James Mason
- Known for
- Acting
- Born
- May 15, 1909
- Died
- July 27, 1984
- Birthplace
- Huddersfield, Yorkshire, England, UK
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
Kubrick by Kubrick 2020
as Self (archive footage)
Sid & Judy 2019
as Self (archive footage)
Churchill and the Movie Mogul 2019
as Self (archive footage)
Bob the Builder: Building Sky High 2016
Writer
Lasseter's Bones 2012
as Archival Footage
Passion & Poetry: Sam Peckinpah's War 2011
In Memory Of
Hollywood Singing and Dancing: A Musical History - The 1950s: The Golden Era of the Musical 2009
as Self (archive)
Sir John Mills' Moving Memories 2000
as Self (archive footage)
Roger Moore: A Matter of Class 1995
as Self (archive footage)
Halloween Monster Bash 1991
as Stephen Deremid (archive footage)
The Assisi Underground 1985
as Bishop Nicolini
The Shooting Party 1985
as Sir Randolph Nettleby
Dr. Fischer of Geneva 1984
as Dr. Fischer
- House Without Foundation
House Without Foundation 1984
as Self - Narrator
James Mason: The Star They Loved to Hate 1984
as Self
Don't Eat the Pictures: Sesame Street at the Metropolitan Museum of Art 1983
as Demon
Yellowbeard 1983
as Captain Hughes
Group Madness 1983
as Self
The Popes and Their Art 1983
as Presentor
Alexandre 1983
as The Father
The Verdict 1982
as Ed Concannon
A Dangerous Summer 1982
as George Engels
The Glory of the Garden 1982
as Narrator
Night of 100 Stars 1982
as Self
Evil Under the Sun 1982
as Odell Gardener
Ivanhoe 1982
as Isaac of York
The Making of Agatha Christie's 'Evil Under the Sun' 1982
as Self / Odell Gardener
North Sea Hijack 1980
as Admiral Brindsen
Bloodline 1979
as Sir Alec Nichols
The Passage 1979
as Professor Bergson
Murder by Decree 1979
as Dr. Watson
The Boys from Brazil 1978
as Eduard Seibert
Heaven Can Wait 1978
as Mr. Jordan
The Water Babies 1978
as Mr. Grimes / Voice of Killer Shark
Homage to Chagall: The Colours of Love 1977
as Narrator - English version
Cross of Iron 1977
as Oberst Brandt
Voyage of the Damned 1976
as Dr. Juan Remos
- Bob Hope's World of Comedy
Bob Hope's World of Comedy 1976
as (archive footage)
People of the Wind 1976
as Jafar Qoli (voice)
Fear in the City 1976
as Chief of Police
The Flower in His Mouth 1975
as Avv. Antonio Bellocampo
Inside Out 1975
as Ernst Furben
Autobiography of a Princess 1975
as Cyril Sahib
The Left Hand of the Law 1975
as Senatore Leandri
Kidnap Syndicate 1975
as Filippini
Mandingo 1975
as Warren Maxwell
The Yin and the Yang of Mr. Go 1974
as Y.Y. Go
11 Harrowhouse 1974
as Charles D. Watts
Frankenstein: The True Story 1974
as Dr. John Polidori
The Marseille Contract 1974
as Jacques Brizard
Great Expectations 1974
as Magwitch
The MacKintosh Man 1973
as Sir George Wheeler
The Last of Sheila 1973
as Philip Dexter
The Reformation: Age of Revolt 1973
as Narrator
John Keats: His Life and Death 1973
as Narrator
Child's Play 1972
as Jerome Malley
Home, James 1972
as Self
The Wind in the Wires 1972
as Narrator
Kill! 1971
as Alan Hamilton
Bad Man's River 1971
as Francisco Paco Montero
Cold Sweat 1970
as Captain Ross
Spring and Port Wine 1970
as Rafe Crompton
Age of Consent 1969
as Bradley Morahan, Producer
The Sea Gull 1968
as Trigorin
The London Nobody Knows 1968
as Himself - Narrator
Mayerling 1968
as Franz Joseph I of Austria
Duffy 1968
as Charles Calvert
Stranger in the House 1967
as John Sawyer
The Deadly Affair 1967
as Charles Dobbs
Georgy Girl 1966
as James Leamington
The Blue Max 1966
as General Count von Klugermann
Uncertain Verification 1965
as (archive footage)
The Uninhibited 1965
as Pascal Regnier
Genghis Khan 1965
as Kam Ling
Lord Jim 1965
as Gentleman Brown
