James Donald Picture
STARmeter
SEE RANK
Up 1,517 this week

James Donald (I) (1917–1993)

Actor

Scottish-born actor James Donald was born in Aberdeen on May 18, 1917, and took his first professional stage bow some time in the late 30s. He finally attained a degree of stardom in 1943 for his sterling performance in Noel Coward's "Present Laughter", which starred Coward himself. Subsequent post-war theatre work included "The Eagle with Two Heads" (1947)... See full bio »

Born:

James Robert MacGeorge Donald
in Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, UK

Died:

(age 76) in West Tytherley, Wiltshire, England, UK
Still of Kirk Douglas and James Donald in Lust for Life
2 photos | 15 videos | 21 news articles »

Quick Links:

Related News

Review: The Great Escape
15 May 2013 9:55 AM, PDT | Comicmix
Giveaway: Win The Great Escape on Blu-ray
10 May 2013 5:11 PM, PDT | MovieWeb
Contest: The Great Escape (1963) Blu-ray: McQueen Absconds with POWs
8 May 2013 1:48 AM, PDT | Film-Book
See all 21 related articles »
Create a list  »

Related Lists

image of name
Best "supporting" actors
a list of 161 people by Tomcsányi Gyula created 07 Nov 2011
 
image of
Legendary Performances
a list of 50 images by dziwnytenswiat created 3 weeks ago
 
image of name
Top 20 Performances of 1953
a list of 20 people by Aunt-Peg created 03 Sep 2011
 
image of name
Golden Age Actors: 1955-1965 (Not In Order)
a list of 340 people by atinc-cakar created 03 Mar 2012
 
image of name
Actors that have worked with Vincente Minnelli
a list of 160 people by jimmy_hamill-997-495389 created 3 months ago
 
See all related lists »

Do you have a demo reel?

Add it to your IMDbPage

Franklin Ojeda Smith - -- "...back in the day the 'barb wire' was more visible" and early on I chose baseball over acting; then academia and not baseball. Now,"...the kids are grown, the dog is dead and now that I may, I choose acting." Please take a look: 1)Boardwalk Empire - Deacon Cuffy 2)Murder Incorporated - Sam Christenson 3)Cayman Went - Aniston Turnkey 4)Letting Go -Therapist 5)Footsteps in the Sand - Jim. Thank You! Franklin

Franklin Ojeda Smith -

Francine Locke Film Reel -- Family Law (Best Actress, Gideon), Stealing Home (Best Supporting Actress-nom.) 168 Project, True Tale Monster (Albert P. Weisman Award), The Discarded (2011 Feature Release).

Francine Locke Film Reel

Melanie Molnar - Reel -- No description provided.

Melanie Molnar - Reel

My Demo Reel -- Includes clips from GLORY DAZE, COMMUNITY and horror film URBAN EXPLORER.

My Demo Reel

David H. Lawrence, XVII - Drama -- On-camera drama reel featuring David H. Lawrence XVII, in scenes from Heroes, The Unit, LOST, and more

David H. Lawrence, XVII - Drama


Find out more at IMDbPro »

Connect with IMDb

Take The Quiz!

Test your knowledge of James Donald.
Nominated for Primetime Emmy. See more awards »

Known For


Show Show all  | 
Show by:
Edit

Filmography

Hide HideActor (54 titles)
1978 The Big Sleep
Inspector Gregory
 
1975 Conduct Unbecoming
The Doctor
 
1969 David Copperfield (TV movie)
Mr. Murdstone
 
1969 Destiny of a Spy (TV movie)
Sir Martin Rolfe
 
1969 The Royal Hunt of the Sun
King Carlos
 
1969 Hannibal Brooks
Padre
 
1967 Saint Joan (TV movie)
Richard Warwick
 
1967 Five Million Years to Earth
Dr. Mathew Roney
 
1967/I The Jokers
Col. Gurney-Simms
 
1966 Cast a Giant Shadow
Maj. Safir
 
1966 Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre (TV series)
Commander John McAuliffe
– The Enemy on the Beach (1966) … Commander John McAuliffe
 
