Basil Rathbone Cause of Death: How the Legendary Actor Passed Away
Basil Rathbone was one of the most celebrated actors of his time, best known for his portrayal of Sherlock Holmes in 14 Hollywood films and a radio series. He also starred in many costume dramas, swashbucklers, and horror films, earning two Oscar nominations and three stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. But how did Basil Rathbone, known for his portrayal of Sherlock Holmes in 14 Hollywood films and a radio series, died suddenly at the age of 75 from a heart attack. Rathbone was born in Johannesburg, South Africa, in 1892 and his mother was a violinist. He began his acting career at Repton School in Derbyshire before moving to Hollywood in 1929 to pursue a film career. His most iconic role was that of Holmes in The Hound of the Baskervilles and The Adventures of Holmes. He was nominated for two Academy Awards for Best Supporting Actor for his roles as Tybalt in Romeo and Juliet and King Louis XI in If I Were King. He also voiced Holmes in a radio show from 1939 to 1946.
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Basil Rathbone was one of the most celebrated actors of his time, best known for his portrayal of Sherlock Holmes in 14 Hollywood films and a radio series. He also starred in many costume dramas, swashbucklers, and horror films, earning two Oscar nominations and three stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. But how did this versatile and talented actor die? Here is a brief overview of his life and death.
Basil Rathbone was born in Johannesburg, South Africa, on June 13, 1892, to British parents. His father was a mining engineer and his mother was a violinist. When he was three years old, his family fled to Britain after his father was accused of being a spy by the Boers during the Jameson Raid. Rathbone attended Repton School in Derbyshire, where he excelled at sports and developed an interest in theater. He made his stage debut in 1911 with his cousin Frank Benson’s Shakespearean company, playing various roles such as Paris in Romeo and Juliet and Lysander in A Midsummer Night’s Dream.
His acting career was interrupted by World War I, in which he served as a second lieutenant in the Liverpool Scottish Regiment. He was wounded in the leg by machine gun fire and received the Military Cross for bravery. After the war, he resumed his stage career, appearing in London and Broadway productions of Shakespeare and other plays. He also made his film debut in 1921 in a silent film called Innocent.
In 1929, Rathbone moved to Hollywood to pursue a film career. He soon became famous for playing suave villains or morally ambiguous characters in films such as Captain Blood, David Copperfield, A Tale of Two Cities, Anna Karenina, The Last Days of Pompeii, The Adventures of Robin Hood, Tower of London, and The Mark of Zorro. He was nominated for two Academy Awards for Best Supporting Actor for his roles as Tybalt in Romeo and Juliet and King Louis XI in If I Were King.
However, his most iconic role was that of Sherlock Holmes, the brilliant detective created by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Rathbone first played Holmes in 1939 in The Hound of the Baskervilles and The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes. He then starred in 12 more films as Holmes from 1942 to 1946, alongside Nigel Bruce as Dr. Watson. He also voiced Holmes in a radio series from 1939 to 1946. Rathbone’s portrayal of Holmes was widely praised and influenced many subsequent actors who played the character.
After playing Holmes for seven years, Rathbone grew tired of being typecast as the detective and wanted to explore other roles. He left Hollywood and returned to Broadway, where he won a Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play for The Heiress in 1948. He also appeared in some television shows and films, such as Casanova’s Big Night, We’re No Angels, The Court Jester, The Black Sleep, The Comedy of Terrors, and Hillbillys in a Haunted House.
Rathbone died suddenly of a heart attack on July 21, 1967, at the age of 75. He was staying at a friend’s apartment in New York City while preparing for a play called The Physicists. He collapsed after having breakfast and was pronounced dead at Roosevelt Hospital. He was cremated and his ashes were interred at Ferncliff Cemetery in Hartsdale, New York.
Basil Rathbone was survived by his second wife Ouida Bergère, whom he married in 1926, and his three children: Rodion (from his first marriage to Ethel Marian Foreman), Cynthia (adopted), and John (from Ouida’s previous marriage). He also had two grandchildren: Dounia (Rodion’s daughter) and Julian Gilbey (Cynthia’s son).
Basil Rathbone was a legendary actor who left behind a legacy of memorable performances. He is widely regarded as one of the best actors to play Sherlock Holmes and one of the greatest screen villains of all time. His life and death are part of the history of cinema and theater.