James Mason is a British actor and Hollywood star. An incredibly charming, intelligent, creative person who has played in more than 145 films during his 50-year career. The actor had a talent for transforming from a lyrical hero to a villain. He could play everything, even the most unsuccessful films with his participation rose to a higher level.
James Neville Mason was born on May 15, 1909 in Huddersfield, West Riding of Yorkshire, England. His parents' names were Mabel Hattersley (Gaunt) and John Mason. The family was wealthy, as my father was a textile dealer. James received his first education at Marlborough, then entered the University of Cambridge to become an architect. At this time, for fun, he became interested in theater and left his studies.
The beginning of a creative career
James Mason played his first role on the stage of a small theater in Aldershot in 1931 in the play "Swindler". He possessed determination, desire and made every effort to become an actor, despite the fact that he did not have an acting training. James played small roles. Over time, theatrical success came to him and they began to trust him with big roles.
In 1935, the first film "Late Extra" was released, where he was engaged in the title role. Subsequently, James Mason began to appear in many British films and television. The roles were secondary, the films were passing. By the early 40s, James Mason had gained popularity and was widely known in England. Films with his participation broke box office records in 1944-1947 in the UK. James Mason became a movie star in his homeland.
Career and filmography of James Mason
In 1945, the movie The Seventh Veil was released, in which the actor played a leading role and received international attention. At the end of 1946, he moved to the United States to pursue a film career.
The actor had a tendency to get any job offered, which affected his career. James Mason was not picky in his choice of roles. Despite this, the actor had the authority and respect of his colleagues. He remained an influential figure in the film industry. His deep, slow voice, strange ability to express emotions in the face of absolute calm, sophisticated behavior of the upper class became the hallmark of the actor who came to watch, whom the audience loved.
The most successful works of the 40s: "In the Hatter's Castle" (1942), where James Mason starred with Deborah Kerr and Robert Newton, as well as "The Man in Gray" (1943), "The Evil Lady" (1945), Out of the Game (1947), Strange Man (1949), Madame Bovary (1949), East Side, West Side (1949).
Highly rated films:
- "Five Fingers", (1952)
- "Julius Caesar", (1953)
- "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea" (1954)
- "More than life" (1956)
- North by Northwest (1959)
- "Journey to the Center of the Earth" (1959)
- "Lolita", (1962)
- "The Fall of the Roman Empire" (1964)
- "The Pumpkin Eater" (1964)
- "Order of the Blue Max", (1966)
- "Iron Cross" (1977)
- "Jesus of Nazareth" mini-series (1977)
- "Transition", (1978)
- "Verdict" (1982)
- "Ivanhoe", (1982)
- "Genghis Khan", (1985).
James Mason has been nominated three times for a high Oscar in his long acting career, but never won the honorary award. These were roles in the films: "The Verdict" in 1983, "Georgie's Girl" in 1967, "A Star is Born" in 1955.
Three times he was nominated for the Golden Globe. In 1955, the actor won this award for Best Actor in the musical comedy A Star is Born. The actor was also nominated for the prestigious Saturn and BAFT awards.
James Mason, in addition to his acting career, was a successful screenwriter (film "Charade", 1953), director and producer. He was a good storyteller and voiced documentaries and series. James Mason has made a successful career, became a star in Hollywood and Great Britain. He could play any role from hero to villain. His filmography includes dramas, comedies, detective stories, adventures, melodramas, historical films.
Personal life of actor James Mason
The actor was married twice. The first wife was British actress Pamela Mason.
The family had two children. Daughter - Portland Mason Schuyler and son - Morgan. The marriage lasted from 1941 to 1964. The actors got divorced.
The second wife was Clarissa Kay, an actress from Australia.
In 1959, James Mason suffered his first severe heart attack. He survived cardiac arrest.
In 1963, the actor moved to live in Switzerland and continued to act in films.
James Mason was very fond of cats. He and his first wife, Pamela, co-wrote the book Cats in Our Lives, which was published in 1949. In it, the co-authors touchingly and humorously tell about the life of their beloved pets.
The actor died at the age of 75 from a second heart attack on July 27, 1984 in Lausanne, Switzerland. In 2000, 16 years later, his remains were buried in Corsier-sur-Vevey, near the grave of his close friend, English actor Charlie Chaplin.
Interesting facts from the life of James Mason
During World War II, Mason refused to do military service. He was a staunch pacifist, and this attitude influenced his relationship with his family. They haven't spoken for years.
In 1958 it was planned to shoot a James Bond film "From Russia with Love" with Mason, but it did not work out. When the actor was over fifty, he again became a contender for this role in the series "Doctor No". Later, the role of Bond was played by Sean Connery.
Once James Mason saved the life of the son of his friend, British actor Max Bigraves. It happened at a party with friends. The boy fell into the pool. Nobody except Mason noticed this. He, without hesitation, jumped into the water in his clothes and pulled out the child.
