James Mason
Born
May 15, 1909
Died
July 27, 1984 (75 years old)
Known For
Acting
Place of Birth
Huddersfield, Yorkshire, England, UK
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

Sid & Judy
Self (archive footage)
2019

Talking Pictures
Self (archive footage) · (1 episode)
2013

Lasseter's Bones
Archival Footage
2012

Passion & Poetry: Sam Peckinpah's War
Self (archive footage)
2011

Hollywood Singing and Dancing: A Musical History - The 1950s: The Golden Era of the Musical
Self (archive)
2009

Sir John Mills' Moving Memories
Self (archive footage)
2000

Roger Moore: A Matter of Class
Self (archive footage)
1995

The Assisi Underground
Bishop Nicolini
1985

A.D.
Tiberius · (5 episodes)
1985

The Shooting Party
Sir Randolph Nettleby
1985

Dr. Fischer of Geneva
Dr. Fischer
1984

George Washington
Gen. Edward Braddock · (3 episodes)
1984

James Mason: The Star They Loved to Hate
Self
1984

Don't Eat the Pictures: Sesame Street at the Metropolitan Museum of Art
Demon
1983

Yellowbeard
Captain Hughes
1983

Group Madness
Self
1983

Unknown Chaplin
Narrator (voice) · (4 episodes)
1983

Alexandre
The Father
1983

The Popes and Their Art
Presentor
1983

The Verdict
Ed Concannon
1982

A Dangerous Summer
George Engels
1982

The Glory of the Garden
Narrator
1982

Night of 100 Stars
Self
1982

Evil Under the Sun
Odell Gardener
1982

Ivanhoe
Isaac of York
1982

The Making of Agatha Christie's 'Evil Under the Sun'
Self / Odell Gardener
1982

The Search for Alexander the Great
Narrator
1981

North Sea Hijack
Admiral Brindsen
1980

Hollywood
Self - Narrator · (13 episodes)
1980

Salem's Lot
Richard K. Straker · (2 episodes)
1979

Bloodline
Sir Alec Nichols
1979

The Passage
Professor Bergson
1979

Murder by Decree
Dr. Watson
1979

The Boys from Brazil
Eduard Seibert
1978

Heaven Can Wait
Mr. Jordan
1978

The Water Babies
Mr. Grimes / Voice of Killer Shark
1978

Homage to Chagall: The Colours of Love
Narrator - English version
1977

Jesus of Nazareth
Joseph of Arimathea · (4 episodes)
1977

Cross of Iron
Oberst Brandt
1977

Voyage of the Damned
Dr. Juan Remos
1976

Origins of the Mafia
Vianisi · (5 episodes)
1976

People of the Wind
Jafar Qoli (voice)
1976

Fear in the City
Prosecutor
1976

The Flower in His Mouth
Avv. Antonio Bellocampo
1975

Inside Out
Ernst Furben
1975

Autobiography of a Princess
Cyril Sahib
1975

The Left Hand of the Law
Senatore Leandri
1975

Kidnap Syndicate
Filippini
1975

Mandingo
Warren Maxwell
1975

11 Harrowhouse
Charles D. Watts
1974

Frankenstein: The True Story
Dr. John Polidori
1974

The Marseille Contract
Jacques Brizard
1974

Great Expectations
Magwitch
1974

Frankenstein: The True Story
Dr. John Polidori · (2 episodes)
1973

The MacKintosh Man
Sir George Wheeler
1973

The Last of Sheila
Philip
1973

The Reformation: Age of Revolt
Narrator
1973

John Keats: His Life and Death
Narrator
1973

Child's Play
Jerome Malley
1972

Home, James
Self
1972

The Wind in the Wires
Narrator
1972

Kill!
Alan Hamilton
1971

Bad Man's River
Francisco Paco Montero
1971
Appointment With Destiny
Narrator · (1 episode)
1971

The Search for the Nile
Narrator · (6 episodes)
1971

The Search for the Nile
Narrator
1971
V.I.P. Schaukel
Self · (1 episode)
1971

Cold Sweat
Captain Ross
1970

Spring and Port Wine
Rafe Crompton
1970

The Yin and the Yang of Mr. Go
Y.Y. Go
1970

Age of Consent
Bradley Morahan
1969

The Sea Gull
Trigorin
1968

The London Nobody Knows
Himself - Narrator
1968

Mayerling
Franz Joseph I of Austria
1968

Duffy
Charles Calvert
1968
Apropos Film
Self · (1 episode)
1967

Cop-Out
John Sawyer
1967

The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour
Self · (1 episode)
1967

The Deadly Affair
Charles Dobbs
1967

ABC Stage 67
Otto Hoffman · (1 episode)
1966

Georgy Girl
James Leamington
1966

The Blue Max
General Count von Klugermann
1966

Uncertain Verification
(archive footage)
1965

The Uninhibited
Pascal Regnier
1965

Genghis Khan
Kam Ling
1965

Lord Jim
Gentleman Brown
1965

The Pumpkin Eater
Bob Conway
1964

The Fall of the Roman Empire
Timonides
1964

Torpedo Bay
Captain Blayne
1963

The Merv Griffin Show
Self · (1 episode)
1962

Stoney Burke
The Derelict · (1 episode)
1962

The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
Self · (8 episodes)
1962

