What's After the Movie
Donald Pleasence
Donald Henry Pleasence OBE was a distinguished English actor who made his mark in both stage and screen. Born on October 5, 1919, he kickstarted his career in the West End theatre before transitioning to the screen. Pleasence is particularly acclaimed for his work in the 1954 BBC adaptation of George Orwell's Nineteen Eighty-Four and his notable performances in several films including The Great Escape (1963), the James Bond film You Only Live Twice (1967), and THX 1138 (1971). His portrayal of the villain Ernst Stavro Blofeld in You Only Live Twice is often considered his most iconic role. In 1978, Pleasence starred in the Halloween franchise as psychiatrist Dr. Samuel Loomis, earning him a nomination for a Saturn Award for Best Actor and enhancing his reputation in the horror film genre. He teamed up with Halloween director John Carpenter for two more films: Escape from New York (1981) and Prince of Darkness (1987).
Born in Worksop, Nottinghamshire, Pleasence was the son of a railway station master and developed an interest in acting from an early age. He worked as an aircraft wireless-operator in the Royal Air Force during the Second World War before being captured and held as a prisoner-of-war in a German camp, where he wrote and performed plays for his fellow prisoners. Following his release and discharge from the RAF in 1946, he resumed his acting career with repertory theatre companies in Birmingham and Bristol. Despite his initial reluctance to join the Armed Forces, his experiences during the war significantly influenced his subsequent acting career, often portraying characters with a sinister or evil edge. Pleasence passed away on February 2, 1995, in Saint-Paul-de-Vence, France, leaving behind an enduring legacy in the realm of stage and screen.
Biography, Career & Filmography
Learn more about Donald Pleasence, including a detailed biography, career timeline, personal life insights, and complete filmography. Discover how Donald Pleasence rose to fame, their major roles, industry impact, and personal milestones in the world of film.
Given Name: Donald Henry Pleasence
Born: Worksop, Nottinghamshire, England
Citizenship: English
Birthday: October 5, 1919
Occupations: Actor
Years Active: 1939-1995
Children: 5
Spouses: Miriam Raymond, Josephine Crombie, Meira Shore, Linda J. Kentwood
External Links and Streaming Options
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Awards and Nominations Received by Donald Pleasence
Explore the awards, honors, and nominations Donald Pleasence has earned across their acting career. From prestigious wins to critical acclaim, see how their talent has been recognized by the film industry and major award bodies.
Movies Featuring Donald Pleasence
Halloween
Cul-de-sac
The Great Escape
Dracula
Escape to Witch Mountain
You Only Live Twice
Alone in the Dark
Halloween: The Curse of Michael Myers
THX 1138
Oh, God!
Fantastic Voyage
Phenomena
Prince of Darkness
Halloween II
The Eagle Has Landed
Halloween 5: The Revenge of Michael Myers
Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers
Look Back in Anger
Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
The Last Tycoon
Kidnapped
Halloween: The Inside Story
Driving Lessons
Best Ever Bond
Halloween: A Cut Above the Rest
Pumaman
The Barchester Chronicles
Millions
Race for the Yankee Zephyr
Warrior of the Lost World
Frankenstein’s Great Aunt Tillie
Where Is Parsifal?
Master of the Game
Arch of Triumph
Dario Argento’s World of Horror
Reel Horror
Black Arrow
Nothing Underneath
A Breed Apart
The Ambassador
Into the Darkness
Double Target
Ground Zero
Phantom of Death
Hanna’s War
The Commander
Last Platoon
Nosferatu in Venice
Buried Alive
River of Death
Miss Marple: A Caribbean Mystery
Casablanca Express
Blade on the Feather
The Devonsville Terror
Treasure of the Amazon
Cobra Mission
Basements
Paganini Horror
Shadows and Fog
Terror in the Aisles
To Kill a Stranger
The Great Escape II: The Untold Story
Witness for the Prosecution
Warrior Queen
Specters
Scoop
The House of Usher
American Rickshaw
Dracula Unearthed
Terror in the Aisles
Ten Little Indians
Matchless
Innocent Bystanders
The Beachcomber
Will Penny
The Defection of Simas Kudirka
Hell Is a City
Barry McKenzie Holds His Own
Night Creature
A Story of David
House of the Damned
The Jerusalem File
The Greatest Story Ever Told
The Big Day
Tomorrow Never Comes
Spare the Rod
The Battle of the Sexes
Lonely Water
Death Line
Good Luck, Miss Wyckoff
The Night of the Generals
The Flesh and the Fiends
Hearts of the West
Eye of the Devil
The Big Freeze
Power Play
What a Carve Up!
The Thief and the Cobbler
Killers of Kilimanjaro
Watch Out, We’re Mad
Soldier Blue
The Shakedown
The Madwoman of Chaillot
The Inspector
The Count of Monte-Cristo
Dr. Crippen
Tales That Witness Madness
All Quiet on the Western Front
The Bastard
The Uncanny
Jaguar Lives!
