Sebastian Shaw
Biography
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.
Personal Details
Also Known As
Movies (40)
The Story of Star Wars
as Anakin Skywalker (archive footage)
2004
Monkey Boy
as Dr. Liawski
1992
Chernobyl: The Final Warning
as Grandpa
1991
The Master Builder
as Knut Brovik
1988
High Season
as Sharp
1987
Jack B. Yeats: Associated Memories 1871-1957
as Yeats (voice)
1985
The Weather in the Streets
as Mr. Curtis
1983
Return of the Jedi
as Anakin Skywalker
1983
A Bit of Singing and Dancing
as Uncle Cecil
1982
Timon of Athens
as Old Athenian
1981
Fothergill
as Crusty Old Party
1981
Liza
as Carl Fiodorich
1978
A Choice of Evils
as Abbot General
1977
A Midsummer Night's Dream
as Quince
1968
All's Well That Ends Well
as King of France
1968
It Happened Here
as Dr. Richard Fletcher
1966
Laxdale Hall
as Hugh Marvell, M.P.
1953
Landfall
as Wing Commander Dickens
1949
The Glass Mountain
as Bruce McLeod
1949
Journey Together
as Squadron Leader Marshall
1945
East of Piccadilly
as Tamsie Green
1941
The Flying Squad
as Inspector Bradley
1940
Three Silent Men
as Sir James Quentin
1940
Now You're Talking
as Charles Hampton
1940
The Spy in Black
as Ashington
1939
Prison Without Bars
1939
Julius Caesar
as Marcus Brutus
1938
The Squeaker
as Frank Sutton
1937
Farewell Again
as Capt. Gilbert Reed
1937
Men Are Not Gods
as Edmund Davey
1936
Tomorrow We Live
as Eric Morton
1936
Birds of a Feather
as Jack Wortle
1936
Jury's Evidence
as Philip
1936
Department Store
as John Goodman Johnson
1935
The Way of Youth
as Lieut. Alan Marmon
1935
Adventure Ltd.
as Bruce Blandford
1935
Three Witnesses
as Roger Truscott
1935
The Lad
as Jimmy
1935
The Ace of Spades
as Trent
1935
Brewster's Millions
as Frank
1935
TV Shows (10)
Chimera
as Dr. Liawski
1991
Casualty
as Charles Howlett
1986
Reilly: Ace of Spies
as Reverend Thomas
1983
The Old Curiosity Shop
as Grandfather
1979
BBC2 Play of the Week
as Carl Fiodorich
1977
Rumpole of the Bailey
as Mr. Justice Skelton
1975
Playhouse
as Crusty Old Party
1974
Dead of Night
as Powys Jubb
1972
The Great War
1964
Theatre 625
1964