--- name: "Michael Hordern" canonical: "https://film.one/person/michael-hordern" roles: ["Actor"] born: "3 October 1911" died: "2 May 1995" reviewed_on_fi1m: 7 average_fi1m_score: 74 average_as: "actor" average_over: 7 updated: "2026-09-20T05:19:44.581663+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." --- # Michael Hordern Actor. Born 3 October 1911 in Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire, England, UK. Died 2 May 1995. ## Details - **Work:** Actor - **Born:** 3 October 1911, Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire, England, UK - **Died:** 2 May 1995 - **Active:** 1963–1987 - **Also known as:** Sir Michael Hordern, Sir Michael Murray Hordern, Michael Murray Hordern, Майкл Хордерн - **Average Fi1m score:** 74, as actor, over 7 titles - **Fi1m score by decade:** 1960s 62 (2), 1970s 83 (2), 1980s 77 (3) - **Fi1m against the critics:** 75 to 67 across 5 titles - **Score spread:** 3 at 80+, 4 at 60–79, 0 under 60 - **Lead roles:** 0 of 1 acting credits billed first or second - **Genres:** Drama 6, History 4, Adventure 2, Romance 2, Animation 1, Crime 1 - **Screen time:** 16 hours of reviewed films - **Box office:** $183m across 5 films with figures - **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Hordern, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q956867, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0394588/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/39741 ## Biography Sir Michael Hordern (3 October 1911 – 2 May 1995) was an English actor. Born in Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire, he began his stage career in the 1930s and served in the Royal Navy during the Second World War before resuming work in theatre, film and television. He appeared in nearly 140 films, often in supporting roles, including Thomas Boleyn in *Anne of the Thousand Days* (1969), Admiral Rolland in *Where Eagles Dare* (1968), Cicero in *Cleopatra* (1963) and Sir George Hodge in *Gandhi* (1982). He provided voice narration for *Barry Lyndon* (1975) and voiced characters in *Watership Down* (1978) and *Labyrinth* (1986). Hordern was appointed CBE in 1972 and knighted in 1983 for services to the theatre. His later work included extensive television and radio appearances. *Sources: en.wikipedia.org, imdb.com.* ## On Fi1m (7) - *Inspector Morse* (1987), Fi1m 84, as Doctor Starkie — [page](https://film.one/tv/inspector-morse.md) - *Labyrinth* (1986), Fi1m 74, as The Wiseman (voice) — [page](https://film.one/film/labyrinth.md) - *Gandhi* (1982), Fi1m 73, as Sir George Hodge — [page](https://film.one/film/gandhi.md) - *Watership Down* (1978), Fi1m 81, as Frith (voice) — [page](https://film.one/film/watership-down.md) - *Barry Lyndon* (1975), Fi1m 85, as Narrator (voice) — [page](https://film.one/film/barry-lyndon.md) - *Anne of the Thousand Days* (1969), Fi1m 60, as Thomas Boleyn — [page](https://film.one/film/anne-of-the-thousand-days.md) - *Cleopatra* (1963), Fi1m 63, as Cicero — [page](https://film.one/film/cleopatra.md) ## Complete filmography (195) Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page. - *Walt Disney Treasures - Dr. Syn: The Scarecrow of Romney Marsh* (2008), as Squire Thomas Banks (archive footage) - *A Very Open Prison* (1995), as Lord Langland - *Middlemarch* (1994), series, as Peter Featherstone - *Paddington Bear's Alphabet Treasure Hunt* (1993), as Narrator - *The Christmas Collection* (1992), as Badger (voice) - *Freddie As F.R.O.7.* (1992), as King (voice) - *Truckers* (1992), as The Abbot (voice) - *Memento Mori* (1992), as Godfrey Colston - *Beauty and the Beast* (1992), as Monsieur Du Blois (voice) - *The Fool* (1990), as Mr. Tatham - *The Green Man* (1990), series, as Gramps - *Diamond Skulls* (1990), as Lord Crewne - *More Children's Holiday Favourites* (1990), as Badger (voice) - *Perfect Scoundrels* (1990), series, as Sir Norman - *Oh, Mr. Toad* (1990), series, as Badger - *Chillers* (1990), series, as Colonel Eddie Phelps - *The Wind in the Willows: A Tale of Two Toads* (1989), as Badger (voice) - *Danny the Champion of the World* (1989), as Lord Claybury - *More Children's Summer Stories* (1989), as Badger (voice) - *Lollipop Children's Favourites - Volume 1* (1989), as Badger (voice) - *Lollipop Children's Favourites - Volume 2* (1989), as Badger (voice) - *The Dog It Was That Died* (1989), as George - *Ending Up* (1989), as George - *Children's Favourites - Volume 1* (1988), as Badger (voice) - *The Trouble with Spies* (1987), as Jason Locke - *The Secret Garden* (1987), as Ben Weatherstaff - *Daytime Live* (1987), series, Actor - *Comrades* (1987), as Mr. Pitt - *The Secret World of Polly Flint* (1987), series, as Narrator - *Scoop* (1987), as Uncle Theodor - *The Secret World of Polly Flint* (1987), as Narrator - *Inspector Morse* (1987), series, as Doctor Starkie — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/tv/inspector-morse.md) - *Suspicion* (1987), as Lord McLaidlaw - *The Wind in the Willows: Winter Tales* (1986), as