James Mason
Known for: Acting
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.
Filmography
Series
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
Self
1962
Series
The Mike Douglas Show
Self
1961
Series
The Alfred Hitchcock Hour
Warren Barrow
1962
Series
The Merv Griffin Show
Self
1962
Film
Lolita
Prof. Humbert Humbert
1962
Series
Dr. Kildare
Dr. Maxwell Becker
1961
Tonight Starring Jack Paar
Self
1957
Series
What's My Line?
Self
1950
Film '72
Self
1971
Series
The Steve Allen Show
Self - Guest
1956
Series
The Ed Sullivan Show
Self
1948
Series
The Bob Hope Show
Self
1950
Series
Stoney Burke
The Derelict
1962
Series
Jesus of Nazareth
Joseph of Arimathea
1977
Film
North by Northwest
Phillip Vandamm
1959
Series
The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour
Self
1967
Series
The DuPont Show with June Allyson
Henry Chambers
1959
Series
Salem's Lot
Richard K. Straker
1979
V.I.P. Schaukel
Self
1971
Lux Video Theatre
Self - Host
1950
Film
20,000 Leagues Under the Sea
Captain Nemo
1954
Series
ABC Stage 67
Otto Hoffman
1966
Series
Talking Pictures
Self (archive footage)
2013
Film
Journey to the Center of the Earth
Sir Oliver S. Lindenbrook
1959
Film
The Verdict
Ed Concannon
1982
Series
A.D.
Tiberius
1985
Film
Mandingo
Warren Maxwell
1975
Film
Evil Under the Sun
Odell Gardener
1982
Film
The Fall of the Roman Empire
Timonides
1964
Series
Panic!
1957
Film
The Boys from Brazil
Eduard Seibert
1978
Film
Cold Sweat
Captain Ross
1970
Film
Cross of Iron
Oberst Brandt
1977
Series
Hollywood
Self - Narrator
1980
Film
Voyage of the Damned
Dr. Juan Remos
1976
Series
Origins of the Mafia
Vianisi
1976
Film
The Blue Max
General Count von Klugermann
1966
Film
Mayerling
Franz Joseph I of Austria
1968
Film
Heaven Can Wait
Mr. Jordan
1978
Film
Julius Caesar
Brutus
1953
Film
The Passage
Professor Bergson
1979
Film
A Star Is Born
Norman Maine
1954
Film
Lord Jim
Gentleman Brown
1965
Film
The Desert Fox: The Story of Rommel
Field Marshal Erwin Rommel
1951
Film
North Sea Hijack
Admiral Brindsen
1980
Film
Genghis Khan
Kam Ling
1965
Series
General Electric Theater
Wayne Sebastian
1953
Film
Murder by Decree
Dr. Watson
1979
Film
5 Fingers
Ulysses Diello
1952
Film
Ivanhoe
Isaac of York
1982
Film
Yellowbeard
Captain Hughes
1983
Film
Georgy Girl
James Leamington
1966
Film
Caught
Larry Quinada
1949
Series
The Search for the Nile
Narrator
1971
Film
Prince Valiant
Sir Brack
1954
Series
George Washington
Gen. Edward Braddock
1984
Film
Age of Consent
Bradley Morahan
1969
Film
Hotel Reserve
Peter Vadassy
1944
Series
Schlitz Playhouse of Stars
Captain Vialez
1951
Series
Schlitz Playhouse of Stars
Self - Host
1951
Film
Pandora and the Flying Dutchman
Hendrick van der Zee
1951
Film
Bigger Than Life
Ed Avery
1956
Film
Madame Bovary
Gustave Flaubert
1949
Film
The Prisoner of Zenda
Rupert of Hentzau
1952
Film
Night of 100 Stars
Self
1982
Film
The Story of Three Loves
Charles Coutray
1953
Film
Kill!
Alan Hamilton
1971
Series
Unknown Chaplin
Narrator (voice)
1983
Film
Roger Moore: A Matter of Class
Self (archive footage)
1995
Film
Kubrick by Kubrick
Self (archive footage)
2020
Film
Odd Man Out
Johnny McQueen
1947
Film
The Last of Sheila
Philip Dexter
1973
Series
Frankenstein: The True Story
Dr. John Polidori
1973
Apropos Film
Self
1967
Film
Bloodline
Sir Alec Nichols
1979
Film
The MacKintosh Man
Sir George Wheeler
1973
Film
The Deadly Affair
Charles Dobbs
1967
Film
The Pumpkin Eater
Bob Conway
1964
Film
The Water Babies
Mr. Grimes / Voice of Killer Shark
1978
Film
Bad Man's River
Francisco Paco Montero
1971
Film
The Trials of Oscar Wilde
Edward Carson
1960
Film
The Reckless Moment
Martin Donnelly
1949
Film
Lady Possessed
Jimmy Del Palma
1952
Film
Fire Over England
Hillary Vane
1937
Film
Churchill and the Movie Mogul
Self (archive footage)
2019
House Without Foundation
Self - Narrator
1984
Film
The Desert Rats
Field Marshal Erwin von Rommel
1953
Series
The Search for Alexander the Great
Narrator
1981
Film
Sid & Judy
Self (archive footage)
2019
Bob Hope's World of Comedy
Self (archive footage)
1976
Film
Cry Terror!
