Known for:	The Adventures of Robin Hood, The Woman in Green, Terror by Night
Birth name:	Philip St. John Basil Rathbone
Birthday:	13 June 1892, Johannesburg, South Africa
Height:	6' 1½" (1.87 m)

Was best known for playing suave villains in period swashbuckler films, such as The Adventures of Robin Hood and Captain Blood. He is credited with creating the definitive screen interpretation of Sherlock Holmes, his only rival generally conceded to be Jeremy Brett's interpretation of the fictional detective. Adopted daughter, with Bergère, Cynthis (b.1939 d.1969) Interred at Ferncliff Cemetery, Hartsdale, New York, USA. Nominated for a Best Supporting Actor Oscar twice, and lost both times to the very same actor, Walter Brennan. Distant cousin of Maj. Henry Rathbone, who was part of President Abraham Lincoln's theater party the night Lincoln was assassinated. Maj. Rathbone himself was stabbed by John Wilkes Booth as the latter was escaping, but the wound was not fatal. Maj. Rathbone later married Clara Harris, who was also in the Lincoln party, but he murdered her in a jealous rage in 1875 and spent the rest of his life in an insane asylum. Portrayed the title character on Blue (1939-1942) and Mutual (1943-1946) Radio's "The New Adventures of Sherlock Holmes." Tony Award winner as Best Actor for his performance as Dr. Sloper in the original Broadway production of "The Heiress". Son, with Foreman, actor John Rodion. Cousin of actor/manager Sir Frank R. Benson. Won Broadway's 1948 Tony Award as Best Actor (Dramatic) for his performance as Dr. Sloper in the original Broadway production of "The Heiress". The award was shared with Henry Fonda for "Mister Roberts" and Paul Kelly for "Command Decision." Was so frequently typecast as a villain, he literally jumped at the first few opportunities he ever got to play Sherlock Holmes because "for once, I got to beat the bad guy instead of play him." Indeed, he played the legendary, heroic detective more than any other character in his career. By 1946, he had become so sick of the role that he quit his Sherlock Holmes film series and temporarily returned to the Broadway stage. Considered to be the greatest swordsman in Hollywood history, superior even to his frequent on-screen foe, Errol Flynn. In his sound films, with the exception of his Sherlock Holmes's character and a few others, his roles were usually that of the nasty, though sophisticated, villain. Fought in the British army during World War I, and was awarded the Military Cross for bravery under fire. His final appearance as Holmes was in a play written by his wife Ouida Bergère, appropriately titled "Sherlock Holmes." The production opened on Broadway on October 30, 1953 and lasted only three performances. He is considered the greatest swordsman in Hollywood history, superior even to on-screen foes, Errol Flynn and 'Tyrone Power '. However, because he was so frequently cast as the villain, he won only one on-screen sword fight in his career - as Tybalt in Romeo and Juliet - for which he earned an Oscar nomination. His last on-screen duel (filmed when the actor was 63 years old) was with Danny Kay in '_The Court Jester _'. It is considered by some the best sword fight ever filmed.

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