Actor

Raymond Massey

1896 – 1983

Who they are

Born: 30 August 1896, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Died: 29 July 1983
Known for: Abe Lincoln in Illinois, Things to Come, 49th Parallel

Raymond Massey was a Canadian-born actor with a stage-trained, commanding voice. He became famous for playing Abraham Lincoln, notably in Abe Lincoln in Illinois, and for stern or villainous roles in Hollywood and British films. Later, he reached television audiences as Dr. Gillespie in Dr. Kildare.

Where to start

Abe Lincoln in Illinois (1940)Log in to add it to the library
His signature role as Lincoln earned him an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor.
Things to Come (1936)Full guide
Early starring role in the British science-fiction epic based on H. G. Wells.
49th Parallel (1941)Log in to add it to the library
Wartime British film in which he played a Canadian soldier.
Arsenic and Old Lace (1944)Log in to add it to the library
Played the menacing Jonathan Brewster in Frank Capra's black comedy.
A Matter of Life and Death (1946)Log in to add it to the library
Appeared in the acclaimed Powell and Pressburger fantasy.
East of Eden (1955)Log in to add it to the library
Played Adam Trask, the stern father, in Elia Kazan's adaptation opposite James Dean.

Their films in the library

Awards

1941: Nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actor (Abe Lincoln in Illinois)

The full list · 64

1929High TreasonLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Member of Federated States Council
1930The Crooked BilletLog in to add it to the libraryActor
1931The Speckled BandLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Sherlock Holmes
1932The Old Dark HouseLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Philip Waverton
1932The Face at the WindowLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Paul le Gros
1934The Scarlet PimpernelLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Chauvelin
1936Things to ComeLog in to add it to the libraryActor as John Cabal / Oswald Cabal
1937The Prisoner of ZendaLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Black Michael
1937The HurricaneLog in to add it to the libraryActor as DeLaage
1937Fire Over EnglandLog in to add it to the libraryActor as King Philip II of Spain
1937Under the Red RobeLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Cardinal Richelieu
1937Dreaming LipsLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Miguel del Vayo
1938The DrumLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Prince Ghul
1938Black LimelightLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Peter Charrington
1940Santa Fe TrailLog in to add it to the libraryActor as John Brown
1940Abe Lincoln in IllinoisLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Abe Lincoln
194149th ParallelLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Andy Brock
1941Dangerously They LiveLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Dr. Ingersoll
1942Reap the Wild WindLog in to add it to the libraryActor as King Cutler
1942Desperate JourneyLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Major Otto Baumeister
1942Breakdowns of 1942Log in to add it to the libraryActor as Self
1943Action in the North AtlanticLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Capt. Steve Jarvis
1944Arsenic and Old LaceLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Jonathan Brewster
1944The Woman in the WindowLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Dist. Attorney Frank Lalor
1945Hotel BerlinLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Arnim von Dahnwitz
1945God Is My Co-PilotLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Maj. Gen. Claire L. Chennault
1946A Matter of Life and DeathLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Abraham Farlan
1947PossessedLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Dean Graham
1947Mourning Becomes ElectraLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Ezra Mannon
1948Years AgoLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Clinton Jones
1949The FountainheadLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Gail Wynand
1949Roseanna McCoyLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Old Randall McCoy
1950DallasLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Will Marlow
1950Chain LightningLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Leland Willis
1950BarricadeLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Boss Kruger
1950Challenge: Science Against CancerLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Narrated by (voice)
1951David and BathshebaLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Nathan
1951SugarfootLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Jacob Stint
1951Come Fill the CupLog in to add it to the libraryActor as John Ives
1952Carson CityLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Big Jack Davis
1953The Desert SongLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Sheik Yousseff
1953The American RoadLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Narrator
1955East of EdenLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Adam Trask
1955Battle CryLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Major General Snipes
1955Seven Angry MenLog in to add it to the libraryActor as John Brown
1955Prince of PlayersLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Junius Brutus Booth
1956The True Story of the Civil WarLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Narrator
1956The Naked EyeLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Narrator (voice)
1957Omar KhayyamLog in to add it to the libraryActor as The Shah
1957MayerlingLog in to add it to the libraryActor as The Prime Minister
1958The Naked and the DeadLog in to add it to the libraryActor as General Cummings
1960The Great ImpostorLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Abbott Donner
1960Seconds for SurvivalLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Self - Narrator (voice)
1961The Queen's GuardsLog in to add it to the libraryActor
1961The Fiercest HeartLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Willem Prisloom
1962How the West Was WonLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Abraham Lincoln
1962Jacqueline Kennedy's Asian JourneyLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Narrator
1964ChoiceLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Narrator
1967Saint JoanLog in to add it to the libraryActor as The Inquisitor
1969Mackenna's GoldLog in to add it to the libraryActor as The Preacher
1971Walt Whitman: Poet for a New AgeLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Abraham Lincoln
1972All My Darling DaughtersLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Matthew Cunningham
1973The President's Plane Is MissingLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Secretary of State Freeman Sharkey
1973My Darling Daughters' AnniversaryLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Matthew Cunningham

Filmography data from TMDB. The profile text is a draft written for Cinespective.