James Mason facts for kids

Quick facts for kids James Mason
Mason in the 1940s
Born	James Neville Mason (1909-05-15)15 May 1909 Huddersfield, England
Died	27 July 1984(1984-07-27) (aged 75) Lausanne, Switzerland
Alma mater	Peterhouse, Cambridge
Occupation	Actor
Years active	1931–1984
Spouse(s)	Pamela Mason ​ ​ (m. 1941; div. 1964)​ Clarissa Kaye ​ (m. 1971)​
Children	Portland Mason Morgan Mason
Family	Belinda Carlisle (daughter-in-law)

James Neville Mason (born May 15, 1909 – died July 27, 1984) was a famous English actor. He became very successful in British movies before moving to Hollywood and becoming a big star there.

In 1944 and 1945, he was the most popular actor in the United Kingdom. Some of his well-known British films include The Seventh Veil (1945) and The Wicked Lady (1945). He also starred in Odd Man Out (1947), which was the first movie to win the BAFTA Award for Best British Film.

Later, in Hollywood, Mason appeared in many classic films. These include A Star Is Born (1954) with Judy Garland, Alfred Hitchcock's North by Northwest (1959), Lolita (1962) directed by Stanley Kubrick, and The Verdict (1982) with Paul Newman. He also starred in popular adventure movies like 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea (1954) and Journey to the Center of the Earth (1959).

Throughout his career, James Mason was nominated for three Academy Awards and three Golden Globes. He won a Golden Globe in 1955 for his role in A Star Is Born. After he passed away in 1984, his ashes were buried near his good friend, the actor Sir Charlie Chaplin, in Switzerland.

Early Life and Education

James Mason was born on May 15, 1909, in Huddersfield, England. He was the youngest of three sons. His father, John Mason, was a wealthy wool merchant who traveled a lot for business. His mother, Mabel, was very well-educated and had studied art in London. She was a loving mother to her sons. The Mason family lived in a large house with its own grounds. Today, a small area of homes nearby is named James Mason Court.

Mason went to Marlborough College for his schooling. Later, he studied architecture at Peterhouse, Cambridge University. While at Cambridge, he started acting in local theatre groups just for fun. He never had any formal acting lessons, but he enjoyed it very much.

Acting Career Highlights

Starting Out: 1931–1939

James Mason began his acting career on stage in 1931. He performed in a play called The Rascal in Aldershot. He then joined the Old Vic theatre in London, a famous place for actors. There, he appeared in many plays, including The Cherry Orchard and Macbeth. He even acted alongside well-known stars like Charles Laughton.

In 1933, he got a small part in a movie called The Private Life of Don Juan. However, he was let go after only three days of filming.

From 1935 to 1938, Mason starred in many British films. These were often quick, low-budget movies. His first film was Late Extra (1935), where he played the main character. He also had an important supporting role in Fire Over England (1937), which featured Laurence Olivier.

In the late 1930s, Mason also started appearing in early television plays. These included Cyrano de Bergerac (1938). In 1939, he starred in the film I Met a Murderer, which was based on a story he wrote with Pamela Kellino, who later became his wife.

Becoming a Leading Man: 1941–1947

During World War II, James Mason chose not to fight in the war. He was a conscientious objector, meaning he believed he should not take part in military service. This caused some disagreements with his family. However, he was eventually allowed to continue his film work.

In the early 1940s, Mason became a very popular leading actor in Britain. He starred in films like Hatter's Castle (1941) and Thunder Rock (1942).

He became especially famous for playing dark, mysterious characters or villains in a series of popular movies from Gainsborough Pictures. These films, often called melodramas, started with The Man in Grey (1943). This movie was a huge success and made Mason, along with his co-stars, into top stars.

Mason continued to star in hits like Fanny By Gaslight (1944). He then played a strict guardian in The Seventh Veil (1945), which was a massive hit in both Britain and the United States. From 1944 to 1947, he was voted the most popular star in Britain.

He also had a role in the very successful film The Wicked Lady (1945). Mason received excellent reviews for his role as an injured bank robber in Carol Reed's Odd Man Out (1947).

Hollywood Stardom: 1949–1957

James Mason moved to Hollywood for his first American film, Caught (1949). He also played the writer Gustave Flaubert in Madame Bovary (1949).

