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
(2011)
Passion & Poetry: Sam Peckinpah's War
as Self (archive 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)
Dr. Fischer of Geneva
as Dr. Fischer
(1984)
(1983)
Yellowbeard
as Captain Hughes
(1983)
(1983)
Group Madness
as Self
(1983)
Alexandre
as The Father
(1983)
The Popes and Their Art
as Presentor
(1982)
The Verdict
as Ed Concannon
(1982)
Evil Under the Sun
as Odell Gardener
(1982)
Ivanhoe
as Isaac of York
(1982)
Night of 100 Stars
as Self
(1982)
A Dangerous Summer
as George Engels
(1982)
The Making of Agatha Christie's 'Evil Under the Sun'
as Self / Odell Gardener
(1982)
The Glory of the Garden
as Narrator
(1981)
The Search for Alexander the Great
as Narrator
(1980)
North Sea Hijack
as Admiral Brindsen
(1979)
Murder by Decree
as Dr. Watson
(1979)
The Passage
as Professor Bergson
(1979)
Bloodline
as Sir Alec Nichols
(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 Prosecutor
(1976)
People of the Wind
as Jafar Qoli (voice)
(1975)
Mandingo
as Warren Maxwell
(1975)
Kidnap Syndicate
as Filippini
(1975)
Inside Out
as Ernst Furben
(1975)
The Flower in His Mouth
as Avv. Antonio Bellocampo
(1975)
The Left Hand of the Law
as Senatore Leandri
(1975)
Autobiography of a Princess
as Cyril Sahib
(1974)
The Marseille Contract
as Jacques Brizard
(1974)
Great Expectations
as Magwitch
(1974)
Frankenstein: The True Story
as Dr. John Polidori
(1974)
11 Harrowhouse
as Charles D. Watts
(1973)
The MacKintosh Man
as Sir George Wheeler
(1973)
The Last of Sheila
as Philip
(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)
Home, James
as Self
(1972)
The Wind in the Wires
as Narrator
(1971)
Bad Man's River
as Francisco Paco Montero
(1971)
Kill!
as Alan Hamilton
(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)
Duffy
as Charles Calvert
(1968)
The Sea Gull
as Trigorin
(1968)
The London Nobody Knows
as Himself - Narrator
(1967)
The Deadly Affair
as Charles Dobbs
(1967)
Cop-Out
as John Sawyer
(1966)
The Blue Max
as General Count von Klugermann
(1966)
Georgy Girl
as James Leamington
(1965)
Genghis Khan
as Kam Ling
(1965)
Lord Jim
as Gentleman Brown
(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)
Hero's Island
as Jacob Weber
(1962)
Tiara Tahiti
as Captain Brett Aimsley
(1962)
Escape from Zahrain
as Johnson
(1962)
Theatre 62: Rebecca
as Maxim de Winter
(1961)
The Marriage-Go-Round
as Paul Delville
(1960)
A Touch of Larceny
as Cmdr. Max Easton
(1960)
The Trials of Oscar Wilde
as Edward Carson
(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 Desert Rats
as Field Marshal Erwin von Rommel
(1953)
The Story of Three Loves
as Charles Coutray
(1953)
The Man Between
as Ivo Kern
(1953)
The Tell-Tale Heart
as Narrator
(1953)
Charade
as The Murderer / Maj. Linden / Jonah Watson
(1952)
Botany Bay
as Capt. Paul Gilbert
(1952)
The Prisoner of Zenda
as Rupert of Hentzau
(1952)
5 Fingers
as Ulysses Diello
(1952)
Lady Possessed
as Jimmy Del Palma
(1952)
Face to Face
as The Captain
(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)
The Reckless Moment
as Martin Donnelly
(1949)
Caught
as Larry Quinada
(1949)
Madame Bovary
as Gustave Flaubert
(1949)
East Side, West Side
as Brandon Bourne
(1947)
Odd Man Out
as Johnny McQueen
(1947)
The Upturned Glass
as Michael Joyce
(1945)
The Wicked Lady
as Captain Jerry Jackson
(1945)
They Were Sisters
as Geoffrey Lee
(1945)
The Seventh Veil
as Nicholas Cunningham
(1945)
A Place of One's Own
as Henry Smedhurst
(1944)
Fanny by Gaslight
as Lord Manderstoke
(1944)
Hotel Reserve
as Peter Vadassy
(1944)
Candlelight in Algeria
as Alan Thurston
(1943)
The Man in Grey
as Lord Rohan
(1943)
They Met in the Dark
as Richard Francis Heritage
(1943)
The Bells Go Down
as Ted Robbins
(1942)
Hatter's Castle
as Dr. Renwick
(1942)
The Night Has Eyes
as Stephen Deremid
(1942)
Thunder Rock
as Streeter
(1942)
Secret Mission
as Raoul de Carnot
(1942)
Alibi
as Andre Laurent
(1941)
The Patient Vanishes
as Mick Cardby
(1939)
I Met a Murderer
as Mark Warrow
(1939)
The Miser
as Valere - In love with Elise
(1939)
Bees on the Boat-Deck
as Robert Patch
(1939)
The Circle
as Edward Luton
(1938)
Cyrano de Bergerac
as Christian de Neuvillette
(1938)
The Moon in the Yellow River
as Darrell Blake
(1937)
Fire Over England
as Hillary Vane
(1937)
Return of the Scarlet Pimpernel
as Jean Tallien
(1937)
The Mill on the Floss
as Tom Tulliver
(1937)
The High Command
as Capt. Heverell
(1937)
Catch as Catch Can
as Robert Leyland
(1936)
Twice Branded
as Henry Hamilton
(1936)
Secret of Stamboul
as Larry
(1936)
Prison Breaker
as 'Bunny' Barnes
(1936)
Troubled Waters
as John Merriman
(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