---
name: "Claude Rains"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/claude-rains"
fi1m_id: "claude-rains"
imdb_id: "nm0001647"
tmdb_id: 4113
wikidata_id: "Q318734"
roles: ["Actor"]
born: "10 November 1889"
died: "30 May 1967"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 11
average_fi1m_score: 81
average_as: "actor"
average_over: 11
updated: "2026-09-25T03:09:18.047124+00:00"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Claude Rains

## Identity

Claude Rains

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/claude-rains
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** claude-rains
- **IMDb ID:** nm0001647
- **TMDB ID:** 4113
- **Wikidata ID:** Q318734
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Claude_Rains, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q318734, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001647/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/4113

Actor. Born 10 November 1889 in Clapham, London, England, UK. Died 30 May 1967.

## Details

- **Work:** Actor
- **Born:** 10 November 1889, Clapham, London, England, UK
- **Died:** 30 May 1967
- **Active:** 1936–1962
- **Also known as:** William Claude Rains
- **Frequently works with:** [Hal B. Wallis](https://film.one/person/hal-b-wallis.md), [Michael Curtiz](https://film.one/person/michael-curtiz.md), [Casey Robinson](https://film.one/person/casey-robinson.md), [Ingrid Bergman](https://film.one/person/ingrid-bergman.md), [Julius J. Epstein](https://film.one/person/julius-j-epstein.md), [Olivia de Havilland](https://film.one/person/olivia-de-havilland.md), [Patric Knowles](https://film.one/person/patric-knowles.md), [Paul Henreid](https://film.one/person/paul-henreid.md)
- **Academy Awards:** 4 Oscar nominations
- **Average Fi1m score:** 81, as actor, over 11 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 1930s 76 (4), 1940s 82 (6), 1960s 90 (1)
- **Fi1m against the critics:** 86 to 83 across 8 titles
- **Score spread:** 6 at 80+, 4 at 60–79, 1 under 60
- **Lead roles:** 2 of 11 acting credits billed first or second
- **Genres:** Drama 8, Romance 8, Adventure 2, Comedy 2, History 2, Mystery 2
- **Screen time:** 22 hours of reviewed films
- **Box office:** $125m across 7 films with figures
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Claude_Rains, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q318734, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001647/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/4113

## Streaming the US now

- **Tubi:** [*The Adventures of Robin Hood*](https://film.one/film/the-adventures-of-robin-hood.md) (90), [*Mr. Smith Goes to Washington*](https://film.one/film/mr-smith-goes-to-washington.md) (84), [*Now, Voyager*](https://film.one/film/now-voyager.md) (82)
- **HBO Max:** [*Casablanca*](https://film.one/film/casablanca.md) (93)
- **Netflix:** [*Lawrence of Arabia*](https://film.one/film/lawrence-of-arabia.md) (90)
- **Peacock:** [*The Wolf Man*](https://film.one/film/the-wolf-man.md) (78)
- **The Roku Channel:** [*Here Comes Mr. Jordan*](https://film.one/film/here-comes-mr-jordan.md) (77)

For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country.

## Fi1m on Claude Rains

> Claude Rains makes dubious men such agreeable company that we keep listening after we ought to know better. We value the precision of his speech and the unease beneath his charm.

In *Casablanca* (1943), Claude Rains makes Captain Louis Renault’s politeness sound faintly suspect without making his company any less welcome. We laughed at his agreeableness, then felt uneasy about how readily we had warmed to him. The pleasure comes from Rains allowing us to hear the courtesy and doubt its sincerity at the same time. He gives us reason to mistrust Renault without asking us to stop enjoying him.

The voice was already central to *The Invisible Man* (1933), his breakthrough screen role, where limited visibility left speech to do much of the work. Through the 1940s, he became a prolific Hollywood character actor, taking supporting parts and occasional leads. He was often cast as an authority figure whose charm made dishonesty surprisingly easy to tolerate. That suited his smooth delivery and taste for irony.

Renault remains the clearest place to hear why it works. Julius J. Epstein, Philip G. Epstein and Howard E. Koch’s screenplay gives the jokes a reason to be there: people use wit to protect themselves. Rains understands that a line can be funny without its speaker becoming harmless, and his agreeable manner lets the comedy continue while we wonder what he means. Our enthusiasm for *Casablanca* owes much to the way its humour belongs to its characters, though some of its plotting is decidedly convenient.

