List of actors who have played Sherlock Holmes
Sherlock Holmes is the most portrayed literary human character in film and television history, having appeared on screen 254 times as of 2012.[1] Additionally, many actors have portrayed Sherlock Holmes in audio dramas and stage productions.
Radio and audio dramas
Stage plays
Name
Title
Date
Type and location
C.H.E. Brookfield
Under the Clock [27]
1893
Stage (Royal Court Theatre )
John Webb
Sherlock Holmes [28]
1894
Stage (Royalty Theatre, Glasgow )
William Gillette
Sherlock Holmes
1899
Stage (Broadway )
The Painful Predicament of Sherlock Holmes [29]
1905
Stage (Metropolitan Opera House )
John F. Preston
The Bank of England: An Adventure in the Life of Sherlock Holmes [30]
1900
Stage (Clapham )
Clarence Blakiston
Sheerluck Jones, or Why D’Gillette Him Off [31]
1901–1902
Stage (Terry's Theatre )
Walter Edwards
The Sign of the Four [29]
1903
Stage (West End Theater )
Herbert Kelcey
Sherlock Holmes
1903
Stage (Broadway Theatre, Butte, Montana) Stage (Spokane Theatre, Spokane, Washington)
Harry Arthur Saintsbury
Sherlock Holmes
1903–1910
Stage (London )
The Speckled Band [32]
1910
Stage (London)
Kenneth Rivington
Sherlock Holmes [33]
1904–1905
Stage (UK tour)
H. Lawrence Leyton
Sherlock Holmes [34]
1905–1906
Stage (UK tour)
Károly Baumann
Sherlock Hohmec, the King of Detectives
1905
Stage (Hungary )
Arthur V. Johnson
The Burglar and the Lady [35]
1905–1906
Stage (US)
H. Hamilton Stewart
Sherlock Holmes [36]
1906–1918
Stage (England)
Ferdinand Bonn
Sherlock Holmes [37]
1906
Stage (Berliner Theatre)
Der Hund Von Baskerville [37]
1907
Stage (Berliner Theatre)
Dennis Neilson-Terry
The Crown Diamond [38]
1921
Stage (London)
Eille Norwood
The Return of Sherlock Holmes [39]
1923
Stage (UK)
Hamilton Deane
Sherlock Holmes [40]
1923–1932
Stage (UK)
Tod Slaughter
The Return of Sherlock Holmes
1928
Stage (England)
Felix Aylmer
The Holmeses of Baker Street [39]
1933
Stage (Lyceum Theatre )
Tod Slaughter
Sherlock Holmes
1930 (~)
Stage
Basil Rathbone
"Sherlock Holmes" by Ouida Bergère [41]
1953
Stage play
Fritz Weaver
Baker Street [42]
1965
Stage musical (Broadway Theatre, NYC)
John Neville
Sherlock Holmes [43]
1973 (~)
Stage (Royal Shakespeare Company )
John Wood
Sherlock Holmes
1974–1976
Stage (Broadway )
Leonard Nimoy
Sherlock Holmes
1976
Stage (Royal Shakespeare Company )
Frank Langella
Sherlock Holmes [44]
1977, 1981
Stage (Williamstown Theater Festival ), filmed for TV in 1981
Sherlock's Last Case [45]
1987
Stage (Nederlander Theatre )
Paxton Whitehead
The Crucifer of Blood
1978
Stage (Broadway )
Keith Michell
The Crucifer of Blood
1979
Stage (London)
Valentīns Skulme
Šerloks Holmss
1979
Stage (Latvia )
Keith Baxter
The Penultimate Problem of Sherlock Holmes [46]
1980
Stage (Off-Broadway )
Murder Dear Watson [47]
1983
Stage (UK)
Paul Singleton
Grit in a Sensitive Instrument
1980, 1982
Stage (regional theatre, Off-Broadway ), cable TV
The Blue Carbuncle
2007–2008
Stage (Off Broadway, Los Angeles)
Charlton Heston
The Crucifer of Blood
1981
Stage (Los Angeles)
Sherlock's Last Case
1990
Stage (Broadway )
Tom Baker
The Mask of Moriarty [48]
1985
Stage (Dublin )
Alec Baldwin
A Study in Scarlet [49]
1987
Stage (The Free Theatre, Williamstown Theatre Festival )
Jeremy Brett
The Secret of Sherlock Holmes
1988–1989
Stage (touring, British)
Time Winters
Sherlock Holmes and the Hands of Othello
1987
Stage (Off-Off Broadway, NY)
Ron Moody
Sherlock Holmes: The Musical
1989
Stage
Christopher Lloyd
Sherlock Holmes [50]
1990
Stage (The Weston Playhouse)
Javier Marzan
The Hound of the Baskervilles [51]
2007
Stage (West Yorkshire Playhouse )
Julien Masdoua
Le Cabaret Sherlock Holmes
2013
Stage (France)
Benjamin Lawlor
The Hound of the Baskervilles
2013
Stage (UK)
Simon Michael Morgan
Sherlock Holmes and the Case of the Christmas Carol
2013
Stage (Britain)
Gregory Wooddell
Baskerville: A Sherlock Holmes Mystery [52]
2015
Arena Stage in Southwest, Washington, D.C.
