ltd.1935 · as Bruce Blandford
• Three Witnesses1935 · as Roger Truscott
• The Lad1935 · as Jimmy
• The Ace of Spades1935 · as Trent
• Brewster's Millions1935 · as Frank
• Little Miss Nobody1933 · as Pat Carey
• Caste1930 · as Hon. George d'Alroy

All TV Shows (11)

• Chimera1991 · as Dr. Liawski
• Casualty1986 · as Charles Howlett
• Reilly: Ace of Spies1983 · as Reverend Thomas
• The Old Curiosity Shop1979 · as Grandfather
• BBC2 Play of the Week1977 · as Carl Fiodorich
• Rumpole of the Bailey1975 · as Mr. Justice Skelton
• Playhouse1974 · as Crusty Old Party
• Dead of Night1972 · as Powys Jubb
• Out of the Unknown1965 · as Major Gregory
• The Great War1964
• Theatre 6251964