James Mason
Personal Info
Known for
Acting
Gender
Male
Birthday
1909-05-15
Day of Death
1984-07-27 (75 years old)
Place of Birth
Huddersfield, Yorkshire, England, UK
James Mason
Biography
James Neville Mason, known as James Mason, was an accomplished English actor who made a significant impact on both British and American cinema. He was born on May 15, 1909, in Huddersfield, Yorkshire, England, and passed away on July 27, 1984, in Lausanne, Switzerland.
Mason's 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
Acting
(2019)
Sid & Judy
as Self (archive footage)
(2012)
Lasseter's Bones
as Archival Footage
(2009)
(2000)
Sir John Mills' Moving Memories
as Self (archive footage)
(1995)
Roger Moore: A Matter of Class
as Self (archive footage)
(1985)
The Shooting Party
as Sir Randolph Nettleby
(1985)
The Assisi Underground
as Bishop Nicolini
(1984)
(1984)
Dr. Fischer of Geneva
as Dr. Fischer
(1983)
Yellowbeard
as Captain Hughes
(1983)
Group Madness
as Self
(1983)
(1983)
The Popes and Their Art
as Presentor
(1983)
Alexandre
as The Father
(1982)
Evil Under the Sun
as Odell Gardener
(1982)
The Verdict
as Ed Concannon
(1982)
Ivanhoe
as Isaac of York
(1982)
Night of 100 Stars
as Self
(1982)
A Dangerous Summer
as George Engels
(1982)
The Glory of the Garden
as Narrator
(1982)
The Making of Agatha Christie's 'Evil Under the Sun'
as Self / Odell Gardener
(1981)
The Search for Alexander the Great
as Narrator
(1980)
North Sea Hijack
as Admiral Brindsen
(1979)
Murder by Decree
as Dr. Watson
(1979)
Bloodline
as Sir Alec Nichols
(1979)
The Passage
as Professor Bergson
(1978)
The Boys from Brazil
as Eduard Seibert
(1978)
Heaven Can Wait
as Mr. Jordan
(1978)
The Water Babies
as Mr. Grimes / Voice of Killer Shark
(1977)
Cross of Iron
as Oberst Brandt
(1977)
Homage to Chagall: The Colours of Love
as Narrator - English version
(1976)
Voyage of the Damned
as Dr. Juan Remos
(1976)
Fear in the City
as Chief of Police
(1976)
People of the Wind
as Jafar Qoli (voice)
(1975)
Mandingo
as Warren Maxwell
(1975)
Kidnap Syndicate
as Filippini
(1975)
Autobiography of a Princess
as Cyril Sahib
(1975)
The Flower in His Mouth
as Avv. Antonio Bellocampo
(1975)
Inside Out
as Ernst Furben
(1975)
The Left Hand of the Law
as Senatore Leandri
(1974)
The Marseille Contract
as Jacques Brizard
(1974)
Great Expectations
as Magwitch
(1974)
11 Harrowhouse
as Charles D. Watts
(1974)
Frankenstein: The True Story
as Dr. John Polidori
(1973)
The Last of Sheila
as Philip
(1973)
The MacKintosh Man
as Sir George Wheeler
(1973)
John Keats: His Life and Death
as Narrator
(1973)
The Reformation: Age of Revolt
as Narrator
(1972)
Child's Play
as Jerome Malley
(1972)
The Wind in the Wires
as Narrator
(1972)
Home, James
as Self
(1971)
Bad Man's River
as Francisco Paco Montero
(1971)
Kill!
as Alan Hamilton
(1971)
The Search for the Nile
as Narrator
(1970)
Cold Sweat
as Captain Ross
(1970)
Spring and Port Wine
as Rafe Crompton
(1970)
The Yin and the Yang of Mr. Go
as Y.Y. Go
(1969)
Age of Consent
as Bradley Morahan
(1968)
Mayerling
as Franz Joseph I of Austria
(1968)
The Sea Gull
as Trigorin
(1968)
Duffy
as Charles Calvert
(1968)
The London Nobody Knows
as Himself - Narrator
(1967)
The Deadly Affair
as Charles Dobbs
(1967)
Stranger in the House
as John Sawyer
(1966)
The Blue Max
as General Count von Klugermann
(1966)
Georgy Girl
as James Leamington
(1965)
Lord Jim
as Gentleman Brown
(1965)
Genghis Khan
as Kam Ling
(1965)
The Uninhibited
as Pascal Regnier
(1965)
Uncertain Verification
as (archive footage)
(1964)
The Fall of the Roman Empire
as Timonides
(1964)
The Pumpkin Eater
as Bob Conway
(1963)
Torpedo Bay
as Captain Blayne
(1962)
Lolita
as Prof. Humbert Humbert
(1962)
Escape from Zahrain
as Johnson
(1962)
Hero's Island
as Jacob Weber
(1962)
Tiara Tahiti
as Captain Brett Aimsley
(1962)
Theatre 62: Rebecca
as Maxim de Winter
(1961)
The Marriage-Go-Round
as Paul Delville
(1960)
The Trials of Oscar Wilde
as Edward Carson
(1960)
A Touch of Larceny
as Cmdr. Max Easton
(1960)
John Brown's Raid
as John Brown
(1959)
North by Northwest
as Phillip Vandamm
(1959)
Journey to the Center of the Earth
as Sir Oliver S. Lindenbrook
(1958)
Cry Terror!