1965 King Rat
Dr. Kennedy
 
1964 Thursday Theatre (TV series)
Edward Chamberlayne
– The Cocktail Party (1964) … Edward Chamberlayne
 
1963 The Great Escape
Ramsey 'The SBO'
 
1963 Ben Casey (TV series)
Dr. Alvin MacKenzie
– A Hundred More Pipers (1963) … Dr. Alvin MacKenzie
 
1963 Pygmalion (TV movie)
Henry Higgins
 
1961 The Dick Powell Theatre (TV series)
Major Frazer
– Three Soldiers (1961) … Major Frazer (as James R.N. Donald)
 
1961 Victoria Regina (TV movie)
Prince Albert
 
1960 The Citadel (TV movie)
Dr. Andrew Manson
 
1959 Play of the Week (TV series)
Priest
– The Power and the Glory (1959) … Priest
 
1959 Third Man on the Mountain
Franz Lerner
 
1958-1959 Alfred Hitchcock Presents (TV series)
Harry Pope / Mark Cavendidge
– The Crystal Trench (1959) … Mark Cavendidge
– Poison (1958) … Harry Pope
 
1958-1959 The DuPont Show of the Month (TV series)
Captain Vere / John Shand / Sydney Carton
– Billy Budd (1959) … Captain Vere
– What Every Woman Knows (1959) … John Shand
– A Tale of Two Cities (1958) … Sydney Carton
 
1959 Playhouse 90 (TV series)
Miles Denshaw
– The Wings of the Dove (1959) … Miles Denshaw
 
1958 The Vikings
Egbert
 
1958 Suspicion (TV series)
Thomason
– The Voice in the Night (1958) … Thomason
 
1957-1958 ITV Play of the Week (TV series)
Dr. Davidson / Will Trenting
– Johnny Belinda (1958) … Dr. Davidson
– Accolade (1957) … Will Trenting
 
1958 Fredric March Presents Tales from Dickens (TV series)
Mr. Jingle
– Pickwick's Dilemma (1958) … Mr. Jingle
– Christmas at Dingley Dell … Mr. Jingle
 
1957 The Bridge on the River Kwai
Major Clipton
 
1956 The Errol Flynn Theatre (TV series)
Andrew
– The Transfer (1956) … Andrew
 
1956 Lust for Life
Theo Van Gogh
 
1956 The Gambler (TV movie)
Alexei Ivanovitch
 
1955 ITV Television Playhouse (TV series)
Napoleon
– Man of Destiny (1955) … Napoleon
 
1955 BBC Sunday-Night Theatre (TV series)
Philip Sturgess
– The River Line (1955) … Philip Sturgess
 
1954 Beau Brummell
Lord Edwin Mercer
 
1953 Project M7
Prof. Michael Heathley
 
1952 The Pickwick Papers
Nathaniel Winkle
 
1952 Glory at Sea
Lt. Richard Jennings, No. 1
 
1952 Brandy for the Parson
Bill Harper
 
1951 White Corridors
Neil Marriner
 
1950 Cage of Gold
Dr Alan Keam
 
1949 The Gay Lady
Lord Digby Landon
 
1949 Edward, My Son
Bronton
 
1949 The Hideout
Murray Byrne
 
1948 Broken Journey
Bill Haverton
 
1944 The Way Ahead
Pvt. Evan Lloyd
 
1943 San Demetrio London
Gunnery Control Officer - H.M.S. Jervis Bay
 
1942 Went the Day Well?
German corporal (uncredited)
 
1942 In Which We Serve
Doc
 
1942 Alibi
Barman (uncredited)
 
1942 One of Our Aircraft Is Missing (uncredited)
 
1942 The Missing Million (as Jim Donald)
 
1939 Twelfth Night (TV movie)
Valentine
 
1937 Daily Round (short)
Man in Top Hat (uncredited)
 
Show ShowArchive Footage (1 title)

Related Videos

Cast a Giant Shadow -- This fact-based drama chronicles Israel's heroic struggle for independence under the leadership of the country's first general (Kirk Douglas). Angie Dickinson, Frank Sinatra, Yul Brynner and John Wayne co-star. Alfred Hitchcock Presents: Season 5: Episode 2 -- A wife (Patricia Owens) heads for the mountain in Switzerland where her husband died while climbing. With James Donald and Frank Holms. The Great Escape -- Clip: Tunnel
See all 15 »
Edit

Personal Details

Other Works:

(Late 1930s) Stage: Appeared in "The Scarlet Pimpernel" (stage debut). See more »

Publicity Listings:

2 Articles  | 1 Magazine Cover Photo  | See more »

Alternate Names:

James R.N. Donald | Jim Donald
Edit

Did You Know?

Trivia:

Played cultivated but humorless gents in large-scale films in both the US and England. See more »

Star Sign:

Taurus