His Hollywood career really took off when he played General Rommel in The Desert Fox: The Story of Rommel (1951). He then signed a contract with 20th Century Fox.

Mason starred in 5 Fingers (1951) as a spy. He also played Rupert of Hentzau in The Prisoner of Zenda (1952). In 1953, he played Brutus in Julius Caesar, which was a very successful movie.

In 1954, he starred opposite Judy Garland in A Star Is Born. This role earned him a Golden Globe Award and an Oscar nomination. He then played the famous Captain Nemo in Disney's 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, which was a huge hit.

Mason in Hitchcock's North by Northwest (1959)

Mason also starred in and produced Bigger Than Life (1956), where he played a school teacher whose life changes due to medication. He continued his success with the popular film Island in the Sun (1957).

Later Roles: 1958–1985

In the late 1950s, Mason started appearing on television shows. He also starred in thrillers like Cry Terror! (1958). In 1959, he played a smooth spy in Alfred Hitchcock's classic film North by Northwest, chasing Cary Grant.

He had another big hit playing a determined scientist in the science fiction adventure Journey to the Center of the Earth (1959). In 1962, he starred in Stanley Kubrick's movie Lolita.

From 1963 onwards, Mason lived in Switzerland and took on many supporting roles in films. He was in the epic movie The Fall of the Roman Empire (1964). He earned his second Academy Award nomination for his role in Georgy Girl (1966).

Mason also narrated documentaries, including The London Nobody Knows (1967). He was a big fan of movies and narrated two British documentary series about silent films and the work of his friend Charlie Chaplin.

In the 1970s, Mason continued to appear in many films. He supported Charles Bronson in Cold Sweat (1970) and was in The Last of Sheila (1973). He played the evil Doctor Polidori in Frankenstein: The True Story (1973). He also appeared in Mandingo (1975).

Later in the 1970s, he was in Voyage of the Damned (1976), Heaven Can Wait (1978), and The Boys from Brazil (1978). He also played Dr. Watson in Murder by Decree (1979) and a vampire's servant in the TV miniseries Salem's Lot (1979).

One of his last and most famous roles was as the corrupt lawyer Ed Concannon in The Verdict (1982), opposite Paul Newman. This role earned him his third and final Oscar nomination. His very last film performance was in The Shooting Party (1985).

Personal Life

Mason and his family in 1957. From left: son Morgan, Mason's wife Pamela, daughter Portland and Mason.

James Mason loved animals, especially cats. He and his first wife, Pamela Mason, wrote a book together called The Cats in Our Lives in 1949. James Mason wrote most of the book and drew the pictures for it. The book shared funny and touching stories about the cats and dogs he had known.

In 1952, Mason bought a house that used to belong to the famous comedian Buster Keaton. In the house, he found old film reels that were thought to be lost. These films were made by Buster Keaton. Mason made sure these old films were saved and copied onto new, safer film, so they would not be lost forever.

When he was younger, Mason was a big fan of his local Rugby League team, Huddersfield. Later in life, he also supported the football team Huddersfield Town.

James Mason was married twice. His first marriage was to British actress Pamela Mason from 1941 to 1964. They had a daughter named Portland Mason and a son named Morgan Mason. Morgan is married to Belinda Carlisle, the lead singer of the band the Go-Go's. His second marriage was to Australian actress Clarissa Kaye in 1971.

Mason wrote his autobiography, a book about his own life, called Before I Forget, which was published in 1981.

Death

James Mason had a severe heart attack in 1959. He passed away from another heart attack on July 27, 1984, in Switzerland. He was cremated. Mason's will left everything to his second wife, Clarissa Kaye. However, his two children challenged this will. The legal case was still ongoing when Clarissa Kaye passed away in 1994. She had left her belongings, including Mason's ashes, to a religious teacher. Mason's children then sued to get his ashes. They were eventually buried in Switzerland, just a few steps away from the tomb of his friend, Charlie Chaplin. On his headstone, his children chose to put the words: "Never say in grief you are sorry he's gone. Rather, say in thankfulness you are grateful he was here."

Filmography

Television Roles

Theatre Performances

Radio Appearances

Awards and Nominations

Images for kids

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  Mason in 1975's The Flower in His Mouth

See also

In Spanish: James Mason para niños