Actor
Claude Rains
Born 10 November 1889 · Clapham, London, England, UK — died 30 May 1967
Claude Rains (1889–1967) was an English-born character actor who later became an American citizen. Famed for his distinctive voice, he excelled at charming, morally complicated figures, from the title role in The Invisible Man to Captain Renault in Casablanca. He remains one of Hollywood's finest supporting players.
Key films
The Invisible Man (1933)
His Hollywood debut; he made a star turn of the title role, largely through voice alone.
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939)
As the compromised Senator Joseph Paine, he earned the first of four Oscar nominations.
The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938)
He played the scheming Prince John opposite Errol Flynn in this Technicolor classic.
Casablanca (1943)On Cinespective
His witty, opportunistic Captain Renault is among cinema's most beloved supporting roles.
Notorious (1946)
In Hitchcock's thriller, he gave a sympathetic portrayal of a Nazi conspirator, earning another Oscar nomination.
Key awards
No major awards are documented here; he received four Academy Award nominations for Best Supporting Actor but never won.
On Cinespective
Full filmography · 77
- 1920Build Thy House · as ClarkisActor
- 1933The Invisible Man · as Dr. Jack GriffinActor
- 1934Crime Without Passion · as Lee GentryActor
- 1934The Man Who Reclaimed His Head · as Paul VerinActor
- 1935Scrooge · as Jacob Marley (voice) (uncredited)Actor
- 1935The Clairvoyant · as MaximusActor
- 1935The Mystery of Edwin Drood · as John JasperActor
- 1935The Last Outpost · as John StevensonActor
- 1936Anthony Adverse · as Marquis Don LuisActor
- 1936Hearts Divided · as Napoleon BonaparteActor
- 1936The Making of a Great Motion PictureActor
- 1936Breakdowns of 1936 · as SelfActor
- 1937The Prince and the Pauper · as Earl of HertfordActor
- 1937They Won't Forget · as District Attorney Andrew J. GriffinActor
- 1937Stolen Holiday · as Stefan OrloffActor
- 1937Breakdowns of 1937 · as SelfActor
- 1938The Adventures of Robin Hood · as Prince JohnActor
- 1938Four Daughters · as Adam LempActor
- 1938Gold Is Where You Find It · as Colonel FerrisActor
- 1938White Banners · as Paul WardActor
- 1938Breakdowns of 1938 · as Claude Rains (archive footage) (uncredited)Actor
- 1939Mr. Smith Goes to Washington · as Joseph PaineActor
- 1939They Made Me a Criminal · as Det. Monty PhelanActor
- 1939Juarez · as Emperor Louis Napoleon IIIActor
- 1939Sons of Liberty · as Haym SalomonActor
- 1939Four Wives · as Adam LempActor
- 1939Daughters Courageous · as Jim MastersActor
- 1940The Sea Hawk · as Don José Alvarez de CordobaActor
- 1940Saturday's Children · as Mr. Henry HalevyActor
- 1940Lady with Red Hair · as David BelascoActor
- 1941The Wolf Man · as Sir John TalbotActor
- 1941Here Comes Mr. Jordan · as Mr. JordanActor
- 1941Four Mothers · as Adam LempActor
- 1941Breakdowns of 1941 · as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)Actor
- 1942Now, Voyager · as Dr. JaquithActor
- 1942Moontide · as NutsyActor
- 1942Kings Row · as Alexander TowerActor
- 1942Breakdowns of 1942 · as SelfActor
- 1943Casablanca · as Captain Louis RenaultActor
- 1943Phantom of the Opera · as Erique ClaudinActor
- 1943Forever and a Day · as Ambrose PomfretActor
- 1944Mr. Skeffington · as Job SkeffingtonActor
- 1944Passage to Marseille · as Capt. FreycinetActor
- 1945Caesar and Cleopatra · as Julius CaesarActor
- 1945Strange Holiday · as John StevensonActor
- 1945This Love of Ours · as Joseph TargelActor
- 1946Notorious · as Alexander SebastianActor
- 1946Deception · as Alexander HolleniusActor
- 1946Angel on My Shoulder · as "Nick"Actor
- 1946Blow-Ups of 1946 · as SelfActor
- 1947The Unsuspected · as Victor GrandisonActor
- 1949The Passionate Friends · as Howard JustinActor
- 1949Rope of Sand · as Arthur 'Fred' MartingaleActor
- 1949Song of Surrender · as Elisha HuntActor
- 1950Where Danger Lives · as Mr. LanningtonActor
- 1950The White Tower · as Paul DelambreActor
- 1951Sealed Cargo · as Capt. Henrik SkalderActor
- 1952The Man Who Watched Trains Go By · as Kees PopingaActor
- 1956Lisbon · as Aristides MavrosActor
- 1957The Pied Piper of Hamelin · as Mayor of HamelinActor
- 1957On Borrowed Time · as Mr. BrinkActor
- 1959This Earth Is Mine · as Philippe RambeauActor
- 1959Judgment at Nuremberg · as Judge Dan HaywoodActor
- 1960The Lost World · as Prof. George Edward ChallengerActor
- 1961Battle of the Worlds · as Professor BensonActor
- 1962Lawrence of Arabia · as Mr. DrydenActor
- 1963Twilight of Honor · as Art HarperActor
- 1965The Greatest Story Ever Told · as King HerodActor
- 1979The Horror Show · as (archive footage)Actor
- 1983Hollywood Out-takes and Rare Footage · as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)Actor
- 1987James Stewart: A Wonderful Life · as Self (archive footage)Actor
- 1991Halloween Monster Bash · as Maximus (archive footage)Actor
- 1996Ingrid Bergman Remembered · as Self (archive footage)Actor
- 1999Monster by Moonlight! The Immortal Saga of 'The Wolf Man' · as Self (archive footage)Actor
- 2000The Opera Ghost: A Phantom Unmasked · as Erique Claudin (archive footage)Actor
- 2007Famous Monster: Forrest J Ackerman · as Self (archive footage)Actor
- 2013Classic Movie Bloopers: Uncensored · as Self (archive footage)Actor
Filmography data from TMDB. The profile text is a draft written for Cinespective.