Basil Rathbone Quick Info | |
---|---|
Height | 6 ft 1½ in |
Weight | 77 kg |
Date of Birth | June 13, 1892 |
Zodiac Sign | Gemini |
Date of Death | July 21, 1967 |
Basil Rathbone was a South African actor, stage artist, and writer who rose to acclaim in the United Kingdom as a Shakespearean stage actor as well as for his many portrayals of Sherlock Holmes. He then went on to appear in a variety of films such as If I Were King, The School for Scandal, A Tale of Two Cities, Trouping with Ellen, The Fruitful Vine, The Last of Mrs. Cheyney, A Notorious Affair, The Lady of Scandal, The Lady Surrenders, Anna Karenina, Sin Takes a Holiday, A Woman Commands, One Precious Year, The Last Days of Pompeii, Romeo and Juliet, and The Adventures of Robin Hood.
Born Name
Philip St. John Basil Rathbone
Nick Names
Ratters
Age
He was born on June 13, 1892.
Died
On July 21, 1967, Basil Rathbone died of a heart attack at the age of 75 in New York City, New York, United States.
Resting Place
Ferncliff Cemetery Shrine of Memories, Hartsdale, New York, United States
Sun Sign
Gemini
Born Place
Johannesburg, South African Republic
Nationality
Education
Basil Rathbone studied at Repton School in Derbyshire from 1906 to 1910.
Occupation
Actor, Stage Artist, Writer
Family
- Father – Edgar Philip Rathbone (A mining engineer and scion of the Liverpool Rathbone family)
- Mother – Anna Barbara (née George) (Violinist)
- Siblings – Beatrice (Younger Sister), John (Younger Brother)
- Others – Philip Henry Rathbone (Paternal Grandfather), Jane Stringer Steward (Paternal Grandmother), John William George (Maternal Grandfather), Ann Quinn (Maternal Grandmother), Harold (Older Half-Brother), Horace (Older Half-Brother), William Rathbone V (Paternal Great-Grandfather) (Merchant and politician, serving as Lord Mayor of Liverpool), William Rathbone IV (Paternal Great-Great-Grandfather) (English ship-owner and merchant involved in the organization of American trade with Liverpool, England; A founding member of the Liverpool Committee for the Abolition of the Slave Trade created in 1788), Hannah Mary (née Reynolds) (Paternal Great-Great-Grandmother), Stephen W. (Father-In-Law) (A merchant who later worked as a railroad timekeeper), Ida Branch (Mother-In-Law), Eleanor Rathbone (First Cousin Once-removed) (British Member of Parliament (MP)), Frank Benson (Cousin) (Actor, Manager)
Manager
Basil’s wife Ouida Rathbone served as his business manager.
Build
Slim
Height
6 ft 1½ in or 186.5 cm
Weight
77 kg or 170 lbs
Girlfriend / Spouse
Basil Rathbone had dated –
- Ethel Marion Foreman (1914-1926) – He got married to actor Ethel Marion Foreman in the year 1914 and the duo was blessed with a son named Rodion Rathbone (also known as John Rodion) (1915-1996). Basil and Ethel divorced in 1926.
- Eva Le Gallienne (1924-1925) – He was romantically involved with British actor, producer, director, translator, and author Eva Le Gallienne from 1924 to 1925.
- Ouida Bergère (1926-1967) – On April 18, 1926, Basil Rathbone married American screenwriter and actor Ouida Bergère. She subsequently gave up her film work to assist Basil in his work and in the management of his business affairs. They had a child who died as an infant in 1928. The couple then adopted a daughter named Cynthia Rathbone (1939-1969) in 1939 as well as raised Ouida’s niece named Ouida Branch. The couple remained together until his death in 1967.
Race / Ethnicity
White
Basil Rathbone was of English and Irish descent.
Hair Color
Dark Brown
Eye Color
Blue
Sexual Orientation
Straight
Distinctive Features
- Deep smooth voice
- Dramatic readings
Brand Endorsements
Basil Rathbone was cast in TV commercials for –
- Swing King reclining chair
- Shredded Wheat breakfast cereal
- Calgonite dishwasher soap
- Alocoa aluminum utensils
- Colman’s Mustard
- Calvert Reserve whiskey
- Chesterfield cigarettes
- Petri wine
- Schaefer beer
- Fatima Turkish cigarettes
- Skippy Peanut Butter
- Walker’s Deluxe Bourbon
- Van Heusen shirts
- Calox tooth powder
- Stratford pens
- Booth’s House of Lord’s Gin
- Personna razor blades
Religion
He was an Episcopalian and a member of the Episcopal Actors Guild.
Basil Rathbone Favorite Things
- One Of His Favorite Recreational Activities – Fencing
- Role – Romeo
Source – Wikipedia
Basil Rathbone Facts
- He used to practice fencing 4 days a week.
- He has 3 stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame – one for films at 6549 Hollywood Boulevard, one for radio at 6300 Hollywood Boulevard, and one for television at 6915 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood.
Featured Image by Los Angeles Times / digital.library.ucla.edu / CC BY 4.0
He was closer to 170-180 pounds.