Basil Rathbone

Birth Name:

Philip St. John Basil Rathbone

Birth Date:

June 13, 1892

Birth Place:

Johannesburg, South Africa

Death Date:

July 21, 1967

Place of Death:

The Langham Building, 135 Central Park West, New York, New York

Age:

Cause of Death:

Heart attack

Cemetery Name:

Ferncliff Cemetery

Claim to Fame:

Show Business

Basil Rathbone was an English actor who began his career in the United Kingdom as a Shakespearean stage actor, and went on to appear in more than 70 films. He is best known for his role as Sherlock Holmes in fourteen Hollywood films made between 1939 and 1946 and in a radio series. His later career included roles on Broadway, as well as film and television work. He received a Tony Award in 1948 as Best Actor in a Play. He was also nominated for two Academy Awards and was honored with three stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

His final moments as told by his wife, Ouida:

Basil was very sad, as an old friend of his had died. We were in the living room of our apartment discussing it, when he suddenly said, ‘You know, I’m not afraid to die, but I just wish it didn’t have to be.’ We talked for a few more minutes and he seemed to cheer up a bit. Then, he went into his den, because he wanted to play a record he’d just purchased. About five minutes later, I went into the room to ask him something . . . and he was gone.

Cemetery Information:

Final Resting Place:

Ferncliff Cemetery

280 Secor Road

Hartsdale, New York, 10530

USA

North America

Map:

Grave Location:

Shrine of Memories Mausoleum, Unit 1, Tier K, Crypt 117

Grave Location Description

After entering at the entrance between Cherrywood and Maplewood, continue straight along the road to the Shrine Mausoleum. Park in the parking lot and go inside the building’s front entrance. Take the first right, and Basil Rathbone’s grave will be on your right on the very top row about halfway down the hall.