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

• 1969The Epic That Never Was — Cassius, Captain of Caligula's guard (archive footage) (uncredited)
• Jingle All the Way! Christmas Stories Vol. 2
• The Adventures of Long John Silver — Long John Silver
• 1956Around the World in 80 Days — Mr. Fix
• Alfred Hitchcock Presents — Peter J. Goodfellow
• Climax! — Keith Dorrant
• 1954Long John Silver — Long John Silver
• 1954The Beachcomber — Ted Wilson
• 1954The High and the Mighty — Gustave Pardee
• The Wonderful World of Disney
• General Electric Theater
• 1953The Desert Rats — Tom Bartlett
• 1952Androcles and the Lion — Ferrovius
• 1952Blackbeard, the Pirate — Blackbeard
• 1952Les Miserables — Etienne Javert
• Schlitz Playhouse of Stars — John Lindsey, the Baker, Simon Mantle
• 1951Soldiers Three — Pvt. Bill Sykes
• 1951Tom Brown's Schooldays — Thomas Arnold
• Lux Video Theatre — Mr. Fishkettle, Philip Marshall
• 1950Treasure Island — Long John Silver
• 1950Waterfront — Peter McCabe
• 1949Obsession — Dr. Clive Riordan
• 1948Kiss the Blood Off My Hands — Harry Carter
• 1948Oliver Twist — Bill Sykes
• 1948Snowbound — Derek Engles
• 1947Odd Man Out — Lukey
• 1947Temptation Harbour — Bert Mallinson
• 1946Night Boat to Dublin — Capt. David Grant
• 1944Henry V — Ancient Pistol
• 1944This Happy Breed — Frank Gibbons
• 1942Hatter's Castle — James Brodie
• 1942They Flew Alone — Jim Mollison
• 1941Major Barbara — Bill Walker
• 194021 Days — Tolly
• 1940Busman's Honeymoon — Frank Crutchley
• 1940Channel Incident — Tanner
• 1940Gaslight — Ullswater
• 1939Dead Men Are Dangerous — Aylmer Franklyn
• 1939Hell's Cargo — Cmdr. Tomasou
• 1939Jamaica Inn — James "Jem" Trehearne
• 1939Poison Pen — Sam Hurrin
• 1938Vessel of Wrath — The Controleur
• 1938Yellow Sands — Joe Varwell
• 1937Dark Journey — Officer of U-Boat
• 1937Farewell Again — Jim Carter
• 1937Fire Over England — Don Pedro
• 1937I, Claudius — Cassius
• 1937The Green Cockatoo — Dave Connor
• 1937The Squeaker — Larry Graeme

Appearances as themselves (1)

• 2024Walt Disney: Behind the Magic — Self (archive footage)