The Pumpkin Eater 1964
as Bob Conway
The Fall of the Roman Empire 1964
as Timonides
Torpedo Bay 1963
as Captain Blayne
Hero's Island 1962
as Jacob Weber
Tiara Tahiti 1962
as Captain Brett Aimsley
Lolita 1962
as Prof. Humbert Humbert
Escape from Zahrain 1962
as Johnson
Theatre 62: Rebecca 1962
as Maxim de Winter
The Marriage-Go-Round 1961
as Paul Delville
John Brown's Raid 1960
as John Brown
The Trials of Oscar Wilde 1960
as Edward Carson
Playhouse 90: The Hiding Place 1960
as Hans Frick
A Touch of Larceny 1960
as Cmdr. Max Easton
Journey to the Center of the Earth 1959
as Oliver Lindenbrook
North by Northwest 1959
as Phillip Vandamm
The Decks Ran Red 1958
as Capt. Edwin Rummill
Cry Terror! 1958
as Jim Molner
- The Thundering Wave
The Thundering Wave 1957
as Sidney Lowe
Island in the Sun 1957
as Maxwell Fleury
Bigger Than Life 1956
as Ed Avery, Producer, Additional Writing
Forever, Darling 1956
as Guardian Angel
20,000 Leagues Under the Sea 1954
as Captain Nemo
The Star of Bethlehem 1954
as Himself, Director, Producer
A Star Is Born 1954
as Norman Maine
Prince Valiant 1954
as Sir Brack
- The Child
The Child 1954
Director
The Tell-Tale Heart 1953
as Narrator
The Man Between 1953
as Ivo Kern
Charade 1953
as The Murderer / Maj. Linden / Jonah Watson, Producer, Writer
Julius Caesar 1953
as Brutus
The Story of Three Loves 1953
as Charles Coutray
The Desert Rats 1953
as Field Marshal Erwin von Rommel
Botany Bay 1952
as Capt. Paul Gilbert
The Prisoner of Zenda 1952
as Rupert of Hentzau
Face to Face 1952
as The Captain
Ellis in Freedomland 1952
as The Refrigerator (voice)
5 Fingers 1952
as Ulysses Diello
Lady Possessed 1952
as Jimmy Del Palma, Screenplay, Producer
The Desert Fox: The Story of Rommel 1951
as Field Marshal Erwin Rommel
Pandora and the Flying Dutchman 1951
as Hendrick van der Zee
One Way Street 1950
as Dr. Frank Matson
East Side, West Side 1949
as Brandon Bourne
The Reckless Moment 1949
as Martin Donnelly
Madame Bovary 1949
as Gustave Flaubert
Caught 1949
as Larry Quinada
The Upturned Glass 1947
as Michael Joyce, Producer
Odd Man Out 1947
as Johnny McQueen
The Wicked Lady 1945
as Captain Jerry Jackson
The Seventh Veil 1945
as Nicholas Cunningham
They Were Sisters 1945
as Geoffrey Lee
A Place of One's Own 1945
as Henry Smedhurst
Hotel Reserve 1944
as Peter Vadassy
Fanny by Gaslight 1944
as Lord Manderstoke
Candlelight in Algeria 1944
as Alan Thurston
They Met in the Dark 1943
as Richard Francis Heritage
The Man in Grey 1943
as Lord Rohan
The Bells Go Down 1943
as Ted Robbins
Thunder Rock 1942
as Streeter
Secret Mission 1942
as Raoul de Carnot
Alibi 1942
as Andre Laurent
The Night Has Eyes 1942
as Stephen Deremid
Hatter's Castle 1942
as Dr. Renwick
The Patient Vanishes 1941
as Mick Cardby
- The Circle
The Circle 1939
as Edward Luton
The Miser 1939
as Valere - In love with Elise
I Met a Murderer 1939
as Mark Warrow, Story
- Bees on the Boat-Deck
Bees on the Boat-Deck 1939
as Robert Patch
- The Moon in the Yellow River
The Moon in the Yellow River 1938
as Darrell Blake
- Cyrano de Bergerac
Cyrano de Bergerac 1938
as Christian de Neuvillette
Return of the Scarlet Pimpernel 1937
as Jean Tallien
The High Command 1937
as Capt. Heverell
- Catch as Catch Can
Catch as Catch Can 1937
as Robert Leyland
Fire Over England 1937
as Hillary Vane
The Mill on the Floss 1937
as Tom Tulliver
The Secret of Stamboul 1936
as Larry
Twice Branded 1936
as Henry Hamilton
- Blind Man's Bluff
Blind Man's Bluff 1936
as Stephen Neville
Prison Breaker 1936
as 'Bunny' Barnes
- Troubled Waters
Troubled Waters 1936
as John Merriman
Late Extra 1935
as Jim Martin
Credits from TMDB.