Sebastian Shaw
- Acting
- May 29, 1905 · Holt, Norfolk, England, UK
- December 23, 1994
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.
Known for
Filmography
- The Story of Star Wars · Anakin Skywalker (archive footage)
- Monkey Boy · Dr. Liawski
- Chimera · Dr. Liawski
- Chernobyl: The Final Warning · Grandpa
- Chelworth · Lord Toller
- The Master Builder · Knut Brovik
- High Season · Sharp
- Casualty · Charles Howlett
- Theatre Night · Knut Brovik
- Assembled Memories: Jack B. Yeats, 1871-1957 · Yeats (Voice)
- The Weather in the Streets · Mr. Curtis
- Reilly: Ace of Spies · Reverend Thomas
- Return of the Jedi · Anakin Skywalker
- A Bit of Singing and Dancing · Uncle Cecil
- Timon of Athens · Old Athenian
- Fothergill · Crusty Old Party
- The Old Curiosity Shop · Grandfather
- Liza · Carl Fiodorich
- BBC2 Play of the Week · Carl Fiodorich
- A Choice of Evils · Abbot General
- Rumpole of the Bailey · Mr. Justice Skelton
- Village Hall · Ralph Escott
- Playhouse · Crusty Old Party
- Dead of Night · Powys Jubb
- A Midsummer Night's Dream · Quince
- All's Well That Ends Well · King of France
- Walk's End · Major Gregory
- It Happened Here · Dr. Richard Fletcher
- Thirty-Minute Theatre · The Judge
- Out of the Unknown · Major Gregory
- The Great War · Various (Voice)
- Theatre 625
- Armchair Mystery Theatre · Writer
- Laxdale Hall · Hugh Marvell, M.P.
- Landfall · Wing Commander Dickens
- The Glass Mountain · Bruce McLeod
- Journey Together · Squadron Leader Marshall
- East of Piccadilly · Tamsie Green
- The Flying Squad · Inspector Bradley
- Bulldog Sees It Through
- Three Silent Men · Sir James Quentin
- Now You're Talking · Charles Hampton
- The Spy in Black · Ashington
- Prison Without Bars
- Julius Caesar · Marcus Brutus
- The Squeaker · Frank Sutton
- Farewell Again · Capt. Gilbert Reed
- Men Are Not Gods · Edmund Davey
- Tomorrow We Live · Eric Morton
- Birds of a Feather · Jack Wortle
- Jury's Evidence · Philip
- Department Store · John Goodman Johnson
- The Way of Youth · Lieut. Alan Marmon
- Adventure Ltd. · Bruce Blandford
- Three Witnesses · Roger Truscott
- The Lad · Jimmy
- The Ace of Spades · Trent
- Brewster's Millions · Frank
- Little Miss Nobody · Pat Carey
- Caste · Hon. George d'Alroy