Euan Morton
Baskerville: A Sherlock Holmes Mystery [53]
2015
Old Globe Theatre in San Diego , California
Paul Andrew Goldsmith
Sherlock Holmes & the Case of the Christmas Carol [54]
2015–2016
UK theatre tour
Jay Taylor
Baskerville: A Sherlock Holmes Mystery [55]
2017–2018
Liverpool Playhouse
Luke Barton
Sherlock Holmes – The Sign of Four [56]
2018–2019
UK theatre tour[57]
Collin Conway
The Hound of the Baskervilles
2022
Stage (Encore Center Threatre, Southern Pines, NC, USA)
Danny Richter
Sherlock Holmes und der Hund der Baskervilles [58]
2023–2025
European theatre tour[59]
Television and DTV films
Television series
Theatrical films
Video games
Actors who have played both Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson
A small number of actors have played both Holmes and Watson, including Reginald Owen who played Watson in Sherlock Holmes (1932) and Holmes in A Study in Scarlet (1933);[78] [79] Jeremy Brett , who played Watson on stage in the United States prior to adopting the mantle of Holmes on British television;[80] Howard Marion-Crawford , who played Holmes on British radio and Watson on American television; Carleton Hobbs , who played both roles in British radio adaptations;[81] and Patrick Macnee , who played both roles in US television movies.[82]
See also
References
^ "Sherlock Holmes awarded title for most portrayed literary human character in film & TV" . Guinness World Records. 2012. Retrieved 18 September 2015 .
^ Dickerson, Ian (2019). Sherlock Holmes and His Adventures on American Radio . BearManor Media. p. 6. ISBN 978-1629335087 .
^ a b c Allen Eyles (1986). Sherlock Holmes: A Centenary Celebration . Harper & Row. pp. 132 –133. ISBN 0-06-015620-1 .
^ a b Pointer, Michael (1975). The Public Life of Sherlock Holmes . Drake. p. 176. ISBN 0-87749-725-7 .
^ a b c De Waal, Ronald Burt (1974). The World Bibliography of Sherlock Holmes . Bramhall House. p. 382. ISBN 0-517-217597 .
^ Redmond, Christopher (2009). Sherlock Holmes Handbook: Second Edition . Dundurn. p. 229. ISBN 9781459718982 .
^ "Sherlock Holmes (1955 Radio Series) John Gielgud & Ralph Richardson" . Internet Archive . Retrieved 18 December 2017 .
^ De Waal, Ronald Burt (1974). The World Bibliography of Sherlock Holmes . Bramhall House. pp. 411–412. ISBN 0-517-217597 .
^ Eyles, Alan (1986). Sherlock Holmes: A Centenary Celebration . Harper & Row . pp. 139 . ISBN 0-06-015620-1 .
^ a b c Payton, Gordon; Grams, Martin Jr. (2015). The CBS Radio Mystery Theater: An Episode Guide and Handbook to Nine Years of Broadcasting, 1974–1982 . McFarland & Company. pp. 199, 216, 235, 370, 393. ISBN 9780786492282 .
^ Eyles, Alan (1986). Sherlock Holmes: A Centenary Celebration . Harper & Row . pp. 140 . ISBN 0-06-015620-1 .
^ "Sherlock Holmes v Dracula" . BBC Radio 4 Extra . 2020. Retrieved 1 April 2020 .
^ a b Johnson, Roger; Upton, Jean (2012). The Sherlock Holmes Miscellany . The History Press. p. 86. ISBN 9780752483474 .
^ "The Hound of the Baskervilles: 1: The Baskerville Curse" . BBC Genome: Radio Times . BBC. Retrieved 30 July 2020 .
^ Redmond, Christopher (2009). Sherlock Holmes Handbook: Second Edition . Dundurn. pp. 231–232. ISBN 9781459718982 .
^ "The Unopened Casebook of Sherlock Holmes: The Battersea Worm" . BBC Genome: Radio Times . BBC. Retrieved 17 November 2020 .
^ Big Finish – 1.02 Sherlock Holmes – The Death and Life
^ Big Finish – 1.01 Sherlock Holmes – The Last Act
^ – Big Finish – Sherlock Holmes
^ "Sherlock Holmes The Sign of the Four Part" . Retrieved 31 December 2023 .
^ "The Hound of the Baskervilles" . LATW . L. A. Theatre Works. 2017. Retrieved 4 April 2020 .
