Henry Daniell

Biography

Charles Henry Daniell (5 March 1894 – 31 October 1963) was a distinguished English actor renowned for his extensive career on both stage and screen. He gained notable recognition for his portrayals of villains in iconic films such as *The Great Dictator*, *The Philadelphia Story*, and *The Sea Hawk*, often relegated to roles of nefarious characters. Despite this, he did occasionally take on more sympathetic roles, including a portrayal of Franz Liszt in the 1947 biographical film *Song of Love*. His surname is sometimes spelled "Daniel."

Daniell made his film debut in 1929 with *Jealousy* and became particularly famous for his role as Professor Moriarty in the 1945 Basil Rathbone-Nigel Bruce Sherlock Holmes film, *The Woman in Green*. He also starred in *The Great Dictator* (1940) as Garbitsch, a parody of Joseph Goebbels, and appeared in *The Body Snatcher* (1945) alongside Boris Karloff and Bela Lugosi. His performance as the duplicitous Baron de Varville opposite Greta Garbo in *Camille* (1936) was one of his early highlights.

Towards the end of World War II, Daniell delivered a memorable performance as the cruel Mr. Brocklehurst in *Jane Eyre* (1944). In the 1950s and 1960s, he transitioned smoothly into television, featuring in series such as *Maverick* and in films like *Mister Cory* (1957), where he delivered the memorable line, "A gentleman never grabs. Manners, Mister Cory. I find them a prerequisite in any circumstance." His professionalism and distinctive dry wit made him a sought-after actor throughout his career.