Denis Shaw
Acting • Born 1921-04-07 – Died 1971-02-28
Biography
Douglas "Denis" Findlay Shaw (7 February 1921 – 28 February 1971) was a British character actor who specialized in portraying villains. Shaw was born in Dulwich on 7 February 1921. In the 1950s and 1960s, he was frequently cast as villains in films and television shows, most notably as the German guard Priem in The Colditz Story (1955), as well as a number of British horror films including Jack the Ripper (1959), The Mummy (1959) and The Curse of the Werewolf (1961). He was cast in the leading role of The Great Van Robbery (1959) as the judo-throwing Interpol detective Caesar Smith. Shaw's television credits include The Adventures of Robin Hood, The Avengers, Danger Man, Dixon of Dock Green, The Prisoner, Sherlock Holmes and Z-Cars. Shaw died from a heart attack in London on 28 February 1971, at the age of 50. A familiar face around the bars of Soho in London, he is mentioned in Keith Waterhouse's play Jeffrey Bernard Is Unwell.
Filmography
48 credits
The Man Who Could Cheat Death
Movie • 1959
Tavern Customer
The Weapon
Movie • 1956
Groggins
The Depraved
Movie • 1957
Inspector O'Flynn
The Deadly Affair
Movie • 1967
Wolfe - Publican
The Pirates of Blood River
Movie • 1962
Silver (uncredited)
Who Done It?
Movie • 1956
Professor Stumpf
The Great Van Robbery
Movie • 1959
Caesar Smith
Innocent Meeting
Movie • 1959
Uncle
House of Blackmail
Movie • 1953
Bassett
Ticket to Paradise
Movie • 1961
Giuseppe
Soapbox Derby
Movie • 1958
Lender
The File of the Golden Goose
Movie • 1969
Vance
Let's Be Happy
Movie • 1957
Fat Man in Train Corridor (uncredited)
The Long Memory
Movie • 1953
Shaw (uncredited)
Seven Thunders
Movie • 1957
Fat German Soldier
Naked Fury
Movie • 1959
Captain Horst
Nothing Barred
Movie • 1961
Convict
A Woman Possessed
Movie • 1958
Bishop
Jack the Ripper
Movie • 1959
Simes
Beyond the Curtain
Movie • 1960
Krumm
The Prisoner
Movie • 1955
Plainclothesman (uncredited)
The Colditz Story
Movie • 1955
Priem
The Criminal
Movie • 1960
Taxi Customer at Racetrack (uncredited)
Forbidden Cargo
Movie • 1954
Ship's Cook
The Viking Queen
Movie • 1967
Osiris
Girdle of Gold
Movie • 1952
Choirmaster
Passport to Shame
Movie • 1958
Mac
The Mummy
Movie • 1959
Mike
The Night We Got the Bird
Movie • 1960
Wolfie's Stooge
The Magnificent Six and ½: Kontiki Kids
Movie • 1968
Nasty Workman
The Magnificent Six and ½: It's Not Cricket
Movie • 1969
Heavyset Workman
Carry On Regardless
Movie • 1961
Sinister Passenger (uncredited)
Port Afrique
Movie • 1956
Grila
Links of Justice
Movie • 1958
Prosecuting Counsel
The Curse of the Werewolf
Movie • 1961
Gaoler
The Prisoner
TV • 1967
Shopkeeper
The Avengers
TV • 1961
Murray
The Adventures of Robin Hood
TV • 1955
Butcher
Sherlock Holmes
TV • 1964
The Adventures of the Scarlet Pimpernel
TV • 1955
Biggs
Bright's Boffins
TV • 1970
International Detective
TV • 1959
Horse Carlucci
Stryker of the Yard
TV • 1961
International Detective
TV • 1959
Victor Prado
Londoners
TV • 1965
Louie
The Misfit
TV • 1970
Aircraft Passenger
Theatre 625
TV • 1964
Matvei
The Mind of Mr. J.G. Reeder
TV • 1969
Wu Tong