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Sebastian Shaw

Sebastian Shaw

Birthday: 1905-05-29 | Place of Birth: Norfolk, England, UK

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.

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Known For

Acting

Year
Title

Role

1987
High Season

as    Sharp

1983
Return of the Jedi

as    Anakin Skywalker

1966
It Happened Here

as    Doctor Richard 'Dick' Fletcher

1953
Laxdale Hall

as    Hugh Marvell, M.P.

1949
Landfall

as    Wing Commander Dickens

1940
The Flying Squad

as    Inspector Bradley

1939
The Spy in Black

as    Ashington

1937
The Squeaker

as    Frank Sutton

1935
Department Store

as    John Goodman Johnson