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.
Filmography
Cast Credits
The Epic That Never Was
Character: Cassius, Captain of Caligula's guard (archive footage; uncredited)
MOVIE • 1969
Jingle All the Way! Christmas Stories Vol. 2
Character:
TV • 1957
The Adventures Of Long John Silver
Character: Capt. Long John Silver
TV • 1957
Around the World in Eighty Days
Character: Mr. Fix
MOVIE • 1956
Alfred Hitchcock Presents
Character: Peter J. Goodfellow
TV • 1955
Long John Silver
Character: Long John Silver
MOVIE • 1954
The Wonderful World of Disney
Character:
TV • 1954
Climax!
Character: Keith Dorrant
TV • 1954
The Beachcomber
Character: Ted Wilson
MOVIE • 1954
The High and the Mighty
Character: Gustave Pardee
MOVIE • 1954
The Desert Rats
Character: Tom Bartlett
MOVIE • 1953
General Electric Theater
Character:
TV • 1953
Blackbeard, the Pirate
Character: Blackbeard
MOVIE • 1952
Androcles and the Lion
Character: Ferrovius
MOVIE • 1952
Les Miserables
Character: Etienne Javert
MOVIE • 1952
Schlitz Playhouse of Stars
Character: John Lindsey, the Baker
TV • 1951
Schlitz Playhouse of Stars
Character: Simon Mantle
TV • 1951
Tom Brown's Schooldays
Character: Thomas Arnold
MOVIE • 1951
Soldiers Three
Character: Pvt. Bill Sykes
MOVIE • 1951
Lux Video Theatre
Character: Mr. Fishkettle
TV • 1950