James Mason

from Huddersfield, Yorkshire, England, UK

Artwork for Heaven Can WaitImage of James Mason

Biography

James Neville Mason, known as James Mason, was an accomplished English actor who made a significant impact on both British and American cinema. He was born on May 15, 1909, in Huddersfield, Yorkshire, England, and passed away on July 27, 1984, in Lausanne, Switzerland.

Mason's acting career began in the 1930s, where he initially gained recognition for his stage performances in London's West End. He made his film debut in 1935 with the British film "Late Extra," marking the start of his illustrious on-screen journey.

Throughout his career, Mason showcased his exceptional acting abilities, often portraying complex and morally ambiguous characters. His commanding presence, distinctive voice, and versatile range allowed him to effortlessly transition between genres, from dramas to thrillers and even period pieces.

One of Mason's most acclaimed performances came in 1945 when he starred as the troubled and enigmatic Johnny McQueen in the film "Odd Man Out." His portrayal of the wounded Irish nationalist earned him widespread praise and established him as a respected leading man.

Mason's notable filmography includes memorable roles in films such as "The Wicked Lady" (1945), "Pandora and the Flying Dutchman" (1951), "A Star Is Born" (1954), "North by Northwest" (1959), and "Lolita" (1962). His ability to bring depth, sophistication, and complexity to his characters captivated audiences and garnered critical acclaim.

Beyond his film career, Mason also dabbled in producing and directing. He co-produced and starred in the acclaimed film "A Star Is Born," showcasing his multifaceted talent and creative vision.

Throughout his life, Mason was recognized with numerous awards and nominations, including three Academy Award nominations for Best Actor. He was highly regarded by his peers and critics alike for his impeccable craft and his ability to elevate any production he was a part of.

Timeline

2020Aged 111

  • Poster for Kubrick by Kubrick

    Self (archive footage)

2019Aged 110

  • Poster for Churchill and the Movie Mogul

    Self (archive footage)

  • Poster for Sid & Judy

    Self (archive footage)

2016Aged 107

  • Poster for Bob the Builder: Building Sky High

    Writer

2012Aged 103

  • Poster for Lasseter's Bones

    Archival Footage

2011Aged 102

  • Poster for Passion & Poetry: Sam Peckinpah's War

    In Memory Of

2009Aged 100

  • Poster for Hollywood Singing and Dancing: A Musical History - The 1950s: The Golden Era of the Musical

    Self (archive)

2000Aged 91

  • Poster for Sir John Mills' Moving Memories

    Self (archive footage)

1995Aged 86

  • Poster for Roger Moore: A Matter of Class

    Self (archive footage)

1991Aged 82

  • Poster for Halloween Monster Bash

    Stephen Deremid (archive footage)

1985Aged 76

  • Poster for The Shooting Party

    Sir Randolph Nettleby

  • Poster for The Assisi Underground

    Bishop Nicolini

1984Aged 75

1983Aged 74

  • Poster for Alexandre

    The Father

  • Poster for The Popes and Their Art

    Presentor

  • Poster for Group Madness

    Self

  • Poster for Yellowbeard

    Captain Hughes

  • Poster for Don't Eat the Pictures: Sesame Street at the Metropolitan Museum of Art

    Demon

1982Aged 73

  • Poster for The Making of Agatha Christie's 'Evil Under the Sun'

    Self / Odell Gardener

  • Poster for Ivanhoe

    Isaac of York

  • Poster for Evil Under the Sun

    Odell Gardener

  • Poster for Night of 100 Stars

    Self

  • Poster for The Glory of the Garden

    Narrator

  • Poster for A Dangerous Summer

    George Engels

  • Poster for The Verdict

    Ed Concannon

1980Aged 71

  • Poster for North Sea Hijack

    Admiral Brindsen

1979Aged 70

  • Poster for Murder by Decree

    Dr. Watson

  • Poster for The Passage

    Professor Bergson

  • Poster for Bloodline

    Sir Alec Nichols

1978Aged 69

  • Poster for The Water Babies

    Mr. Grimes / Voice of Killer Shark

  • Poster for Heaven Can Wait

    Mr. Jordan

  • Poster for The Boys from Brazil

    Eduard Seibert

1977Aged 68

  • Poster for Cross of Iron

    Oberst Brandt

  • Poster for Homage to Chagall: The Colours of Love

    Narrator - English version

1976Aged 67

1975Aged 66

  • Poster for Mandingo

    Warren Maxwell

  • Poster for Kidnap Syndicate

    Filippini

  • Poster for The Left Hand of the Law

    Senatore Leandri

  • Poster for Autobiography of a Princess

    Cyril Sahib

  • Poster for Inside Out

    Ernst Furben

  • Poster for The Flower in His Mouth

    Avv. Antonio Bellocampo

1974Aged 65

  • Poster for Great Expectations

    Magwitch

  • Poster for The Marseille Contract

    Jacques Brizard

  • Poster for Frankenstein: The True Story

    Dr. John Polidori

  • Poster for 11 Harrowhouse

    Charles D. Watts

  • Poster for The Yin and the Yang of Mr. Go

    Y.Y. Go

1973Aged 64

  • Poster for John Keats: His Life and Death

    Narrator

  • Poster for The Reformation: Age of Revolt

    Narrator

  • Poster for The Last of Sheila

    Philip Dexter

  • Poster for The MacKintosh Man

    Sir George Wheeler

1972Aged 63

  • Poster for The Wind in the Wires

    Narrator

  • Poster for Home, James

    Self

  • Poster for Child's Play

    Jerome Malley

1971Aged 62

  • Poster for Bad Man's River

    Francisco Paco Montero

  • Poster for Kill!

