Robert Newton
Biography
Robert Newton was one of the great character actors -- and great characters -- of the British cinema, best remembered today for playing Long John Silver in Treasure Island (1950) and its sequel in 1954. His portrayal of Long John Silver and of Blackbeard, the Pirate (1952) created a persona that was so indelible that his vocal intonations created the paradigm for scores of people who want to "Talk Like a Pirate." The performance overshadows Newton's legacy, which is based on many first-rate performances in such movies as This Happy Breed (1944), Odd Man Out (1947) and Oliver Twist (1948), where his Bill Sykes is truly chilling. Oliver Reed, who played Sykes in the Oscar-winning movie musical Oliver! (1968) was influenced by Newton.
Known For
Climax!
1954
Alfred Hitchcock Presents
1955
Lux Video Theatre
1950
Lux Video Theatre
1950
The Wonderful World of Disney
1954
Around the World in 80 Days
1956
Treasure Island
1950
General Electric Theater
1953
Oliver Twist
1948
The Adventures of Long John Silver
1957
Schlitz Playhouse of Stars
1951
Schlitz Playhouse of Stars
1951
Filmography
Climax!
as Keith Dorrant · 1954
Alfred Hitchcock Presents
as Peter J. Goodfellow · 1955
Lux Video Theatre
as Mr. Fishkettle · 1950
Lux Video Theatre
as Philip Marshall · 1950
The Wonderful World of Disney
· 1954
Around the World in 80 Days
as Mr. Fix · 1956
Treasure Island
as Long John Silver · 1950
General Electric Theater
· 1953
Oliver Twist
as Bill Sykes · 1948
The Adventures of Long John Silver
as Long John Silver · 1957
Schlitz Playhouse of Stars
as John Lindsey, the Baker · 1951
Schlitz Playhouse of Stars
as Simon Mantle · 1951
Jamaica Inn
as James "Jem" Trehearne · 1939
The High and the Mighty
as Gustave Pardee · 1954
Henry V
as Ancient Pistol · 1944
Odd Man Out
as Lukey · 1947
This Happy Breed
as Frank Gibbons · 1944
21 Days
as Tolly · 1940
The Desert Rats
as Tom Bartlett · 1953
Kiss the Blood Off My Hands
as Harry Carter · 1948
Fire Over England
as Don Pedro · 1937
Yellow Sands
as Joe Varwell · 1938
Long John Silver
as Long John Silver · 1954
Androcles and the Lion
as Ferrovius · 1952
The Squeaker
as Larry Graeme · 1937
Walt Disney: Behind the Magic
as Self (archive footage) · 2024
Blackbeard, the Pirate
as Blackbeard · 1952
Gaslight
as Ullswater · 1940
Poison Pen
as Sam Hurrin · 1939
Les Miserables
as Etienne Javert · 1952
Soldiers Three
as Pvt. Bill Sykes · 1951
Dark Journey
as Officer of U-Boat · 1937
Obsession
as Dr. Clive Riordan · 1949
Jingle All the Way! Christmas Stories Vol. 2
· 1957
Temptation Harbour
as Bert Mallinson · 1947
Night Boat to Dublin
as Capt. David Grant · 1946
The Epic That Never Was
as Cassius, Captain of Caligula's guard (archive footage) (uncredited) · 1969
The Green Cockatoo
as Dave Connor · 1937
Waterfront
as Peter McCabe · 1950
Dead Men Are Dangerous
as Aylmer Franklyn · 1939
Tom Brown's Schooldays
as Thomas Arnold · 1951
Major Barbara
as Bill Walker · 1941
Hatter's Castle
as James Brodie · 1942
I, Claudius
as Cassius · 1937
Busman's Honeymoon
as Frank Crutchley · 1940
Vessel of Wrath
as The Controleur · 1938
They Flew Alone
as Jim Mollison · 1942
Hell's Cargo
as Cmdr. Tomasou · 1939
Snowbound
as Derek Engles · 1948
Farewell Again
as Jim Carter · 1937
The Beachcomber
as Ted Wilson · 1954
Channel Incident
as Tanner · 1940