Basil Rathbone
Basil RathboneBorn to British parents in Johannesburg, South Africa, June 13, 1892, Basil Rathbone fled with his family to England after his father was accused of being a spy during the early years of the Second Boer War.

Rathbone carved out a career as a leading man in theater before transplanting his talents to film and ultimately becoming one of Hollywood's most notorious screen villains in such classics as David Copperfield (1935), The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938) and The Mark of Zorro (1940). But the actor is also fondly remembered for bringing to life one of literature's most beloved sleuths, Sherlock Holmes, in a string of 14 movies that began with The Hound of the Baskervilles and The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes (both 1939).

By the time of Rathbone's death on July 21, 1967, he had collected two Oscar nominations for his supporting work in Romeo and Juliet (1936) and If I Were King (1938).

Featured Movies
  • Sherlock Holmes: In Pursuit to AlgiersSherlock Holmes: In Pursuit to Algiers

    Sleuth Sherlock Holmes (Basil Rathbone) and his faithful sidekick, Dr. Watson (Nigel Bruce), are hired to guide soon-to-be king Nikolas back to his home in Algiers after his father is murdered -- so Nikolas poses as Watson's nephew. Holmes must keep a watchful eye on each passenger of the ocean... Read More

  • Sherlock Holmes: The Woman in GreenSherlock Holmes: The Woman in Green

    Four women are killed and found without their right forefinger, causing Scotland Yard to recruit sleuth Sherlock Holmes (Basil Rathbone) to solve the mysterious case. Holmes tracks the murders to a group of hypnotists and a puzzling but stunning woman named Lydia Marlow (Hillary Brooke). Pretty... Read More

  • Sherlock Holmes in WashingtonSherlock Holmes in Washington

    Sherlock Holmes (Basil Rathbone) tries to recover a top-secret microfilm document hidden in a matchbook by a British secret service agent. When the agent is reported missing after boarding a train to Washington, D.C., Holmes and Dr. Watson (Nigel Bruce) must go to Washington and find the microfilm... Read More

  • Sherlock Holmes and the Spider WomanSherlock Holmes and the Spider Woman

    When several wealthy gamblers are found dead in their beds with no visible sign of forced entry or foul play, it's a case made for the Baker Street sleuth. Sherlock Holmes (Basil Rathbone) and ever-trusty assistant Dr. Watson (Nigel Bruce) investigate these "pajama suicides," and when Holmes meets... Read More

  • The Adventures of Sherlock HolmesThe Adventures of Sherlock Holmes

    Basil Rathbone stars as Sherlock Holmes, who goes head-to-head against his archenemy, Professor Moriarty (George Zucco), who's planning to steal the Star of Delhi gem from the Crown Jewels in this classic Hollywood thriller. To keep the intrepid detective from figuring out his main caper, Moriarty... Read More

All Basil Rathbone Movies
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Tales of Terror (1962)
Edgar Allan Poe's Tales of Terror
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Heartbeat (1946)
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Sherlock Holmes: Prelude to Murder (1946)
Sherlock Holmes in Dressed to Kill
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