
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