^ "Mrs Hudson's Radio Show: Cast & Crew" . British Comedy Guide . Retrieved 1 December 2020 .
^ "Sherlock Holmes: The Voice of Treason" . Audible . 2020. Retrieved 24 March 2020 .
^ "The Hound of the Baskervilles" . Audible . 2021. Retrieved 31 May 2022 .
^ "Moriarty" . Audible . 2022. Retrieved 20 October 2022 .
^ "Sherlock & Co: the mystery podcast Gen Z is hooked on" . The Sunday Times . Retrieved 15 May 2024 .
^ Kabatchnik, Amnon (2008). Sherlock Holmes on the Stage . Scarecrow Press. p. 33. ISBN 9781461707226 .
^ Kabatchnik, Amnon (2008). Sherlock Holmes on the Stage . Scarecrow Press. pp. 34–35. ISBN 9781461707226 .
^ a b Pointer, Michael (1975). The Public Life of Sherlock Holmes . Drake. p. 126. ISBN 0-87749-725-7 .
^ Pointer, Michael (1975). The Public Life of Sherlock Holmes . Drake. pp. 21–22. ISBN 0-87749-725-7 .
^ Clarence Blakiston on Historical & Fictional Characters in Sherlockian Pastiches – Sherlockian Theatre
^ Eyles, Alan (1986). Sherlock Holmes: A Centenary Celebration . Harper & Row . pp. 52–53 . ISBN 0-06-015620-1 .
^ Anthony, Barry (2012). Chaplin's Music Hall: The Chaplins and their Circle in the Limelight . I. B. Tauris & Co. p. 175.
^ Pointer, Michael (1976). The Sherlock Holmes File . Clarkson N. Potter, Inc. pp. 30–31. ISBN 0-517-52560-7 .
^ Kabatchnik, Amnon (2008). Sherlock Holmes on the Stage: A Chronological Encyclopedia of Plays Featuring the Great Detective . Scarecrow Press. p. 49. ISBN 9781461707226 .
^ Conan Doyle, Sir Arthur ; Klinger, Leslie S. (2005). The New Annotated Sherlock Holmes, Vol. 1 . W. W. Norton & Company . p. xxxiv. ISBN 0-7394-5304-1 .
^ a b Pointer, Michael (1975). The Public Life of Sherlock Holmes . Drake. pp. 126–127. ISBN 0-87749-725-7 .
^ Eyles, Alan (1986). Sherlock Holmes: A Centenary Celebration . Harper & Row . p. 131 . ISBN 0-06-015620-1 .
^ a b Pointer, Michael (1975). The Public Life of Sherlock Holmes . Drake. p. 131. ISBN 0-87749-725-7 .
^ Pointer, Michael (1975). The Public Life of Sherlock Holmes . Drake. p. 121. ISBN 0-87749-725-7 .
^ Pointer, Michael (1975). The Public Life of Sherlock Holmes . Drake. p. 90. ISBN 0-87749-725-7 .
^ Pointer, Michael (1975). The Public Life of Sherlock Holmes . Drake. pp. 132–133. ISBN 0-87749-725-7 .
^ Kabatchnik, Amnon (2008). Sherlock Holmes on the Stage . Scarecrow Press. p. 18. ISBN 9781461707226 .
^ O'Connor, John (19 November 1981). "HBO offers Sherlock Holmes" . The New York Times . Retrieved 2 January 2018 .
^ Rich, Frank (21 August 1987). "Stage: Langella In 'Sherlock's Last' " . The New York Times . Retrieved 2 January 2018 .
^ Kabatchnik, Amnon (2012). Blood on the Stage, 1975–2000: Milestone Plays of Crime, Mystery, and Detection : an Annotated Repertoire . Rowman & Littlefield . p. 98. ISBN 9780810883543 .
^ "USH Volume 4, Section X K -- Actors, Performances, and Recordings: Plays (continued)" . University of Minnesota Libraries . Retrieved 31 December 2020 .
^ Eyles, Allen (1986). Sherlock Holmes: A Centenary Celebration . Harper & Row . pp. 141 . ISBN 0-06-015620-1 .
^ "STUDY IN SCARLET, A" . wtfestival.org . Retrieved 22 August 2023 .
^ "SHERLOCK HOLMES (PLAY 1990) WITH CHRISTOPHER LLOYD)" . The Arthur Conan Doyle Encyclopedia . Retrieved 22 August 2023 .
^ Hickling, Alfred (27 January 2007). "The Hound of the Baskervilles" . The Guardian . Retrieved 2 January 2018 .
^ Wren, Celia (18 January 2015). " 'Baskerville: A Sherlock Holmes Mystery' charges into Arena Stage" . The Washington Post . Retrieved 26 December 2017 .
