James Mason

British actor

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Last Updated: May 11, 2025 • Article History

Quick Facts

Born:: May 15, 1909, Huddersfield, Yorkshire, England

Died:: July 27, 1984, Lausanne, Switzerland (aged 75)

Married To:: Clarissa Kaye-Mason (married 1971); Pamela Mason (1941–1964)

Movies/Tv Shows (Acted In):: "Crepa padrone, crepa tranquillo" (1970); "The Trials of Oscar Wilde" (1960); "Beta Som" (1963); "The Sea Gull" (1968); "The Return of the Scarlet Pimpernel" (1937); "Inside Out" (1975); "The Pumpkin Eater" (1964); "Cross of Iron" (1977); "Dr. Kildare" (1965); "La città sconvolta: caccia spietata ai rapitori" (1975); "Catch As Catch Can" (1937); "Stranger in the House" (1967); "Spring and Port Wine" (1970); "Secret Mission" (1942); "Pandora and the Flying Dutchman" (1951); "The Desert Fox: The Story of Rommel" (1951); "Voyage of the Damned" (1976); "The Assisi Underground" (1985); "The Man in Grey" (1943); "Madame Bovary" (1949); "The Blue Max" (1966); "I Met a Murderer" (1939); "Island in the Sun" (1957); "Charade" (1954); "Late Extra" (1935); "Evil Under the Sun" (1982); "Botany Bay" (1952); "11 Harrowhouse" (1974); "The Bells Go Down" (1943); "The Reckless Moment" (1949); "Twice Branded" (1936); "North by Northwest" (1959); "The Doctor and the Devil" (1965); "Alibi" (1942); "El hombre de Río Malo" (1971); "Yellowbeard" (1983); "The Alfred Hitchcock Hour" (1962); "Hatter's Castle" (1942); "The MacKintosh Man" (1973); "Prince Valiant" (1954); "De la part des copains" (1970); "Cry Terror!" (1958); "Fanny by Gaslight" (1944); "The Boys from Brazil" (1978); "Lolita" (1962); "They Met in the Dark" (1943); "Prison Breaker" (1936); "The Last of Sheila" (1973); "Bloodline" (1979); "Mayerling" (1968); "A Touch of Larceny" (1960); "Julius Caesar" (1953); "Caught" (1949); "Lady Possessed" (1952); "Tiara Tahiti" (1962); "Bigger Than Life" (1956); "Murder by Decree" (1979); "ABC Stage 67" (1966); "The Desert Rats" (1953); "Hero's Island" (1962); "Fire Over England" (1937); "Playhouse 90" (1957–1960); "The Verdict" (1982); "Theatre '62" (1962); "The Wicked Lady" (1945); "Panic!" (1957); "Stoney Burke" (1962); "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea" (1954); "General Electric Theater" (1957); "Los pianos mecánicos" (1965); "The Story of Three Loves" (1953); "Troubled Waters" (1936); "The Search for the Nile" (1971); "The Passage" (1979); "Gente di rispetto" (1975); "The Seventh Veil" (1945); "The Secret of Stamboul" (1936); "John Keats: His Life and Death" (1973); "Alle origini della mafia" (1976); "A Dangerous Summer" (1982); "One Way Street" (1950); "The Yin and the Yang of Mr. Go" (1978); "Kill!" (1971); "Jesus of Nazareth" (1977); "The Water Babies" (1978); "Heaven Can Wait" (1978); "Forever, Darling" (1956); "The Mill on the Floss" (1936); "The Decks Ran Red" (1958); "Paura in città" (1976); "The James Mason Show" (1956); "The Prisoner of Zenda" (1952); "Omnibus" (1953); "5 Fingers" (1952); "A Star Is Born" (1954); "A Place of One's Own" (1945); "ITV Play of the Week" (1966); "The Shooting Party" (1985); "East Side, West Side" (1949); "ITV Sunday Night Drama" (1965); "The Fall of the Roman Empire" (1964); "Ellis in Freedomland" (1952); "Autobiography of a Princess" (1975); "Journey to the Center of the Earth" (1959); "The Upturned Glass" (1947); "A.D." (1985); "Candlelight in Algeria" (1944); "They Were Sisters" (1945); "Thunder Rock" (1942); "Age of Consent" (1969); "Socrates" (1982); "The Patient Vanishes" (1941); "The Marseille Contract" (1974); "The Search for Alexander the Great" (1981); "General Electric Summer Originals" (1956); "Georgy Girl" (1966); "Blind Man's Bluff" (1936); "Alexandre" (1983); "North Sea Hijack" (1980); "The High Command" (1937); "Face to Face" (1952); "Golden Showcase" (1962); "The Night Has Eyes" (1942); "Lord Jim" (1965); "The Marriage-Go-Round" (1961); "Appointment with Destiny" (1971); "Child's Play" (1972); "Odd Man Out" (1947); "The DuPont Show with June Allyson" (1960); "Goodyear Theatre" (1959); "The Man Between" (1953); "Mandingo" (1975); "The Deadly Affair" (1967); "Duffy" (1968); "George Washington" (1984); "Schlitz Playhouse of Stars" (1958); "Genghis Khan" (1965); "Hotel Reserve" (1944); "La polizia interviene: ordine di uccidere!" (1975)

Movies/Tv Shows (Directed):: "Telephone Time" (1957)

James Mason (born May 15, 1909, Huddersfield, Yorkshire, England—died July 27, 1984, Lausanne, Switzerland) was a British stage and motion-picture actor best known for his urbane characterizations. During his 50-year acting career, he played in 106 films.

Mason studied architecture before trying for a theatrical career. Following four years as a stage actor, his first film was Late Extra (1935). From then on he became one of the busiest of motion-picture actors. He proved to have great depth as an actor, as shown in The Seventh Veil (1945) and Odd Man Out (1947).

Having expressed dissatisfaction with the British film industry, he began to make motion pictures in the United States, where he again often found himself at odds with the industry establishment. His memorable voice and good looks aided in his development as an actor adept in portraying flawed individuals. He is well remembered for his performances in Madame Bovary (1949), The Desert Fox (1951), Five Fingers (1952), Julius Caesar (1953), A Star Is Born (1954), North by Northwest (1959), Lolita (1962), Georgy Girl (1966), The Boys from Brazil (1978), and The Verdict (1982).

USA 2006 - 78th Annual Academy Awards. Closeup of giant Oscar statue at the entrance of the Kodak Theatre in Los Angeles, California. Hompepage blog 2009, arts and entertainment, film movie hollywood

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