Robert Newton
Acting • Born 1905-06-01 – Died 1956-03-25
Biography
Robert Newton was one of the great character actors -- and great characters -- of the British cinema, best remembered today for playing Long John Silver in Treasure Island (1950) and its sequel in 1954. His portrayal of Long John Silver and of Blackbeard, the Pirate (1952) created a persona that was so indelible that his vocal intonations created the paradigm for scores of people who want to "Talk Like a Pirate." The performance overshadows Newton's legacy, which is based on many first-rate performances in such movies as This Happy Breed (1944), Odd Man Out (1947) and Oliver Twist (1948), where his Bill Sykes is truly chilling. Oliver Reed, who played Sykes in the Oscar-winning movie musical Oliver! (1968) was influenced by Newton.
Filmography
49 credits
Around the World in 80 Days
Movie • 1956
Mr. Fix
Oliver Twist
Movie • 1948
Bill Sykes
Kiss the Blood Off My Hands
Movie • 1948
Harry Carter
Fire Over England
Movie • 1937
Don Pedro
Long John Silver
Movie • 1954
Long John Silver
Treasure Island
Movie • 1950
Long John Silver
Jamaica Inn
Movie • 1939
James "Jem" Trehearne
The Green Cockatoo
Movie • 1937
Dave Connor
Dead Men Are Dangerous
Movie • 1939
Aylmer Franklyn
Night Boat to Dublin
Movie • 1946
Capt. David Grant
Obsession
Movie • 1949
Dr. Clive Riordan
The Desert Rats
Movie • 1953
Tom Bartlett
Tom Brown's Schooldays
Movie • 1951
Thomas Arnold
Odd Man Out
Movie • 1947
Lukey
Major Barbara
Movie • 1941
Bill Walker
The High and the Mighty
Movie • 1954
Gustave Pardee
Androcles and the Lion
Movie • 1952
Ferrovius
This Happy Breed
Movie • 1944
Frank Gibbons
Hatter's Castle
Movie • 1942
James Brodie
Temptation Harbour
Movie • 1947
Bert Mallinson
They Flew Alone
Movie • 1942
Jim Mollison
Waterfront
Movie • 1950
Peter McCabe
Blackbeard, the Pirate
Movie • 1952
Blackbeard
Snowbound
Movie • 1948
Derek Engles
Les Miserables
Movie • 1952
Etienne Javert
Busman's Honeymoon
Movie • 1940
Frank Crutchley
The Squeaker
Movie • 1937
Larry Graeme
Vessel of Wrath
Movie • 1938
The Controleur
Soldiers Three
Movie • 1951
Pvt. Bill Sykes
The Epic That Never Was
Movie • 1969
Cassius, Captain of Caligula's guard (archive footage; uncredited)
The Beachcomber
Movie • 1954
Ted Wilson
Poison Pen
Movie • 1939
Sam Hurrin
21 Days
Movie • 1940
Tolly
Gaslight
Movie • 1940
Ullswater
Hell's Cargo
Movie • 1939
Cmdr. Tomasou
Farewell Again
Movie • 1937
Jim Carter
Henry V
Movie • 1944
Ancient Pistol
Channel Incident
Movie • 1940
Tanner
Dark Journey
Movie • 1937
Officer of U-Boat
The Wonderful World of Disney
TV • 1954
General Electric Theater
TV • 1953
Alfred Hitchcock Presents
TV • 1955
Peter J. Goodfellow
Lux Video Theatre
TV • 1950
Mr. Fishkettle
Schlitz Playhouse of Stars
TV • 1951
John Lindsey, the Baker
Climax!
TV • 1954
Keith Dorrant
Schlitz Playhouse of Stars
TV • 1951
Simon Mantle
Lux Video Theatre
TV • 1950
Philip Marshall
Jingle All the Way! Christmas Stories Vol. 2
TV • 1957
The Adventures of Long John Silver
TV • 1957
Long John Silver