as Jim Molner
(1958)
The Decks Ran Red
as Capt. Edwin Rummill
(1957)
Island in the Sun
as Maxwell Fleury
(1956)
Bigger Than Life
as Ed Avery
(1956)
Forever, Darling
as The Guardian Angel
(1954)
20,000 Leagues Under the Sea
as Captain Nemo
(1954)
A Star Is Born
as Norman Maine
(1954)
Prince Valiant
as Sir Brack
(1954)
The Star of Bethlehem
as Himself
(1953)
Julius Caesar
as Brutus
(1953)
The Man Between
as Ivo Kern
(1953)
The Desert Rats
as Field Marshal Erwin von Rommel
(1953)
The Story of Three Loves
as Charles Coutray
(1953)
The Tell-Tale Heart
as Narrator
(1953)
Charade
as The Murderer / Maj. Linden / Jonah Watson
(1952)
Botany Bay
as Capt. Paul Gilbert
(1952)
5 Fingers
as Ulysses Diello
(1952)
The Prisoner of Zenda
as Rupert of Hentzau
(1952)
Face to Face
as The Captain
(1952)
Lady Possessed
as Jimmy Del Palma
(1952)
Ellis in Freedomland
as The Refrigerator (voice)
(1951)
Pandora and the Flying Dutchman
as Hendrik van der Zee
(1951)
The Desert Fox: The Story of Rommel
as Field Marshal Erwin Rommel
(1950)
One Way Street
as Dr. Frank Matson
(1949)
Caught
as Larry Quinada
(1949)
The Reckless Moment
as Martin Donnelly
(1949)
Madame Bovary
as Gustave Flaubert
(1949)
East Side, West Side
as Brandon Bourne
(1947)
The Upturned Glass
as Michael Joyce
(1947)
Odd Man Out
as Johnny McQueen
(1945)
A Place of One's Own
as Henry Smedhurst
(1945)
The Seventh Veil
as Nicholas Cunningham
(1945)
They Were Sisters
as Geoffrey Lee
(1945)
The Wicked Lady
as Captain Jerry Jackson
(1944)
Hotel Reserve
as Peter Vadassy
(1944)
Fanny by Gaslight
as Lord Manderstoke
(1944)
Candlelight in Algeria
as Alan Thurston
(1943)
The Bells Go Down
as Ted Robbins
(1943)
The Man in Grey
as Lord Rohan
(1943)
They Met in the Dark
as Richard Francis Heritage
(1942)
Secret Mission
as Raoul de Carnot
(1942)
The Night Has Eyes
as Stephen Deremid
(1942)
Thunder Rock
as Streeter
(1942)
Hatter's Castle
as Dr. Renwick
(1942)
Alibi
as Andre Laurent
(1941)
The Patient Vanishes
as Mick Cardby
(1939)
The Miser
as Valere - In love with Elise
(1939)
I Met a Murderer
as Mark Warrow
(1939)
Bees on the Boat-Deck
as Robert Patch
(1939)
The Circle
as Edward Luton
(1938)
The Moon in the Yellow River
as Darrell Blake
(1938)
Cyrano de Bergerac
as Christian de Neuvillette
(1937)
Return of the Scarlet Pimpernel
as Jean Tallien
(1937)
Fire Over England
as Hillary Vane
(1937)
Catch as Catch Can
as Robert Leyland
(1937)
The High Command
as Capt. Heverell
(1937)
The Mill on the Floss
as Tom Tulliver
(1936)
Twice Branded
as Henry Hamilton
(1936)
Secret of Stamboul
as Larry
(1936)
Troubled Waters
as John Merriman
(1936)
Prison Breaker
as 'Bunny' Barnes
(1936)
Blind Man's Bluff
as Stephen Neville
(1935)
Late Extra
as Jim Martin
Crew
(2016)
(2011)
Passion & Poetry: Sam Peckinpah's War
In Memory Of
(1969)
Age of Consent
Producer
(1956)
Bigger Than Life
Producer, Additional Writing
(1954)
The Star of Bethlehem
Director, Producer
(1954)
The Child
Director
(1953)
Charade
Producer, Writer
(1952)
Lady Possessed
Screenplay, Producer
(1947)
The Upturned Glass
Producer
(1939)
I Met a Murderer
Story