His restraint could also convey yearning or melancholy without a raised voice. In *Notorious* (1946), his Alexander Sebastian is allowed a sensitivity that complicates our response to him. David Lean valued his meticulous timing in *The Passionate Friends* (1949), and Rains later played Mr. Dryden in Lean’s *Lawrence of Arabia* (1962). That late supporting performance retains his precision, though we recommend the film chiefly for Lean’s patience and Peter O’Toole’s unsettling performance, rather than as a Rains vehicle.

He was less well suited to the conventional romantic or heroic lead. We prefer him when good manners leave something in doubt, and the writing gives him more to do than sound distinguished. Start with *Casablanca*, and give that courteous voice your full attention.

## Biography

Claude Rains (10 November 1889 – 30 May 1967) was an English stage and film actor. He appeared as Captain Louis Renault in *Casablanca* (1942). Other notable film roles include Dr Jack Griffin in *The Invisible Man* (1933), Senator Joseph Paine in *Mr. Smith Goes to Washington* (1939), Prince John in *The Adventures of Robin Hood* (1938), Sir John Talbot in *The Wolf Man* (1941), Dr Jaquith in *Now, Voyager* (1942), Erique Claudin in *Phantom of the Opera* (1943), Alexander Sebastian in *Notorious* (1946) and Mr Dryden in *Lawrence of Arabia* (1962).

Rains began his career on the London stage, making his debut at the age of eleven. He later taught at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, where his students included John Gielgud and Laurence Olivier. He served in the First World War with the London Scottish Regiment. Rains received four Academy Award nominations for Best Supporting Actor, for *Mr. Smith Goes to Washington*, *Casablanca*, *Mr. Skeffington* (1944) and *Notorious*.

*Sources: en.wikipedia.org, britannica.com, imdb.com, themoviedb.org.*

## On Fi1m (11)

- *Lawrence of Arabia* (1962), Fi1m 90, as Mr. Dryden — [page](https://film.one/film/lawrence-of-arabia.md)
- *Notorious* (1946), Fi1m 92, as Alexander Sebastian — [page](https://film.one/film/notorious.md)
- *Casablanca* (1943), Fi1m 93, as Captain Louis Renault — [page](https://film.one/film/casablanca.md)
- *Kings Row* (1942), Fi1m 70, as Alexander Tower — [page](https://film.one/film/kings-row.md)
- *Now, Voyager* (1942), Fi1m 82, as Dr. Jaquith — [page](https://film.one/film/now-voyager.md)
- *Here Comes Mr. Jordan* (1941), Fi1m 77, as Mr. Jordan — [page](https://film.one/film/here-comes-mr-jordan.md)
- *The Wolf Man* (1941), Fi1m 78, as Sir John Talbot — [page](https://film.one/film/the-wolf-man.md)
- *Mr. Smith Goes to Washington* (1939), Fi1m 84, as Joseph Paine — [page](https://film.one/film/mr-smith-goes-to-washington.md)
- *Four Daughters* (1938), Fi1m 75, as Adam Lemp — [page](https://film.one/film/four-daughters-1938.md)
- *The Adventures of Robin Hood* (1938), Fi1m 90, as Prince John — [page](https://film.one/film/the-adventures-of-robin-hood.md)
- *Anthony Adverse* (1936), Fi1m 57, as Marquis Don Luis — [page](https://film.one/film/anthony-adverse.md)

## Complete filmography (73)

Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page.