^ Verini, Bob (3 August 2015). "Regional Theater Review: 'Baskerville,' Ken Ludwig's Sherlock Tale" . Variety . Retrieved 26 December 2017 .
^ "Sherlock Holmes and the Case of the Christmas Carol 2015" . Baroque Theatre Company. Retrieved 18 December 2017 .
^ "Baskerville – A Sherlock Holmes Mystery" . Liverpool Playhouse . Retrieved 2 January 2018 .
^ Smith, Lawrence (6 December 2018). "Sherlock Holmes – The Sign of Four: Deception and danger in a new stage adaptation" . West Sussex County Times. Retrieved 6 December 2018 .
^ "Sherlock Holmes: The Sign Of Four – Touring the UK from September 2018" . Blackeyed Theatre Company. Retrieved 6 December 2018 .
^ "3 Schauspieler in 18 Rollen in Sherlock Holmes" . Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger. 31 March 2023. Retrieved 31 March 2023 .
^ "Sherlock Holmes und der Hund der Baskervilles" . Motown Theater. Retrieved 22 May 2022 .
^ Haining, Peter (1994). The Television Sherlock Holmes . Virgin Books. pp. 44–47. ISBN 0-86369-793-3 .
^ Haining, Peter (1994). The Television Sherlock Holmes . Virgin Books. p. 51. ISBN 0-86369-793-3 .
^ O'Connor, John (19 November 1981). "TV: H.B.O. OFFERS 'SHERLOCK HOLMES' " . The New York Times . Retrieved 29 December 2018 .
^ Haining, Peter (1994). The Television Sherlock Holmes . Virgin Books. p. 49. ISBN 0-86369-793-3 .
^ Hardy, Phil (1997). The BFI Companion to Crime . A&C Black. p. 171. ISBN 9780304332151 .
^ Kelley, Gordon E. (1994). Sherlock Holmes: Screen and Sound Guide . Scarecrow Press. p. 96. ISBN 9780810828599 .
^ Busch, Caitlin (19 January 2017). "Sherlock Regenerated Into the 12th Doctor on 'Doctor Who' " . Inverse . Retrieved 6 January 2019 .
^ Barnes, Alan (2011). Sherlock Holmes on Screen . Titan Books . pp. 38–39. ISBN 9780857687760 .
^ Pitts, Michael R. (1991). Famous Movie Detectives II . Metuchen, New Jersey: Scarecrow Press. p. 116 . ISBN 978-0810823457 .
^ Allen Eyles (1986). Sherlock Holmes: A Centenary Celebration . Harper & Row . pp. 130 . ISBN 0-06-015620-1 .
^ Barber, Nicholas (9 February 2015). "Film Review: Mr Holmes is a whole new spin on Sherlock" . BBC . Retrieved 18 December 2017 .
^ Pitts, Michael R. (2004). Famous Movie Detectives III . Scarecrow Press. p. 223. ISBN 0810836904 .
^ "Peter Farley Video Game Credits" . MobyGames . 2020. Retrieved 26 March 2020 .
^ "David Ian Davies" . MobyGames . Retrieved 10 July 2020 .
^ "The Lost Files of Sherlock Holmes Credits (3DO)" . MobyGames . Retrieved 10 July 2020 .
^ a b "The Lost Files of Sherlock Holmes: Case of the Rose Tattoo (DOS)" . MobyGames . 2020. Retrieved 26 March 2020 .
^ "Sherlock Holmes" . Behind the Voice Actors . 2020. Retrieved 26 March 2020 .
^ Green, Scott (30 July 2017). "Sherlock Holmes Tries To Solve The Case Of "Fate/Grand Order" Gacha In Latest Event Summoning" . Crunchyroll . Retrieved 26 March 2020 .
^ Eyles, Allen (1986). Sherlock Holmes: A Centenary Celebration . Harper & Row . pp. 84–85 . ISBN 0-06-015620-1 .
^ Bunson, Matthew (1994). Encyclopedia Sherlockiana: an A-to-Z guide to the world of the great detective . Macmillan. p. 255. ISBN 978-0-671-79826-0 .
^ Barnes, Alan (2002). Sherlock Holmes on Screen . Reynolds & Hearn. p. 39. ISBN 1-903111-04-8 .
^ Eyles, Allen (1986). Sherlock Holmes: A Centenary Celebration . Harper & Row . p. 86 . ISBN 0-06-015620-1 .
^ Barnes, Alan (2011). Sherlock Holmes on Screen . Titan Books . p. 76. ISBN 9780857687760 .
Theatrical films
Television/ streaming/ direct-to-video
Films
Ian Richardson Peter O'Toole (animated) Vasily Livanov series Christopher Lee Matt Frewer Ian Hart (as Watson) Other films
Television series
Actors by role
Stage Radio Music Art Comics Games