--- name: "Denholm Elliott" canonical: "https://film.one/person/denholm-elliott" fi1m_id: "denholm-elliott" imdb_id: "nm0001186" tmdb_id: 656 wikidata_id: "Q313047" roles: ["Actor"] born: "31 May 1922" died: "6 October 1992" reviewed_on_fi1m: 9 average_fi1m_score: 80 average_as: "actor" average_over: 8 updated: "2026-10-07T11:06:27.992007+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." --- # Denholm Elliott ## Identity Denholm Elliott - **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/denholm-elliott - **Type:** Person - **Fi1m ID:** denholm-elliott - **IMDb ID:** nm0001186 - **TMDB ID:** 656 - **Wikidata ID:** Q313047 - **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Denholm_Elliott, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q313047, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001186/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/656 Actor. Born 31 May 1922 in Ealing, London, England, UK. Died 6 October 1992. ## Details - **Work:** Actor - **Born:** 31 May 1922, Ealing, London, England, UK - **Died:** 6 October 1992 - **Active:** 1966–1989 - **Also known as:** Denholm Elliot, Denholm Mitchell Elliott - **Titles on Fi1m:** 9: 8 acting, 1 other - **Frequently works with:** [Harrison Ford](https://film.one/person/harrison-ford.md), [Ismail Merchant](https://film.one/person/ismail-merchant.md), [James Ivory](https://film.one/person/james-ivory.md), [John Rhys-Davies](https://film.one/person/john-rhys-davies.md), [Kenith Trodd](https://film.one/person/kenith-trodd.md), [Maggie Smith](https://film.one/person/maggie-smith.md), [Richard Loncraine](https://film.one/person/richard-loncraine.md), [Steven Spielberg](https://film.one/person/steven-spielberg.md) - **BAFTA Film Awards:** 3 BAFTAs (3 won) - **Average Fi1m score:** 80, as actor, over 8 titles - **Fi1m score by decade:** 1960s 79 (1), 1970s 81 (1), 1980s 80 (6), 2000s 55 (1) - **Fi1m against the critics:** 83 to 75 across 7 titles - **Score spread:** 6 at 80+, 1 at 60–79, 1 under 60 - **Lead roles:** 0 of 8 acting credits billed first or second - **Genres:** Drama 4, Adventure 3, Comedy 3, Romance 3, Action 2, Animation 1 - **Screen time:** 15 hours of reviewed films - **Box office:** $1,008m across 8 films with figures - **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Denholm_Elliott, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q313047, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001186/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/656 ## Streaming the US now - **Apple TV:** [*Raiders of the Lost Ark*](https://film.one/film/raiders-of-the-lost-ark.md) (93), [*Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade*](https://film.one/film/indiana-jones-and-the-last-crusade.md) (83) - **HBO Max:** [*A Room with a View*](https://film.one/film/a-room-with-a-view.md) (84), [*Watership Down*](https://film.one/film/watership-down.md) (81) - **Amazon Prime Video:** [*Maurice*](https://film.one/film/maurice.md) (83), [*Trading Places*](https://film.one/film/trading-places.md) (80) For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country. ## Fi1m on Denholm Elliott > Denholm Elliott makes flawed English gentlemen worth our attention, even when they scarcely deserve our sympathy. We value his warmth and his quick judgement in supporting parts; the familiar adventures offer only a partial view of his work. In *Raiders of the Lost Ark* (1981), Denholm Elliott plays the loyal museum friend of a hero who is good at getting battered. His Marcus Brody gives the hero someone to depend on, and us a quieter presence to enjoy. We warmed to Brody because Elliott makes his loyalty feel personal. Steven Spielberg earns the