- *The Opera Ghost: A Phantom Unmasked* (2000), as Erique Claudin (archive footage)
- *Halloween Monster Bash* (1991), as Maximus (archive footage)
- *The Horror Show* (1979), as (archive footage)
- *The Greatest Story Ever Told* (1965), as King Herod
- *Twilight of Honor* (1963), as Art Harper
- *Lawrence of Arabia* (1962), as Mr. Dryden — Fi1m 90, [page](https://film.one/film/lawrence-of-arabia.md)
- *Sam Benedict* (1962), series, Actor
- *Battle of the Worlds* (1961), as Professor Benson
- *Dr. Kildare* (1961), series, as Edward Fredericks
- *The Lost World* (1960), as Prof. George Edward Challenger
- *This Earth Is Mine* (1959), as Philippe Rambeau
- *Judgment at Nuremberg* (1959), as Judge Dan Haywood
- *Rawhide* (1959), series, as Alexander Longford
- *Naked City* (1958), series, as John Winfield Weston
- *The Pied Piper of Hamelin* (1957), as Mayor of Hamelin
- *On Borrowed Time* (1957), as Mr. Brink
- *Playhouse 90* (1956), series, as Judge Dan Haywood
- *Lisbon* (1956), as Aristides Mavros
- *Alfred Hitchcock Presents* (1955), series, as John Fabian, Charles Gresham, Andrew Thurgood, Father Amion, Leonard Eldridge
- *The Man Who Watched Trains Go By* (1952), as Kees Popinga
- *Hallmark Hall of Fame* (1951), series, as Mr. Brink, The High Lama
- *Sealed Cargo* (1951), as Capt. Henrik Skalder
- *Where Danger Lives* (1950), as Mr. Lannington
- *The White Tower* (1950), as Paul Delambre
- *Song of Surrender* (1949), as Elisha Hunt
- *Rope of Sand* (1949), as Arthur 'Fred' Martingale
- *The Passionate Friends* (1949), as Howard Justin
- *The Unsuspected* (1947), as Victor Grandison
- *Deception* (1946), as Alexander Hollenius
- *Angel on My Shoulder* (1946), as "Nick"
- *Notorious* (1946), as Alexander Sebastian — Fi1m 92, [page](https://film.one/film/notorious.md)
- *Caesar and Cleopatra* (1945), as Julius Caesar
- *This Love of Ours* (1945), as Joseph Targel
- *Strange Holiday* (1945), as John Stevenson
- *Mr. Skeffington* (1944), as Job Skeffington
- *Passage to Marseille* (1944), as Capt. Freycinet
- *Phantom of the Opera* (1943), as Erique Claudin
- *Forever and a Day* (1943), as Ambrose Pomfret
- *Casablanca* (1943), as Captain Louis Renault — Fi1m 93, [page](https://film.one/film/casablanca.md)
- *Now, Voyager* (1942), as Dr. Jaquith — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/film/now-voyager.md)
- *Moontide* (1942), as Nutsy
- *Kings Row* (1942), as Alexander Tower — Fi1m 70, [page](https://film.one/film/kings-row.md)
- *The Wolf Man* (1941), as Sir John Talbot — Fi1m 78, [page](https://film.one/film/the-wolf-man.md)
- *Here Comes Mr. Jordan* (1941), as Mr. Jordan — Fi1m 77, [page](https://film.one/film/here-comes-mr-jordan.md)
- *Four Mothers* (1941), as Adam Lemp
- *Lady with Red Hair* (1940), as David Belasco
- *The Sea Hawk* (1940), as Don José Alvarez de Cordoba
- *Saturday's Children* (1940), as Mr. Henry Halevy
- *Four Wives* (1939), as Adam Lemp
- *Mr. Smith Goes to Washington* (1939), as Joseph Paine — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/film/mr-smith-goes-to-washington.md)
- *Daughters Courageous* (1939), as Jim Masters
- *Juarez* (1939), as Emperor Louis Napoleon III
- *Sons of Liberty* (1939), as Haym Salomon
- *They Made Me a Criminal* (1939), as Det. Monty Phelan
- *Breakdowns of 1938* (1938), as Claude Rains (archive footage) (uncredited)
- *Four Daughters* (1938), as Adam Lemp — Fi1m 75, [page](https://film.one/film/four-daughters-1938.md)
- *White Banners* (1938), as Paul Ward
- *The Adventures of Robin Hood* (1938), as Prince John — Fi1m 90, [page](https://film.one/film/the-adventures-of-robin-hood.md)
- *Gold Is Where You Find It* (1938), as Colonel Ferris
- *They Won't Forget* (1937), as District Attorney Andrew J. Griffin
- *The Prince and the Pauper* (1937), as Earl of Hertford
- *Stolen Holiday* (1937), as Stefan Orloff
- *Anthony Adverse* (1936), as Marquis Don Luis — Fi1m 57, [page](https://film.one/film/anthony-adverse.md)
- *Hearts Divided* (1936), as Napoleon Bonaparte
- *The Making of a Great Motion Picture* (1936), Actor
- *Scrooge* (1935), as Jacob Marley (voice) (uncredited)
- *The Last Outpost* (1935), as John Stevenson
- *The Clairvoyant* (1935), as Maximus
- *The Mystery of Edwin Drood* (1935), as John Jasper
- *The Man Who Reclaimed His Head* (1934), as Paul Verin
- *Crime Without Passion* (1934), as Lee Gentry
- *The Invisible Man* (1933), as Dr. Jack Griffin
- *Build Thy House* (1920), as Clarkis

