Great English actor of British and American films. Born in Yorkshire, attended Marlborough and Cambridge, where he discovered acting on a lark and abandoned a planned career as an architect. Following work in stock companies, he joined the Old Vic under the guidance of Sir Tyrone Guthrie and of Alexander Korda, who gave Mason at least one small film role in 1933, but fired him a few days into shooting. Mason remained in the theatre becoming a prominent stage actor, meanwhile getting first small, then rapidly larger roles in "quota quickies", minor films made to accommodate laws mandating a certain percentage of films shown in Britain to be British-made. Mason's talent for playing protagonists of a decidedly hard-bitten or melancholy stripe brought him from these minor films to a position as one of Britain's major film stars of the Forties. When, late in that decade, he came to America, he played somewhat more glamorous or heroic roles than he had been accustomed to in Britain, but he remained a dynamic and intelligent force on the screen. His tendency to take any job offered led him to have many unworthy credits on his resume, but throughout his career he remained a respected and powerful figure in the industry. His mellifluous voice and an uncanny ability to suggest rampant emotion beneath a face of absolute calm made him a fascinating performer to watch. He died of a heart attack in 1984 at his home in Switzerland.
He should not be confused with the American actor, Jim Mason, aka James Mason, who appeared in silent films, particularly Westerns in the Twenties and Thirties. He had been considered for the part of Harry Lime in "The Third Man" TV series (1959-60) but 'Michael Rennie (I)' ended up in the role. An avowed pacifist, he refused to perform military service during the Second World War, a stance that caused his family to break with him for many years. Father of Morgan Mason and actress/scriptwriter 'Portland Mason'. Was responsible for getting an unknown actor from New Zealand his first major film role. That actor was Sam Neill. Was scheduled to play James Bond 007 in a 1958 TV adaptation of From Russia with Love, which was ultimately never produced. Later, despite being in his 50s, Mason was a contender to play Bond in Dr. No (1962) before Sean Connery was cast. Turned down the role of Hugo Drax in the 1979 Bond film Moonraker. In 1952 while remodeling his home, he discovered several reels of Buster Keaton's "lost" films (Mason had purchased Keaton's Hollywood mansion) and immediately recognized their historical significance and was responsible for their preservation. Starred with his wife Clarissa Kaye in the original 1979 version of Salem's Lot, although they never appeared together on screen. He was offered the role of Lawyer Crosby (Wendy Hiller) in the 1978 Cat And The Canary Told "Playboy Magazine" in the late 1970s that he hated rock n' roll but loved country music. Can be seen visiting the set of Stanley Kubrick's "The Shining" (1980) in Vivian Kubrick's TV documentary "Making 'The Shining'" (1980). Stanley Kubrick didn't usually allow visitors to his set, but made an exception for Mason, who had memorably played Humbert Humbert for him in "Lolita" (1962). Was the original choice to play Professor Kingsfield in "The Paper Chase" (1973), but had to turn down the role due to poor health. John Houseman, who had acted in only one other movie in a bit part, was cast and won an Oscar. Was rejected by fellow student Alistair Cooke for an acting role whilst at Cambridge. Cooke asked Mason what course he was studying. "Architecture", replied Mason. "Then I think you should finish your degree and forget about acting." advised Cooke, in one of his rare lapses of judgement. Often used by Eddie Izzard in his stand-up comedy routines as the voice of God. Was offered the part of Viktor Komarovsky in Doctor Zhivago by double-Oscar winning director David Lean after Marlon Brando failed to respond to director Lean's written inquiry into whether he wanted to play the role. Mason initially accepted the part. Lean decided on Mason, who was a generation older than Brando, as he did not want an actor who would overpower the character of Yuri Zhivago (specifically, to show Zhivago up as a lover of Lara, who would be played by the young Julie Christie, which the charismatic Brando might have done, shifting the sympathy of the audience). Mason eventually dropped out and Steiger, who had just won the Silver Bear as Best Actor for his role as the eponymous The Pawnbroker, accepted the role.