    Alan Hamilton

1970Aged 61

  • Poster for Spring and Port Wine

    Rafe Crompton

  • Poster for Cold Sweat

    Captain Ross

1969Aged 60

  • Poster for Age of Consent

    Bradley Morahan

1968Aged 59

  • Poster for Duffy

    Charles Calvert

  • Poster for Mayerling

    Franz Joseph I of Austria

  • Poster for The London Nobody Knows

    Himself - Narrator

  • Poster for The Sea Gull

    Trigorin

1967Aged 58

  • Poster for The Deadly Affair

    Charles Dobbs

  • Poster for Stranger in the House

    John Sawyer

1966Aged 57

  • Poster for The Blue Max

    General Count von Klugermann

  • Poster for Georgy Girl

    James Leamington

1965Aged 56

  • Poster for Lord Jim

    Gentleman Brown

  • Poster for Genghis Khan

    Kam Ling

  • Poster for The Uninhibited

    Pascal Regnier

  • Poster for Uncertain Verification

    (archive footage)

1964Aged 55

  • Poster for The Fall of the Roman Empire

    Timonides

  • Poster for The Pumpkin Eater

    Bob Conway

1963Aged 54

  • Poster for Torpedo Bay

    Captain Blayne

1962Aged 53

  • Poster for Theatre 62: Rebecca

    Maxim de Winter

  • Poster for Escape from Zahrain

    Johnson

  • Poster for Lolita

    Prof. Humbert Humbert

  • Poster for Tiara Tahiti

    Captain Brett Aimsley

  • Poster for Hero's Island

    Jacob Weber

1961Aged 52

  • Poster for The Marriage-Go-Round

    Paul Delville

1960Aged 51

  • Poster for A Touch of Larceny

    Cmdr. Max Easton

  • Poster for Playhouse 90: The Hiding Place

    Hans Frick

  • Poster for The Trials of Oscar Wilde

    Edward Carson

  • Poster for John Brown's Raid

    John Brown

1959Aged 50

  • Poster for North by Northwest

    Phillip Vandamm

  • Poster for Journey to the Center of the Earth

    Sir Oliver S. Lindenbrook

1958Aged 49

  • Poster for Cry Terror!

    Jim Molner

  • Poster for The Decks Ran Red

    Capt. Edwin Rummill

1957Aged 48

1956Aged 47

  • Poster for Forever, Darling

    Guardian Angel

  • Poster for Bigger Than Life

    Ed Avery

1954Aged 45

  • Poster for Prince Valiant

    Sir Brack

  • Poster for A Star Is Born

    Norman Maine

  • Poster for The Star of Bethlehem

    Himself

  • Poster for 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea

    Captain Nemo

  • The Child

    Director

1953Aged 44

  • Poster for The Desert Rats

    Field Marshal Erwin von Rommel

  • Poster for The Story of Three Loves

    Charles Coutray

  • Poster for Julius Caesar

    Brutus

  • Poster for Charade

    The Murderer / Maj. Linden / Jonah Watson

  • Poster for The Man Between

    Ivo Kern

  • Poster for The Tell-Tale Heart

    Narrator

1952Aged 43

  • Poster for Lady Possessed

    Jimmy Del Palma

  • Poster for 5 Fingers

    Ulysses Diello

  • Poster for Ellis in Freedomland

    The Refrigerator (voice)

  • Poster for Face to Face

    The Captain

  • Poster for The Prisoner of Zenda

    Rupert of Hentzau

  • Poster for Botany Bay

    Capt. Paul Gilbert

1951Aged 42

  • Poster for Pandora and the Flying Dutchman

    Hendrick van der Zee

  • Poster for The Desert Fox: The Story of Rommel

    Field Marshal Erwin Rommel

1950Aged 41

  • Poster for One Way Street

    Dr. Frank Matson

1949Aged 40

  • Poster for Caught

    Larry Quinada

  • Poster for Madame Bovary

    Gustave Flaubert

  • Poster for The Reckless Moment

    Martin Donnelly

  • Poster for East Side, West Side

    Brandon Bourne

1947Aged 38

  • Poster for Odd Man Out

    Johnny McQueen

  • Poster for The Upturned Glass

    Michael Joyce

1945Aged 36

  • Poster for A Place of One's Own

    Henry Smedhurst

  • Poster for They Were Sisters

    Geoffrey Lee

  • Poster for The Seventh Veil

    Nicholas Cunningham

  • Poster for The Wicked Lady

    Captain Jerry Jackson

1944Aged 35

  • Poster for Candlelight in Algeria

    Alan Thurston

  • Poster for Fanny by Gaslight

    Lord Manderstoke

  • Poster for Hotel Reserve

    Peter Vadassy

1943Aged 34

  • Poster for The Bells Go Down

    Ted Robbins

  • Poster for The Man in Grey

    Lord Rohan

  • Poster for They Met in the Dark

    Richard Francis Heritage

1942Aged 33

  • Poster for Hatter's Castle

    Dr. Renwick

  • Poster for The Night Has Eyes

    Stephen Deremid

  • Poster for Alibi

    Andre Laurent

  • Poster for Secret Mission

    Raoul de Carnot

  • Poster for Thunder Rock

    Streeter

1941Aged 32

  • Poster for The Patient Vanishes

    Mick Cardby

1939Aged 30

1938Aged 29

1937Aged 28

1936Aged 27

1935Aged 26

  • Poster for Late Extra

    Jim Martin