Basil Rathbone
An English actor whose razor-sharp voice and aristocratic bearing made him the definitive Sherlock Holmes for generations of filmgoers.
1892–1967 (age 75)·English actor·Birthday: June 13·The Lost Generation
Biography
Basil Rathbone was born in Johannesburg to British parents and educated in England. He served with distinction in World War I, receiving the Military Cross for his bravery. He first made his name on the London stage, particularly in Shakespearean roles, bringing a commanding presence and a precise, eloquent voice to every part. Hollywood called in the 1930s, where he excelled in swashbuckling villains, most memorably opposite Errol Flynn in 'The Adventures of Robin Hood.' Yet his legacy was cemented in 1939 when he first donned the deerstalker in 'The Hound of the Baskervilles.' Over fourteen films, his Holmes—incisive, energetic, and impeccably logical—became the standard. Though the role typecast him, he continued stage and radio work, his voice remaining an instrument of singular authority until his death.
The Lost Generation
1883–1900
Came of age during World War I. Disillusioned by the carnage, they rejected the certainties of the Victorian era and built modernism from the wreckage — in art, literature, and politics.
Basil was born in 1892, placing them squarely in The Lost Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Basil Was Born
The biggest hits of 1892
Basil's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1892Born
President: Benjamin Harrison
1897Started school
President: William McKinley
1905Became a teenager
Einstein publishes the theory of special relativity
President: Theodore Roosevelt
1908Could drive
Ford Model T goes into production
President: Theodore Roosevelt
1910Could vote
Halley's Comet makes its closest approach
President: William Howard Taft
1913Turned 21
The Federal Reserve is established
President: Woodrow Wilson
1922Turned 30
King Tut's tomb discovered in Egypt
President: Warren G. Harding"April Showers" — Al Jolson
1932Turned 40
Amelia Earhart flies solo across the Atlantic
Gas: $0.18/galPresident: Herbert Hoover"Night and Day" — Fred AstaireBest Picture: Grand Hotel
1942Turned 50
Battle of Midway turns the tide in the Pacific
Gas: $0.20/galHome: $3,175Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"White Christmas" — Bing CrosbyBest Picture: Mrs. Miniver
1952Turned 60
Queen Elizabeth II ascends the throne
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $8,350Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Blue Tango" — Leroy AndersonBest Picture: The Greatest Show on Earth
1962Turned 70
Cuban Missile Crisis brings the world to the brink
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $12,800Min wage: $1.15/hrPresident: John F. Kennedy"Stranger on the Shore" — Acker BilkBest Picture: Lawrence of Arabia
1967Died at 75
Summer of Love in San Francisco; first Super Bowl
Gas: $0.33/galHome: $14,250Min wage: $1.40/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"To Sir, with Love" — LuluBest Picture: In the Heat of the Night
Key Achievements
- Portrayed Sherlock Holmes in 14 films between 1939 and 1946, defining the character for the cinema.
- Won a Military Cross for his service with the Liverpool Scottish in World War I.
- Earned two Academy Award nominations for Best Supporting Actor for 'Romeo and Juliet' and 'If I Were King.'
- Starred as the villainous Sir Guy of Gisbourne in the classic 'The Adventures of Robin Hood.'
- Had a successful career as a Shakespearean stage actor in London's West End before moving to Hollywood.
Did You Know?
He was a champion fencer and performed many of his own sword-fighting scenes in films.
He provided the voice of Sherlock Holmes in a popular radio series that ran for many years.
He released several spoken word albums of horror stories and poetry.
He was a direct descendant of the 11th-century English nobleman William the Conqueror's sister.
He served as the president of the American Shakespeare Festival in the 1950s.
“Elementary, my dear Watson.”
