Actor. One of the screen's most memorable heavies. Born in London, he made his stage debut in 1914 and served in the British Army during World War I. He began appearing on Broadway in the late 1920s and settled in Hollywood in 1934. Daniell's shark-like eyes, thin slash of a mouth, and haughty delivery made him a natural to play suave, cold-blooded villains, especially in period costume. He dueled to the death with Errol Flynn in "The Sea Hawk" (1940), made the title character's life a misery in "Jane Eyre" (1944), and matched wits with Sherlock Holmes as Professor Moriarty in "The Woman in Green" (1945). His nearly 100 other films include "Camille" (1937), "Marie Antoinette" (1938), "The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex" (1939), "The Great Dictator" (1940), "The Body Snatcher" (1945), "The Man in the Gray Flannel Suit" (1956), "Lust for Life" (1956), and "Witness for the Prosecution" (1957). He was also active in television. Daniell died of a heart attack hours after filming the ballroom scene in "My Fair Lady" (1964).
Actor. One of the screen's most memorable heavies. Born in London, he made his stage debut in 1914 and served in the British Army during World War I. He began appearing on Broadway in the late 1920s and settled in Hollywood in 1934. Daniell's shark-like eyes, thin slash of a mouth, and haughty delivery made him a natural to play suave, cold-blooded villains, especially in period costume. He dueled to the death with Errol Flynn in "The Sea Hawk" (1940), made the title character's life a misery in "Jane Eyre" (1944), and matched wits with Sherlock Holmes as Professor Moriarty in "The Woman in Green" (1945). His nearly 100 other films include "Camille" (1937), "Marie Antoinette" (1938), "The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex" (1939), "The Great Dictator" (1940), "The Body Snatcher" (1945), "The Man in the Gray Flannel Suit" (1956), "Lust for Life" (1956), and "Witness for the Prosecution" (1957). He was also active in television. Daniell died of a heart attack hours after filming the ballroom scene in "My Fair Lady" (1964).
Bio by: Bobb Edwards
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