Arthur Wontner

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Arthur Wontner (January 21, 1875 - July 10, 1960) is a British actor best known for playing Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's master detective Sherlock Holmes in 5 films from 1931-1937.

[edit] Sherlock Holmes

Wontner, best known to audiences around the world of film for his role as Sherlock Holmes, appeared as Holmes in five films, beginning with The Sleeping Cardinal in 1931, and concluding with Silver Blaze in 1937. In all, the Wontner-Holmes films are:

• The Sleeping Cardinal (1931) (US title: Sherlock Holmes' Fatal Hour)
• The Missing Rembrandt (1932)
• The Sign of Four (1932)
• The Triumph of Sherlock Holmes (1935)
• Silver Blaze (1937) (US title: Murder at the Baskervilles, release 1941)

Ironically, Wontner landed the role of Sherlock Holmes thanks to his performance of Holmes imitation Sexton Blake in a 1930 stage production.