Sebastian Shaw
Acting · Writing
Born May 29, 1905, Holt, Norfolk, England, UK
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
- 2004The Story of Star Wars — Anakin Skywalker (archive footage)
- 1992Monkey Boy — Dr. Liawski
- 1991Chernobyl: The Final Warning — Grandpa
- Chimera — Dr. Liawski
- 1988The Master Builder — Knut Brovik
- 1987High Season — Sharp
- Casualty — Charles Howlett
- 1985Assembled Memories: Jack B. Yeats, 1871-1957 — Yeats (voice)
- Reilly: Ace of Spies — Reverend Thomas
- 1983Return of the Jedi — Anakin Skywalker
- 1983The Weather in the Streets — Mr. Curtis
- 1982A Bit of Singing and Dancing — Uncle Cecil
- 1981Fothergill — Crusty Old Party
- 1981Timon of Athens — Old Athenian
- The Old Curiosity Shop — Grandfather
- 1978Liza — Carl Fiodorich
- 1977A Choice of Evils — Abbot General
- BBC2 Play of the Week — Carl Fiodorich
- Rumpole of the Bailey — Mr. Justice Skelton
- Playhouse — Crusty Old Party
- Village Hall — Ralph Escott
- Dead of Night — Powys Jubb
- 1968A Midsummer Night's Dream — Quince
- 1968All's Well That Ends Well — King of France
- 1966It Happened Here — Dr. Richard Fletcher
- 1966Walk's End — Major Gregory
- Out of the Unknown — Major Gregory
- Thirty-Minute Theatre — The Judge
- The Great War — Various (voice)
- Theatre 625
- Armchair Mystery Theatre — Writer
- 1953Laxdale Hall — Hugh Marvell, M.P.
- 1949Landfall — Wing Commander Dickens
- 1949The Glass Mountain — Bruce McLeod
- 1945Journey Together — Squadron Leader Marshall
- 1941East of Piccadilly — Tamsie Green
- 1940Bulldog Sees It Through
- 1940Now You're Talking — Charles Hampton
- 1940The Flying Squad — Inspector Bradley
- 1940Three Silent Men — Sir James Quentin
- 1939Prison Without Bars
- 1939The Spy in Black — Ashington
- 1938Julius Caesar — Marcus Brutus
- 1937Farewell Again — Capt. Gilbert Reed
- 1937The Squeaker — Frank Sutton
- 1936Birds of a Feather — Jack Wortle
- 1936Jury's Evidence — Philip
- 1936Men Are Not Gods — Edmund Davey
- 1936Tomorrow We Live — Eric Morton
- 1935Adventure Ltd. — Bruce Blandford
- 1935Brewster's Millions — Frank
- 1935Department Store — John Goodman Johnson
- 1935The Ace of Spades — Trent
- 1935The Lad — Jimmy
- 1935The Way of Youth — Lieut. Alan Marmon
- 1935Three Witnesses — Roger Truscott
- 1933Little Miss Nobody — Pat Carey
- 1930Caste — Hon. George d'Alroy