excitement through clear action and Harrison Ford's knack for looking capable under punishment, but there is pleasure in the supporting company too. He was not always a supporting actor: modest leading parts came before the breakthrough of *Nothing But the Best* (1964) and *Alfie* (1966). The flawed, sometimes sleazy or eccentric English gentleman became his speciality. We value his ability to keep such men interesting without insisting that we approve of them. His preference for quick, instinctive choices over elaborate preparation suits work in which a character has limited time to make an impression. *Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade* (1989) brings Brody back, though Ford and Sean Connery's father-and-son friction remains the main reason we would return. Elliott fits the affectionate comedy without needing to become the centre of it. The action sometimes repeats familiar pleasures, and a welcome supporting player cannot make every repetition fresh. There is more to his work than these adventures have room for. There is sharper company in *Trading Places* (1983), where Elliott plays the acerbic butler Coleman. In *A Room with a View* (1985), his Mr Emerson is a warm-hearted father, and the kindness matters as much as the eccentricity. We admire the way he can make an older supporting character useful to an ensemble without reducing him to a collection of amusing habits. Start with *Raiders of the Lost Ark*, then try *A Room with a View* for the gentler company. ## Biography Denholm Elliott was an English actor who appeared in numerous stage, film and television productions over a career spanning more than four decades. He was educated at Malvern College and studied briefly at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art. During the Second World War he served in the Royal Air Force as a radio operator and gunner, and spent three years as a prisoner of war. Elliott is known for his roles as Dr. Marcus Brody in *Raiders of the Lost Ark* (1981) and Marcus Brody in *Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade* (1989). Other notable film appearances include *Trading Places* (1983), *A Private Function* (1984), *A Room with a View* (1986) and *Defence of the Realm* (1986). He also worked extensively in theatre, including productions with Laurence Olivier. He received the BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role for *Trading Places*, *A Private Function* and *Defence of the Realm*, winning three consecutive years in the mid-1980s. Elliott was appointed CBE in 1988 and was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performance in *A Room with a View*. *Sources: en.wikipedia.org, britannica.com, imdb.com.* ## On Fi1m (9) ### Performed in (8) — the average rests on these - *Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade* (1989), Fi1m 83, as Marcus Brody — [page](https://film.one/film/indiana-jones-and-the-last-crusade.md) - *Maurice* (1987), Fi1m 83, as Dr. Barry — [page](https://film.one/film/maurice.md) - *A Room with a View* (1986), Fi1m 84, as Mr. Emerson — [page](https://film.one/film/a-room-with-a-view.md) - *Trading Places* (1983), Fi1m 80, as Coleman — [page](https://film.one/film/trading-places.md) - *The Missionary* (1982), Fi1m 57, as The Bishop of London — [page](https://film.one/film/the-missionary.md) - *Raiders of the Lost Ark* (1981), Fi1m 93, as Dr. Marcus Brody — [page](https://film.one/film/raiders-of-the-lost-ark.md) - *Watership Down* (1978), Fi1m 81, as Cowslip (voice) — [page](https://film.one/film/watership-down.md) - *Alfie* (1966), Fi1m 79, as The Abortionist — [page](https://film.one/film/alfie.md) ### Also credited (1) — thanks, archive footage, uncredited - *Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull* (2008), Fi1m 55, as Marcus Brody (archive footage) (uncredited) — [page](https://film.one/film/indiana-jones-and-the-kingdom-of-the-crystal-skull.md) ## Complete filmography (169) Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page. - *Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull* (2008), as Marcus Brody (archive footage) (uncredited) — Fi1m 55, [page](https://film.one/film/indiana-jones-and-the-kingdom-of-the-crystal-skull.md) - *Noises Off...