Centennial
The Black Tent
Nineteen Eighty-Four
The Hour of the Pig
The Hallelujah Trail
No Love for Johnnie
Jesus of Nazareth
Barnacle Bill
Henry VIII and His Six Wives
Circus of Horrors
Blood Relatives
The Dark Secret of Harvest Home
Wake in Fright
The Man Inside
The Two-Headed Spy
Diên Biên Phu
Heart of a Child
Orders Are Orders
Telefon
Manuela
The Hands of Orlac
Mr. Freedom
Malachi’s Cove
The Passover Plot
The Wind Cannot Read
A Tale of Two Cities
The Diary of Anne Frank
The Angry Man
Sons and Lovers
Fatal Frames
In and Out of Fashion
The Man in the Sky
1984
Trial by Combat
The News-Benders
Last In, First Out
Suspect
The Black Windmill
Gold of the Amazon Women
The Wind of Change
The Horsemasters
Value for Money
Wedding in White
I Don’t Want to Be Born
Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
Career Timeline
Track the complete movie timeline of Donald Pleasence, including all film releases, career breakthroughs, and notable roles. Follow their journey from early performances to recent blockbusters and upcoming projects.
1993
The Big Freeze
Soup slurper
The Thief and the Cobbler
Phido the Vulture (voice)
The Hour of the Pig
Pincheon
1989
Halloween 5: The Revenge of Michael Myers
Buried Alive
Dr. Schaeffer
River of Death
Heinrich Spaatz
Miss Marple: A Caribbean Mystery
Jason Rafiel
Casablanca Express
Colonel Bats
Paganini Horror
Mr. Pickett
The House of Usher
Walter Usher
American Rickshaw
Rev. Mortom
Ten Little Indians
Mr. Justice Lawrence Wargrave
1988
Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers
Phantom of Death
Inspector Datti
Hanna’s War
Captain Thomas Rosza
The Commander
Henry Carlson
Last Platoon
Colonel B. Abrahams
Nosferatu in Venice
Don Alvise
1987
Prince of Darkness
Double Target
Sen. Blaster
Ground Zero
Prosper Gaffney
Basements
Mr. Kidd (segment "The Room")
Warrior Queen
Clodius Flaucus
Specters
Professor Lasky
Scoop
Lord Copper
1985
Phenomena
Dario Argento’s World of Horror
Self (Archive)
Reel Horror
Axel MacGregor (archive footage)
Black Arrow
Sir Oliver Oates
Nothing Underneath
Commissioner Danesi
Treasure of the Amazon
Klaus von Blantz
1984
Frankenstein’s Great Aunt Tillie
Victor Frankenstein / Baron Frankenstein
Where Is Parsifal?
Mackintosh
Arch of Triumph
Ivon Haake
A Breed Apart
J.P. Whittier
The Ambassador
Minister Eretz
Terror in the Aisles
Self - Host
Terror in the Aisles
Self - Host
1979
Dracula
Good Luck, Miss Wyckoff
Dr. Steiner
All Quiet on the Western Front
Kantorek
Jaguar Lives!
General Villanova
The Angry Man
Albert Rumpelmayer
Gold of the Amazon Women
Clarence Blasko
1978
Halloween
Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
The Defection of Simas Kudirka
Capt. Vladimir Popov
Night Creature
Axel MacGregor
Tomorrow Never Comes
Dr. Todd
Power Play
Blair
The Bastard
Solomon Sholto
Blood Relatives
James Doniac
Last In, First Out
Rothko
1977
Oh, God!
The Eagle Has Landed
The Uncanny
Valentine De'ath (segment 3 "Hollywood 1936")
Telefon
Nicolai Dalchimsky
1975
Escape to Witch Mountain
Hearts of the West
A.J. Nietz
The Count of Monte-Cristo
Danglars
I Don’t Want to Be Born
Dr. Finch
1974
Barry McKenzie Holds His Own
Erich Count von Plasma
House of the Damned
Martin Zayas
Watch Out, We’re Mad
Doctor
The Black Windmill
Cedric Harper
1973
Lonely Water
The Spirit (voice)
Tales That Witness Madness
Prof. R.C. Tremayne
Malachi’s Cove
Malachi
Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
Fred Smudge
1972
Innocent Bystanders
Loomis
The Jerusalem File
Major Samuels
Death Line
Inspector Calhoun
Henry VIII and His Six Wives
Thomas Cromwell
Wedding in White
Jim Dougall, Sr.
1967
You Only Live Twice
Matchless
Gregori Andreanu
Will Penny
Preacher Quint
The Night of the Generals
General Kahlenberge
The Diary of Anne Frank
Albert Dussel
1961
Spare the Rod
Mr. Jenkins
What a Carve Up!
Everett Sloane
No Love for Johnnie
Renfrew
The Wind of Change
Pop
The Horsemasters
Captain Pinski
1960
Hell Is a City
Gus Hawkins
A Story of David
Nabal
The Big Day
Victor Partridge
The Battle of the Sexes
Irwin Hoffman
The Flesh and the Fiends
William Hare
The Shakedown
Jessel Brown
Circus of Horrors
Vanet
The Hands of Orlac
Graham Coates
Sons and Lovers
Mr. Pappleworth
Suspect
Parsons, alias Bill Brown
1958
The Man Inside
Organ Grinder
The Two-Headed Spy
Gen. Hardt
Heart of a Child
Spiel
The Wind Cannot Read
Doctor
A Tale of Two Cities
Barsad
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