Jim Molner
1958
Film
The Marseille Contract
Jacques Brizard
1974
Film
Duffy
Charles Calvert
1968
The Circle
Edward Luton
1939
Film
Autobiography of a Princess
Cyril Sahib
1975
Film
Tiara Tahiti
Captain Brett Aimsley
1962
Film
The Man Between
Ivo Kern
1953
Film
Great Expectations
Magwitch
1974
Film
Island in the Sun
Maxwell Fleury
1957
Film
Sir John Mills' Moving Memories
Self (archive footage)
2000
Film
Charade
The Murderer / Maj. Linden / Jonah Watson
1953
Film
Frankenstein: The True Story
Dr. John Polidori
1974
Film
Alexandre
The Father
1983
Film
The Tell-Tale Heart
Narrator
1953
Film
Inside Out
Ernst Furben
1975
Film
Child's Play
Jerome Malley
1972
Film
Spring and Port Wine
Rafe Crompton
1970
Film
The Assisi Underground
Bishop Nicolini
1985
Film
Forever, Darling
Guardian Angel
1956
Film
Escape from Zahrain
Johnson
1962
Film
The Shooting Party
Sir Randolph Nettleby
1985
Film
John Brown's Raid
John Brown
1960
Film
East Side, West Side
Brandon Bourne
1949
Film
People of the Wind
Jafar Qoli (voice)
1976
Film
Fear in the City
Chief of Police
1976
Film
The Mill on the Floss
Tom Tulliver
1937
Film
Fanny by Gaslight
Lord Manderstoke
1944
Film
Stranger in the House
John Sawyer
1967
Film
Botany Bay
Capt. Paul Gilbert
1952
Appointment With Destiny
Narrator
1971
Film
Playhouse 90: The Hiding Place
Hans Frick
1960
Film
They Were Sisters
Geoffrey Lee
1945
Film
11 Harrowhouse
Charles D. Watts
1974
Film
The Man in Grey
Lord Rohan
1943
Film
The Yin and the Yang of Mr. Go
Y.Y. Go
1974
Bees on the Boat-Deck
Robert Patch
1939
Film
The Uninhibited
Pascal Regnier
1965
Film
One Way Street
Dr. Frank Matson
1950
Film
The Wicked Lady
Captain Jerry Jackson
1945
Film
The Seventh Veil
Nicholas Cunningham
1945
Film
Ellis in Freedomland
The Refrigerator (voice)
1952
Film
The Patient Vanishes
Mick Cardby
1941
Film
The Miser
Valere - In love with Elise
1939
Film
A Touch of Larceny
Cmdr. Max Easton
1960
Film
Late Extra
Jim Martin
1935
Film
The Glory of the Garden
Narrator
1982
Film
Dr. Fischer of Geneva
Dr. Fischer
1984
Film
Torpedo Bay
Captain Blayne
1963
Film
The Secret of Stamboul
Larry
1936
Film
The Popes and Their Art
Presentor
1983
Film
Return of the Scarlet Pimpernel
Jean Tallien
1937
Film
Kidnap Syndicate
Filippini
1975
Film
Lasseter's Bones
Archival Footage
2012
Cyrano de Bergerac
Christian de Neuvillette
1938
Film
Group Madness
Self
1983
Film
Secret Mission
Raoul de Carnot
1942
Film
Candlelight in Algeria
Alan Thurston
1944
Film
Don't Eat the Pictures: Sesame Street at the Metropolitan Museum of Art
Demon
1983
Film
Theatre 62: Rebecca
Maxim de Winter
1962
Film
The Flower in His Mouth
Avv. Antonio Bellocampo
1975
Film
The Decks Ran Red
Capt. Edwin Rummill
1958
Film
John Keats: His Life and Death
Narrator
1973
Film
Halloween Monster Bash
Stephen Deremid (archive footage)
1991
Film
The Marriage-Go-Round
Paul Delville
1961
Film
Uncertain Verification
(archive footage)
1965
Film
A Place of One's Own
Henry Smedhurst
1945
Film
A Dangerous Summer
George Engels
1982
Catch as Catch Can
Robert Leyland
1937
Film
The Sea Gull
Trigorin
1968
Film
The Bells Go Down
Ted Robbins
1943
Film
Hollywood Singing and Dancing: A Musical History - The 1950s: The Golden Era of the Musical
Self (archive)
2009
Film
The High Command
Capt. Heverell
1937
Film
James Mason: The Star They Loved to Hate
Self
1984
Film
The Night Has Eyes
Stephen Deremid
1942
Film
The Left Hand of the Law
Senatore Leandri
1975
Film
The London Nobody Knows
Himself - Narrator
1968
Film
The Making of Agatha Christie's 'Evil Under the Sun'
Self / Odell Gardener
1982
Film
They Met in the Dark
Richard Francis Heritage
1943
Film
Prison Breaker
'Bunny' Barnes
1936
Film
Hatter's Castle
Dr. Renwick
1942
Film
Hero's Island
Jacob Weber
1962
Film
The Reformation: Age of Revolt
Narrator
1973
Film
The Star of Bethlehem
Himself
1954
Film
Thunder Rock
Streeter
1942
Film
Face to Face
The Captain
1952
Film
Homage to Chagall: The Colours of Love
Narrator - English version
1977
Troubled Waters
John Merriman
1936
Film
Alibi
Andre Laurent
1942
Film
The Upturned Glass
Michael Joyce
1947
The Moon in the Yellow River
Darrell Blake
1938
Film
Home, James
Self
1972
Blind Man's Bluff
Stephen Neville
1936
Film
I Met a Murderer
Mark Warrow
1939
Film
Twice Branded
Henry Hamilton
1936
Film
The Wind in the Wires
Narrator
1972