* (1992), as Selsdon Mowbray / The Burglar - *Love at First Sight* (1992), series, as Thomas Wilkins - *One Against the Wind* (1991), as Father LeBlanc - *A Murder of Quality* (1991), as George Smiley - *Scorchers* (1991), as Howler - *Toy Soldiers* (1991), as Headmaster - *The Black Candle* (1991), as William Filmore - *Sunday Pursuit* (1990), as Thomas Wilkins - *The Love She Sought* (1990), as James O'Hannon - *Bangkok Hilton* (1989), series, as Hal Stanton - *Killing Dad (Or How to Love Your Mother)* (1989), as Nathy - *Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade* (1989), as Marcus Brody — Fi1m 83, [page](https://film.one/film/indiana-jones-and-the-last-crusade.md) - *Return from the River Kwai* (1989), as Colonel Grayson - *Stealing Heaven* (1988), as Fulbert - *The Bourne Identity* (1988), series, as Washburn - *Hanna's War* (1988), Actor - *Codename: Kyril* (1988), series, as Povin - *Noble House* (1988), series, as Alastair Struan - *Keys to Freedom* (1988), as Inspector Basil Crisp - *A Child's Christmas in Wales* (1987), as Old Geraint - *September* (1987), as Howard - *Maurice* (1987), as Dr. Barry — Fi1m 83, [page](https://film.one/film/maurice.md) - *The Happy Valley* (1987), as Sir Henry 'Jock' Delves Broughton - *Scoop* (1987), as Salter - *Past Caring* (1986), as Victor - *Worlds Beyond* (1986), series, as Sir Oliver - *Sunday Premiere* (1986), series, as Sir Henry 'Jock' Delves Broughton - *The Whoopee Boys* (1986), as Col. Phelps - *Defence of the Realm* (1986), as Vernon Bayliss - *Mrs. Delafield Wants to Marry* (1986), as George Parker - *A Room with a View* (1986), as Mr. Emerson — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/film/a-room-with-a-view.md) - *Hotel du Lac* (1986), as Philip Neville - *Underworld* (1985), as Dr. Savary - *The Ray Bradbury Theater* (1985), series, as Richard Braling - *Bleak House* (1985), series, as John Jarndyce - *Screen Two* (1985), series, as Philip Neville - *Camille* (1984), as Count de Noilly - *A Private Function* (1984), as Dr. Swaby - *The Razor's Edge* (1984), as Elliott Templeton - *The Hound of the Baskervilles* (1983), as Dr. Mortimer - *Trading Places* (1983), as Coleman — Fi1m 80, [page](https://film.one/film/trading-places.md) - *The Wicked Lady* (1983), as Sir Ralph Skelton - *Marco Polo* (1982), series, as Niccolò Polo - *The Missionary* (1982), as The Bishop of London — Fi1m 57, [page](https://film.one/film/the-missionary.md) - *Brimstone & Treacle* (1982), as Tom Bates - *Raiders of the Lost Ark* (1981), as Dr. Marcus Brody — Fi1m 93, [page](https://film.one/film/raiders-of-the-lost-ark.md) - *You're All Right, How Am I?