Sebastian Shaw
Acting • Born 1905-05-29 – Died 1994-12-23
Biography
Sebastian Lewis Shaw was an English actor, director, novelist, playwright and poet. During his 65-year career, he appeared in dozens of stage performances and more than 40 film and television productions. Shaw was born and brought up in Holt, Norfolk, and made his acting debut at age eight at a London theatre. He studied acting at Gresham's School and the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art. Although he worked primarily on the London stage, he made his Broadway debut in 1929, when he played one of the two murderers in Rope's End. He appeared in his first film, Caste, in 1930 and quickly began to create a name for himself in films. He described himself as a "rotten actor" as a youth and said his success was primarily due to his good looks. He claimed to mature as a performer only after returning from service in the Royal Air Force during World War II. Shaw was particularly known for his performances in productions of Shakespeare plays which were considered daring and ahead of their time. In 1966, he joined the Royal Shakespeare Company, where he remained for a decade and delivered some of his most acclaimed performances. He also wrote several poems and a novel, The Christening, in 1975.
Filmography
54 credits
Return of the Jedi
Movie • 1983
Anakin Skywalker
Jury's Evidence
Movie • 1936
Philip
It Happened Here
Movie • 1966
Dr. Richard Fletcher
A Bit of Singing and Dancing
Movie • 1982
Uncle Cecil
The Spy in Black
Movie • 1939
Ashington
High Season
Movie • 1987
Sharp
Men Are Not Gods
Movie • 1936
Edmund Davey
The Squeaker
Movie • 1937
Frank Sutton
The Ace of Spades
Movie • 1935
Trent
A Midsummer Night's Dream
Movie • 1968
Quince
The Glass Mountain
Movie • 1949
Bruce McLeod
Julius Caesar
Movie • 1938
Marcus Brutus
Three Silent Men
Movie • 1940
Sir James Quentin
The Flying Squad
Movie • 1940
Inspector Bradley
Department Store
Movie • 1935
John Goodman Johnson
Timon of Athens
Movie • 1981
Old Athenian
Jack B. Yeats: Associated Memories 1871-1957
Movie • 1985
Yeats (voice)
Prison Without Bars
Movie • 1939
Tomorrow We Live
Movie • 1936
Eric Morton
East of Piccadilly
Movie • 1941
Tamsie Green
All's Well That Ends Well
Movie • 1968
King of France
Farewell Again
Movie • 1937
Capt. Gilbert Reed
The Master Builder
Movie • 1988
Knut Brovik
Brewster's Millions
Movie • 1935
Frank
The Story of Star Wars
Movie • 2004
Anakin Skywalker (archive footage)
Caste
Movie • 1930
Hon. George d'Alroy
Landfall
Movie • 1949
Wing Commander Dickens
Birds of a Feather
Movie • 1936
Jack Wortle
Adventure Ltd.
Movie • 1935
Bruce Blandford
Three Witnesses
Movie • 1935
Roger Truscott
A Choice of Evils
Movie • 1977
Abbot General
The Weather in the Streets
Movie • 1983
Mr. Curtis
Laxdale Hall
Movie • 1953
Hugh Marvell, M.P.
Now You're Talking
Movie • 1940
Charles Hampton
Journey Together
Movie • 1945
Squadron Leader Marshall
Chernobyl: The Final Warning
Movie • 1991
Grandpa
The Lad
Movie • 1935
Jimmy
The Way of Youth
Movie • 1935
Lieut. Alan Marmon
Fothergill
Movie • 1981
Crusty Old Party
Liza
Movie • 1978
Carl Fiodorich
Monkey Boy
Movie • 1992
Dr. Liawski
Little Miss Nobody
Movie • 1933
Pat Carey
Walk's End
Movie • 1966
Major Gregory
Rumpole of the Bailey
TV • 1975
Mr. Justice Skelton
The Great War
TV • 1964
Dead of Night
TV • 1972
Powys Jubb
The Old Curiosity Shop
TV • 1979
Grandfather
Casualty
TV • 1986
Charles Howlett
Reilly: Ace of Spies
TV • 1983
Reverend Thomas
Chimera
TV • 1991
Dr. Liawski
Playhouse
TV • 1974
Crusty Old Party
BBC2 Play of the Week
TV • 1977
Carl Fiodorich
Theatre 625
TV • 1964
Out of the Unknown
TV • 1965
Major Gregory