The Alfred Hitchcock Hour
Warren Barrow · (1 episode)
1962

Hero's Island
Jacob Weber
1962

Tiara Tahiti
Captain Brett Aimsley
1962

Lolita
Prof. Humbert Humbert
1962

Escape from Zahrain
Johnson
1962

Theatre 62: Rebecca
Maxim de Winter
1962

The Mike Douglas Show
Self · (2 episodes)
1961

Dr. Kildare
Dr. Maxwell Becker · (4 episodes)
1961

The Marriage-Go-Round
Paul Delville
1961

John Brown's Raid
John Brown
1960

The Trials of Oscar Wilde
Edward Carson
1960

A Touch of Larceny
Cmdr. Max Easton
1960

Journey to the Center of the Earth
Sir Oliver S. Lindenbrook
1959

The DuPont Show with June Allyson
Henry Chambers · (1 episode)
1959

North by Northwest
Phillip Vandamm
1959

The Decks Ran Red
Capt. Edwin Rummill
1958

Cry Terror!
Jim Molner
1958
Tonight Starring Jack Paar
Self · (2 episodes)
1957

Island in the Sun
Maxwell Fleury
1957

Panic!
(1 episode)
1957

Bigger Than Life
Ed Avery
1956

The Steve Allen Show
Self - Guest · (1 episode)
1956

Forever, Darling
The Guardian Angel
1956

20,000 Leagues Under the Sea
Captain Nemo
1954

The Star of Bethlehem
Himself
1954

A Star Is Born
Norman Maine
1954

Prince Valiant
Sir Brack
1954

The Tell-Tale Heart
Narrator
1953

The Man Between
Ivo Kern
1953

Charade
The Murderer / Maj. Linden / Jonah Watson
1953

Julius Caesar
Brutus
1953

The Desert Rats
Field Marshal Erwin von Rommel
1953

The Story of Three Loves
Charles Coutray
1953

General Electric Theater
Wayne Sebastian · (1 episode)
1953

Botany Bay
Capt. Paul Gilbert
1952

The Prisoner of Zenda
Rupert of Hentzau
1952

Face to Face
The Captain
1952

Ellis in Freedomland
The Refrigerator (voice)
1952

5 Fingers
Ulysses Diello
1952

Lady Possessed
Jimmy Del Palma
1952

The Desert Fox: The Story of Rommel
Field Marshal Erwin Rommel
1951

Schlitz Playhouse of Stars
Captain Vialez · (1 episode)
1951

Schlitz Playhouse of Stars
Self - Host · (55 episodes)
1951

Pandora and the Flying Dutchman
Hendrik van der Zee
1951
Lux Video Theatre
Self - Host · (8 episodes)
1950

The Bob Hope Show
Self · (2 episodes)
1950

One Way Street
Dr. Frank Matson
1950

What's My Line?
Self · (4 episodes)
1950

What's My Line?
Self - Panelist · (1 episode)
1950

East Side, West Side
Brandon Bourne
1949

The Reckless Moment
Martin Donnelly
1949

Madame Bovary
Gustave Flaubert
1949

Caught
Larry Quinada
1949

The Ed Sullivan Show
Self · (2 episodes)
1948

The Upturned Glass
Michael Joyce
1947

Odd Man Out
Johnny McQueen
1947

The Wicked Lady
Captain Jerry Jackson
1945

The Seventh Veil
Nicholas Cunningham
1945

They Were Sisters
Geoffrey Lee
1945

A Place of One's Own
Henry Smedhurst
1945

Hotel Reserve
Peter Vadassy
1944

Fanny by Gaslight
Lord Manderstoke
1944

Candlelight in Algeria
Alan Thurston
1944

They Met in the Dark
Richard Francis Heritage
1943

The Man in Grey
Lord Rohan
1943

The Bells Go Down
Ted Robbins
1943

Thunder Rock
Streeter
1942

Secret Mission
Raoul de Carnot
1942

Alibi
Andre Laurent
1942

The Night Has Eyes
Stephen Deremid
1942

Hatter's Castle
Dr. Renwick
1942

The Patient Vanishes
Mick Cardby
1941
The Circle
Edward Luton
1939

The Miser
Valere - In love with Elise
1939

I Met a Murderer
Mark Warrow
1939
Bees on the Boat-Deck
Robert Patch
1939
The Moon in the Yellow River
Darrell Blake
1938
Cyrano de Bergerac
Christian de Neuvillette
1938

Return of the Scarlet Pimpernel
Jean Tallien
1937

The High Command
Capt. Heverell
1937

Catch as Catch Can
Robert Leyland
1937

Fire Over England
Hillary Vane
1937

The Mill on the Floss
Tom Tulliver
1937

Secret of Stamboul
Larry
1936

Twice Branded
Henry Hamilton
1936
Blind Man's Bluff
Stephen Neville
1936
Troubled Waters
John Merriman
1936

Prison Breaker
'Bunny' Barnes
1936

Late Extra
Jim Martin
1935