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Roddy McDowall: Biography, Facts and Career

Who is Roddy McDowall? An evergreen, sourced profile: biography, key facts and career.

By the Pop Culture Files editorial team4 min read✓ Fact-checked
Roddy McDowall
Kingkongphoto & www.celebrity-photos.com from Laurel Maryland, USA via Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 2.0

Roderick Andrew Anthony Jude McDowall (17 September 1928 – 3 October 1998) was a British-born American actor, whose career spanned over 270 screen and stage roles across more than 60 years. He began his career as a child in his native England before starring in How Green Was My Valley (1941), My Friend Flicka (1943), and Lassie Come Home (1943) in America. Unlike many child stars, McDowall evolved into an adult performer on stage and screen. He played Mordred in the Broadway musical Camelot (1960–63), won a Tony Award for his performance in Jean Anouilh's The Fighting Cock, and was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for his performance in Cleopatra (1963). He subsequently appeared in a variety of film and television roles, notably as Cornelius and Caesar in the Planet of the Apes films (1968–73), and in The Greatest Story Ever Told (1965), Bedknobs and Broomsticks (1971), The Poseidon Adventure (1972), The Legend of Hell House (1973), The Fantastic Journey (1977), Fright Night (1985), A Bug's Life (1998), and as the voice of Jervis Tetch / Mad Hatter in the DC Animated Universe. McDowall served in various positions on the board of governors for the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and the selection committee for the Kennedy Center Honors, contributing to various charities related to the film industry and film preservation. He was a founding member of the National Film Preservation Board and represented the Screen Actors Guild on that board until his death. He was also active as a photographer and journalist.

Quick facts about Roddy McDowall

  • Full name: Roddy McDowall
  • Born: 1928-09-17
  • Nationality: United States
  • Known as: Actor
  • Wikidata ID: Q283988

Profile compiled from public Wikipedia and Wikidata data. Details can change over time.

Frequently asked questions

Who is Roddy McDowall?

Roderick Andrew Anthony Jude McDowall (17 September 1928 – 3 October 1998) was a British-born American actor, whose career spanned over 270 screen and stage roles across more than 60 years. He began his career as a child in his native England before starring in How Green Was My Valley (1941), My Friend Flicka (1943), and Lassie Come Home (1943) in America.

What nationality is Roddy McDowall?

Roddy McDowall is United States.

When was Roddy McDowall born?

Roddy McDowall was born on 1928-09-17.

Sources

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