Actor. He was a highly prolific British-born American motion-picture actor who had a 40-year career. Beginning in silent films in 1912 as a leading man, he made 15 films between 1919 and 1920. He eventually stepped down to less important roles as a character actor with the "talkies." A tall sophisticated-looking gentleman, he often played a Scotsman or horror film character. His best-known horror role is considered that of Henry Jekyll's best friend and confidant, Dr. Lanyon, in Fredric March's 1931 version of "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde." Born Horace Edward Jenner, he appeared in six Sherlock Holmes films, but not in the role of Holmes, and in eight Academy Award-nominated films. He appeared in three films that have been selected for the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically or aesthetically": "The Invisible Man" in 1933, "The Life of Emile Zola" in 1937, "The Adventures of Robin Hood" in 1938. Starting in 1932, he had over two dozen uncredited roles, such as a butler or an unnamed doctor. After 228 roles, his last was the archbishop in the 1952 adventure film "The Brigand."
Actor. He was a highly prolific British-born American motion-picture actor who had a 40-year career. Beginning in silent films in 1912 as a leading man, he made 15 films between 1919 and 1920. He eventually stepped down to less important roles as a character actor with the "talkies." A tall sophisticated-looking gentleman, he often played a Scotsman or horror film character. His best-known horror role is considered that of Henry Jekyll's best friend and confidant, Dr. Lanyon, in Fredric March's 1931 version of "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde." Born Horace Edward Jenner, he appeared in six Sherlock Holmes films, but not in the role of Holmes, and in eight Academy Award-nominated films. He appeared in three films that have been selected for the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically or aesthetically": "The Invisible Man" in 1933, "The Life of Emile Zola" in 1937, "The Adventures of Robin Hood" in 1938. Starting in 1932, he had over two dozen uncredited roles, such as a butler or an unnamed doctor. After 228 roles, his last was the archbishop in the 1952 adventure film "The Brigand."
Bio by: Linda Davis
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