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James Mason

James Mason (May 15, 1909-1984) was an actor born in Yorkshire, England who attained stardom in both British and American films. He studied at Cambridge before working at the Old Vic theatre in London and with the Gate Company in Dublin. From 1935 to 1949 he starred in many British quota quickies. In 1949 he made his first Hollywood film, Caught, and then went on to star in many more feature films and TV shows. Nominated three times for an Oscar, he never won one.

Mason's distinctive voice enabled him to play a menacing villain as much as his good looks assisted him as a leading man. His roles include the failing actor in the 1954 version of A Star is Born, an IRA activist in Odd Man Out (1946), and a gangster in North by Northwest 1959.

Mason died as a result of a heart attack on July 27, 1984 in Lausanne, Switzerland. He was cremated, his ashes eventually buried in, Corsier-Sur-Vevey, Vaud, Switzerland. His old friend Charlie Chaplin is in a tomb a few steps away.


Note: This profile was written in or before 2003.

James Mason Facts

Birth NameJames Neville Mason
OccupationActor
BirthdayMay 15, 1909
SignTaurus
BirthplaceYorkshire, England, United Kingdom
Date of deathJuly 27, 1984 (age 75)
Height5' 11" (1m80)  How tall is James Mason compared to you?
Awards1955 Golden Globe Awards: Best Actor in a Motion Picture - Comedy or Musical (for A Star is Born)

Selected Filmography

Pink Floyd (1982)
Apocalypse Now (1979)
Apocalypse Now Redux (1979)
Heaven Can Wait (1978)
The Boys From Brazil (1978)
Jesus of Nazareth (1977) tv-mini
Thoroughly Modern Millie (1967)
Journey to Center of the Earth (1959)
North By Northwest (1959)
20,000 Leagues Under The Sea (1954)
The Man in Grey (1946)
The Wicked Lady (1944)
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