Actor. Though he is mainly a stage actor, he appeared in forty films and television productions from 1930 to 1994. Born in Norfolk, England in 1905 he first appeared on stage as a child in 1913, moving up to lead roles by the late 1920s. In 1930 he made his first film appearance in "Caste". His most notable film roles of this period were as an aspirant actor opposite Miriam Hopkins and Rex Harrison in "Men Are Not Gods" in 1936; as a crime suspect in another Korda production, "The Squeaker" in 1937; and a role opposite Conrad Veidt and Valerie Hopson in Michael Powell's "The Spy in Black" in 1939. In the 1960s he made an appearance in Kevin Brownlow and Andrew Mollo's inspired "It Happened Here" in 1966, made in semi-documentary style showing Britons getting by during a Nazi persecution. Mostly stage and television work followed after that film. In 1982, Sebastian Shaw was approached by George Lucas to make an appearance in the final installment of the Star Wars Trilogy: "Star Wars Episode VI - Return of the Jedi" in 1983 of where he played 'Darth Vader' unmasked and the disembodied spirit of 'Anakin Skywalker' in the final moments of the film. The rest of his career was spent playing illustrious elderly gent roles such as the art critic 'Mr. Sharpe' in "High Season" in 1987. Shaw made his final appearance in 1994 in an episode of the television series "The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes". He died age 89, in December of that year. His ashes were retained by family until 2007, when they were scattered over the grave of his daughter, Drusilla Mary MacLeod, at Brighton's Bear Road Cemetery in 2007.
Actor. Though he is mainly a stage actor, he appeared in forty films and television productions from 1930 to 1994. Born in Norfolk, England in 1905 he first appeared on stage as a child in 1913, moving up to lead roles by the late 1920s. In 1930 he made his first film appearance in "Caste". His most notable film roles of this period were as an aspirant actor opposite Miriam Hopkins and Rex Harrison in "Men Are Not Gods" in 1936; as a crime suspect in another Korda production, "The Squeaker" in 1937; and a role opposite Conrad Veidt and Valerie Hopson in Michael Powell's "The Spy in Black" in 1939. In the 1960s he made an appearance in Kevin Brownlow and Andrew Mollo's inspired "It Happened Here" in 1966, made in semi-documentary style showing Britons getting by during a Nazi persecution. Mostly stage and television work followed after that film. In 1982, Sebastian Shaw was approached by George Lucas to make an appearance in the final installment of the Star Wars Trilogy: "Star Wars Episode VI - Return of the Jedi" in 1983 of where he played 'Darth Vader' unmasked and the disembodied spirit of 'Anakin Skywalker' in the final moments of the film. The rest of his career was spent playing illustrious elderly gent roles such as the art critic 'Mr. Sharpe' in "High Season" in 1987. Shaw made his final appearance in 1994 in an episode of the television series "The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes". He died age 89, in December of that year. His ashes were retained by family until 2007, when they were scattered over the grave of his daughter, Drusilla Mary MacLeod, at Brighton's Bear Road Cemetery in 2007.
Bio by: Adam J.
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