## Gallery

- ![Claude Rains](https://film.one/media/person/58978/gallery-c53cbbb05644.jpg) Claude Rains — Universal Pictures, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/96/Claude_Rains_1935.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Colonial Theater advertisement for the American drama film Casablanca (1942) - 27 Jan. 1943 Morning Call, Allentown PA](https://film.one/media/person/58978/gallery-feab46d23245.jpg) Colonial Theater advertisement for the American drama film Casablanca (1942) - 27 Jan. 1943 Morning Call, Allentown PA — Warner Bros., Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e3/1943_-_Colonial_Theater_Ad_-_27_Jan_MC_-_Allentown_PA.jpg/1280px-1943_-_Colonial_Theater_Ad_-_27_Jan_MC_-_Allentown_PA.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Colonial Theater advertisement for the American drama film Casablanca (1942) - 28 Jan. 1943 Morning Call, Allentown PA](https://film.one/media/person/58978/gallery-e6de16b94ac1.jpg) Colonial Theater advertisement for the American drama film Casablanca (1942) - 28 Jan. 1943 Morning Call, Allentown PA — Warner Bros., Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/83/1943_-_Colonial_Theater_Ad_-_28_Jan_MC_-_Allentown_PA.jpg/1280px-1943_-_Colonial_Theater_Ad_-_28_Jan_MC_-_Allentown_PA.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![House of actor Claude Rains in West Chester, Pennsylvania (2010)](https://film.one/media/person/58978/gallery-1d862b25f287.jpg) House of actor Claude Rains in West Chester, Pennsylvania (2010) — Smallbones, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/25/C_Rains_West_Chester.JPG/1280px-C_Rains_West_Chester.JPG?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Claude Rains](https://film.one/media/person/58978/gallery-8081712a6f20.jpg) Claude Rains — Image via TMDB
- ![Claude Rains](https://film.one/media/person/58978/gallery-85796a4ec7ee.jpg) Claude Rains — Image via TMDB
- ![Claude Rains](https://film.one/media/person/58978/gallery-40c957a14d02.jpg) Claude Rains — Image via TMDB
- ![British actor Claude Rains. Subjects: actors (1942)](https://film.one/media/person/58978/gallery-5d7e02bdebdb.jpg) British actor Claude Rains. Subjects: actors (1942) — Unknown authorUnknown author, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/1e/Claude_Rains_%28SAYRE_8646%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Promotional photo of Claude Rains and Frank Puglia in Phantom of the Opera (1943).](https://film.one/media/person/58978/gallery-aa623ca137d5.jpg) Promotional photo of Claude Rains and Frank Puglia in Phantom of the Opera (1943). — Universal Pictures, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/47/Claude_Rains_and_Frank_Puglia_in_Phantom_of_the_Opera_%281943%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Claude Rains](https://film.one/media/person/58978/gallery-023477f913d9.jpg) Claude Rains — Image via TMDB
- ![Claude Rains](https://film.one/media/person/58978/gallery-977d37d25701.jpg) Claude Rains — Image via TMDB
- ![Claude Rains](https://film.one/media/person/58978/gallery-0e2bafc0e904.jpg) Claude Rains — Image via TMDB

## Awards

### Academy Awards — 0 won, 4 nominated

- 1947: Best Supporting Actor (nominated), for *Notorious*
- 1945: Best Supporting Actor (nominated), for *Mr. Skeffington*
- 1944: Best Supporting Actor (nominated), for *Casablanca*
- 1940: Best Supporting Actor (nominated), for *Mr. Smith Goes to Washington*

### Other awards — 1 won

- Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play 1951: Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play (won)

*From Wikidata, which records wins more completely than nominations.*

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/claude-rains