* (1981), as Psychiatrist - *Sunday Lovers* (1980), as Parker (segment "An Englishman's Home") - *Blade on the Feather* (1980), as Jack Hill - *Hammer House of Horror* (1980), series, as Norman Shenley - *Rising Damp* (1980), as Charles Seymour - *In Hiding* (1980), as Bernard - *Bad Timing* (1980), as Stefan Vognic - *Gentle Folk* (1980), as F J Dobbs - *Donkeys' Years* (1980), as Alan Quine - *Cuba* (1979), as Donald Skinner - *Game for Vultures* (1979), as Raglan Thistle - *Zulu Dawn* (1979), as Colonel Pulleine - *Saint Jack* (1979), as William Leigh - *Tales of the Unexpected* (1979), series, as Harold Tinker / Colonel Tinker - *School Play* (1979), as Jeffrey Treasure - *Death Becomes Me* (1979), as Roland (archive footage) - *Watership Down* (1978), as Cowslip (voice) — Fi1m 81, [page](https://film.one/film/watership-down.md) - *The Boys from Brazil* (1978), as Sidney Beynon - *Crest of a Wave* (1978), as Jim - *Little Girl in Blue Velvet* (1978), as Mike - *The Hound of the Baskervilles* (1978), as Stapleton - *Sweeney 2* (1978), as Ex-Det. Chief Superintendent Jupp - *Shooting the Chandelier* (1977), as Semyon - *Across the Andes by Frog* (1977), as Mr. Gregory - *Premiere* (1977), series, as Jim - *BBC2 Play of the Week* (1977), series, as Semyon - *The Strange Case of the End of Civilization as We Know It* (1977), as English Delegate - *A Bridge Too Far* (1977), as RAF meteorologist officer - *Supernatural* (1977), series, as Geoffrey Manners - *The Velvet Glove* (1977), series, as C W Leadbeater - *Voyage of the Damned* (1976), as Admiral Canaris - *The Signalman* (1976), as The Signalman - *Brimstone and Treacle* (1976), as Tom Bates - *Robin and Marian* (1976), as Will Scarlet - *To the Devil a Daughter* (1976), as Henry Beddows - *Partners* (1976), as John Grey - *Ripping Yarns* (1976), series, as Mr. Gregory - *Clayhanger* (1976), series, as Tertius Ingpen - *Shades of Greene* (1975), series, as The Author, William Wilditch - *Russian Roulette* (1975), as John Petapiece - *The Crazy Kill* (1975), as Dr. Frank Henson - *Percy's Progress* (1974), as Sir Emmanuel Whitbread - *The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz* (1974), as Friar - *Playhouse* (1974), series, as Geoffrey Treasure, Bernard, Psychiatrist, F.J. Dobbs - *The Lady from the Sea* (1974), as Dr. Wangel - *The Last Chapter* (1974), as Robert Murray - *The Song of Songs* (1973), series, as Dr. Salmoni - *Thriller* (1973), series, as Dr. Frank Henson - *A Doll's House* (1973), as Nils Krogstad - *The Vault of Horror* (1973), as Diltant (segment 5 "Drawn and Quartered") - *Anywhere but England* (1972), as Miles - *Follow the Yellow Brick Road* (1972), as Jack Black - *Night Duty* (1972), as Swan - *The Sextet* (1972), series, as Ellis, Swan, Max Firebrace, Jack Black, Edgar, Stanley, Peter Lelliot, Francis Ramsdale - *Madame Sin* (1972), as Malcolm De Vere - *A Ghost Story for Christmas* (1971), series, as The Signalman - *The Persuaders!* (1971), series, as Roland - *Quest for Love* (1971), as Tom Lewis - *The Wild Duck* (1971), as Hjalmar Ekdal, Hedvig's father - *The House That Dripped Blood* (1971), as Charles Hillyer (segment 1 "Method for Murder") - *Percy* (1971), as Emmanuel Whitbread - *The Rise and Rise of Michael Rimmer* (1970), as Peter Niss - *Too Late the Hero* (1970), as Captain Hornsby - *Scenes from Family Life* (1969), as Walter - *Plays of Today* (1969), series, as Walter - *ITV Saturday Night Theatre* (1969), series, as Arthur Gosport, Harry Griffin - *The Sea Gull* (1968), as Dr. Yevgeny Dorn - *The Night They Raided Minsky's* (1968), as Vance Fowler - *Dracula* (1968), as Count Dracula - *Let's Murder Vivaldi* (1968), as Gerald - *Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush* (1968), as Mr. George Beauchamp - *The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde* (1968), as George Devlin - *Coronet Blue* (1967), series, as Roger Crowell - Imposter - *Maroc 7* (1967), as Inspector Barrada - *The Spy with a Cold Nose* (1966), as Pond-Jones - *Alfie* (1966), as The Abortionist — Fi1m 79, [page](https://film.one/film/alfie.md) - *The Fall of the House of Usher* (1966), as Roderick Usher - *Mystery and