Robert Newton

Robert Newton

6/1/1905 – 3/25/1956Shaftesbury, Dorset, England, UK

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 (48 titles)

The Epic That Never Was6.9Movie

The Epic That Never Was

Cassius, Captain of Caligula's guard (archive footage) (uncredited) · 1969

Show

Jingle All the Way! Christmas Stories Vol. 2

1957

The Adventures of Long John Silver7.0Show

The Adventures of Long John Silver

Long John Silver · 1957

Around the World in 80 Days6.7Movie

Around the World in 80 Days

Mr. Fix · 1956

Alfred Hitchcock Presents7.8Show

Alfred Hitchcock Presents

Peter J. Goodfellow · 1955

Long John Silver5.9Movie

Long John Silver

Long John Silver · 1954

The Wonderful World of Disney7.9Show

The Wonderful World of Disney

1954

Climax!3.8Show

Climax!

Keith Dorrant · 1954

The Beachcomber6.2Movie

The Beachcomber

Ted Wilson · 1954

The High and the Mighty5.9Movie

The High and the Mighty

Gustave Pardee · 1954

The Desert Rats6.3Movie

The Desert Rats

Tom Bartlett · 1953

General Electric Theater6.8Show

General Electric Theater

1953

Blackbeard, the Pirate5.9Movie

Blackbeard, the Pirate

Blackbeard · 1952

Androcles and the Lion5.9Movie

Androcles and the Lion

Ferrovius · 1952

Les Miserables5.5Movie

Les Miserables

Etienne Javert · 1952

Schlitz Playhouse of Stars7.2Show

Schlitz Playhouse of Stars

John Lindsey, the Baker · 1951

Tom Brown's Schooldays7.0Movie

Tom Brown's Schooldays

Thomas Arnold · 1951

Soldiers Three4.5Movie

Soldiers Three

Pvt. Bill Sykes · 1951

6.7Show

Lux Video Theatre

Mr. Fishkettle · 1950

Waterfront6.5Movie

Waterfront

Peter McCabe · 1950

Treasure Island6.6Movie

Treasure Island

Long John Silver · 1950

Obsession6.8Movie

Obsession

Dr. Clive Riordan · 1949

Kiss the Blood Off My Hands6.5Movie

Kiss the Blood Off My Hands

Harry Carter · 1948

Oliver Twist7.6Movie

Oliver Twist

Bill Sykes · 1948

Snowbound6.1Movie

Snowbound

Derek Engles · 1948

Temptation Harbour5.4Movie

Temptation Harbour

Bert Mallinson · 1947

Odd Man Out7.3Movie

Odd Man Out

Lukey · 1947

Night Boat to Dublin6.9Movie

Night Boat to Dublin

Capt. David Grant · 1946

Henry V6.7Movie

Henry V

Ancient Pistol · 1944

This Happy Breed7.1Movie

This Happy Breed

Frank Gibbons · 1944