Imagination* (1966), series, as Roderick Usher, Count Dracula - *King Rat* (1965), as Larkin - *BBC Play of the Month* (1965), series, as Hjalmar Ekdal - *Thirty-Minute Theatre* (1965), series, as The Interviewer - *The Wednesday Thriller* (1965), series, as John Fairchild - *You Must Be Joking* (1965), as Captain Tabasco - *Man and Mirror* (1965), as Geoffrey Manners - *The Man in Room 17* (1965), series, as Imlac Defraits - *The Holy Terror* (1965), as Herbert - *A Little Temptation* (1965), as Vincent - *The High Bright Sun* (1964), as Baker - *The Wednesday Play* (1964), series, as Vincent, Gerald - *Detective* (1964), series, as Reggie Fortune - *Nothing But the Best* (1964), as Charlie Prince - *The Invincible Mr. Disraeli* (1963), as Montague Corry - *Station Six-Sahara* (1963), as Macey - *Sunday-Night Play* (1960), series, Actor - *Danger Man* (1960), series, as Basil Jordan - *Armchair Mystery Theatre* (1960), series, as Geoffrey Manners - *Scent of Mystery* (1960), as Oliver Larker - *The Moon and Sixpence* (1959), as The Writer - *The Winslow Boy* (1958), as Sir Robert Morton - *Wuthering Heights* (1958), as Edgar Linton - *Twelfth Night* (1957), as Sebastian - *Suspicion* (1957), series, Actor - *DuPont Show of the Month* (1957), series, as Charles Darnay - *The Lark* (1957), as Warwick - *Armchair Theatre* (1956), series, as Henry Thomas, Miles - *Pacific Destiny* (1956), as Arthur Grimble - *Alfred Hitchcock Presents* (1955), series, as Jack Lyons, John Manbridge - *The Night My Number Came Up* (1955), as Fl. Lt. McKenzie - *The Man Who Loved Redheads* (1955), as Denis - *Lease of Life* (1954), as Martin Blake - *They Who Dare* (1954), as Sergeant Corcoran - *The Heart of the Matter* (1953), as Wilson - *The Cruel Sea* (1953), as Morell - *The Holly and the Ivy* (1952), as Michael Gregory - *The Ringer* (1952), as John Lemley - *The Sound Barrier* (1952), as Christopher Ridgefield - *Hallmark Hall of Fame* (1951), series, as Warwick, Father LeBlanc, Count, Sebastian, Herbert, Montague Corry - *Lux Video Theatre* (1950), series, as Dick - *Sunday Night Theatre* (1950), series, as Colby Simpkins, Mr. Julien, Stefan - *Dear Mr. Prohack* (1949), as Oswald Morfrey - *Suspense* (1949), series, Actor - *Studio One* (1948), series, as Eric Inwood ## Gallery - ![Denholm Elliott](https://film.one/media/person/102637/gallery-6de3bbca7871.jpg) Denholm Elliott — PBS, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f9/Denholm_Elliott_1987_PBS_publicity_%28cropped%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled) - ![Denholm Elliott](https://film.one/media/person/102637/gallery-1cef05394afa.jpg) Denholm Elliott — Image via TMDB - ![Denholm Elliott](https://film.one/media/person/102637/gallery-987af0703283.jpg) Denholm Elliott — Image via TMDB - ![Denholm Elliott](https://film.one/media/person/102637/gallery-205dfa9a1b0a.jpg) Denholm Elliott — Image via TMDB - ![Denholm Elliott](https://film.one/media/person/102637/gallery-13eff562b5fc.jpg) Denholm Elliott — Image via TMDB - ![Denholm Elliott](https://film.one/media/person/102637/gallery-716a4d3d2828.jpg) Denholm Elliott — Image via TMDB - ![Denholm Elliott](https://film.one/media/person/102637/gallery-37c2433af6db.jpg) Denholm Elliott — Image via TMDB ## Awards ### Academy Awards — 0 won, 1 nominated - 1987: Best Supporting Actor (nominated), for *A Room with a View* ### BAFTA Film Awards — 3 won - 1986: Best Actor in a Supporting Role (won), for *Defence of the Realm* - 1985: Best Actor in a Supporting Role (won), for *A Private Function* - 1984: Best Actor in a Supporting Role (won), for *Trading Places* *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/denholm-elliott