Badger (voice) - *Paradise Postponed* (1986), series, as Rev. Simeon Simcox - *Labyrinth* (1986), as The Wiseman (voice) — Fi1m 74, [page](https://film.one/film/labyrinth.md) - *Paradise Postponed* (1986), as Simeon Simcox - *Lady Jane* (1986), as Dr. Feckenham - *Lovejoy* (1986), series, as Wilfred Shotley - *Paddington Goes to School* (1986), as Vocals - *Paddington's Birthday Bonanza* (1986), as Narrator - *Young Sherlock Holmes* (1985), as Older Watson (voice) - *Theatre Night* (1985), series, Actor - *A Crack in the Ice* (1985), as The Storyteller - *Now Voyager* (1985), as The Old Man - *Screen Two* (1985), series, as Lord Langland, Godfrey Colston - *The Zany Adventures of Robin Hood* (1984), as Psychoanalyst - *The Wind in the Willows* (1984), series, as Badger (voice) - *The Wind in the Willows* (1983), as Badger - *Cymbeline* (1983), as Jupiter - *Yellowbeard* (1983), as Dr. Gilpin - *Clash of Loyalties* (1983), as Narrator - *Gandhi* (1982), as Sir George Hodge — Fi1m 73, [page](https://film.one/film/gandhi.md) - *The Missionary* (1982), as Slatterthewaite/Narrator - *King Lear* (1982), as King Lear - *Oliver Twist* (1982), as Mr. Brownlow - *Ivanhoe* (1982), as Cedric - *American Playhouse* (1982), series, as Lord McLaidlaw - *You're All Right, How Am I?* (1981), as Patient - *The History Man* (1981), series, as Professor Marvin - *All's Well That Ends Well* (1981), as Lafeu - *Shōgun* (1980), series, as Friar Domingo - *The Wildcats of St Trinian's* (1980), as Sir Charles Hackforth - *Gauguin the Savage* (1980), as Durand-Huel - *Paddington Bear Goes to the Movies* (1980), as Narrator (voice) - *The Tempest* (1980), as Prospero - *The Spirit of Cheshire* (1980), Actor - *Tales of the Unexpected* (1979), series, as Cyril Bixby - *The Talking Parcel* (1978), as Oswald, the Sea Serpent - *Romeo and Juliet* (1978), as Capulet - *The BBC Television Shakespeare* (1978), series, as Capulet, Prospero, Lafeu - *Watership Down* (1978), as Frith (voice) — Fi1m 81, [page](https://film.one/film/watership-down.md) - *The Medusa Touch* (1978), as Atropos - Fortune Teller - *A Christmas Carol* (1977), as Ebenezer Scrooge - *Joseph Andrews* (1977), as Parson Adams - *The Chester Mystery Plays* (1976), as God - *Cakes and Ale* (1976), series, as Willie Ashenden - *The Slipper and the Rose* (1976), as King - *Paddington Bear* (1976), series, as Narrator - *Paddington Bear* (1976), as Narrator / All - *Paddington* (1976), series, as Narrator - *Lucky Lady* (1975), as Captain Rockwell - *Barry Lyndon* (1975), as Narrator (voice) — Fi1m 85, [page](https://film.one/film/barry-lyndon.md) - *The Old Curiosity Shop* (1975), as Edward Trent - *Royal Flash* (1975), as Headmaster - *Edward the Seventh* (1975), series, as W. E. Gladstone - *King Lear* (1975), as King Lear - *Juggernaut* (1974), as Mr. Baker - *Fall of Eagles* (1974), series, as Narrator, Narrator (voice) - *Playhouse* (1974), series, as Patient - *The Three Musketeers* (1973), as Treville (voice) - *The MacKintosh Man* (1973), as Brown - *England Made Me* (1973), as F. Minty - *Theatre of Blood* (1973), as George Maxwell - *The Pied Piper* (1972), as Melius, Alchemist - *Alice's Adventures in Wonderland* (1972), as Mock Turtle - *Demons of the Mind* (1972), as Priest - *The Possession of Joel Delaney* (1972), as Justin - *A Ghost Story for Christmas* (1971), series, as Professor Parkins - *A Christmas Carol* (1971), as Marley's Ghost (voice) - *Tall Stories* (1971), series, Actor - *Girl Stroke Boy* (1971), as George Mason - *Up Pompeii* (1971), as Ludicrus Sextus - *Six Dates with Barker* (1971), series, as Arch Funster - *Some Will, Some Won't* (1970), as Denniston Russell - *Futtocks End* (1970), as The Butler - *Anne of the Thousand Days* (1969), as Thomas Boleyn — Fi1m 60, [page](https://film.one/film/anne-of-the-thousand-days.md) - *The Bed Sitting Room* (1969), as Bules Martin - *Where Eagles Dare* (1968), as Adm. Rolland - *Prudence and the Pill* (1968), as Dr. Morley (uncredited) - *Whistle and I'll Come to You* (1968), as Professor Parkins - *I'll Never Forget What's'isname* (1967), as Headmaster - *How I Won the War* (1967), as Grapple - *Omnibus* (1967), series, as Professor Parkins - *The Jokers* (1967), as Sir Matthew - *The Taming of the Shrew* (1967), as Baptista - *Sir Arthur Conan Doyle* (1967), series, as Prof. Ainslie Grey - *A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum* (1966), as Senex - *Khartoum* (1966), as Lord Granville - *Cast a Giant Shadow* (1966), as British Ambassador - *Turner* (1966), as Reads recollections - *The Spy Who Came In from the Cold* (1965), as Ashe - *BBC Play of the Month* (1965), series, as Mr. Posket, God, The Devil, Tartuffe, Lear - *Genghis Khan* (1965), as Geen - *The Yellow Rolls-Royce* (1964), as Harnsworth - *The Wednesday Play* (1964), series, as Sir Jocelyn Symonds, Gen. Kokoshkin, Chief of Police - *Story Parade* (1964), series, as Anatol Stiller - *Detective* (1964), series, as Detective Inspector Rason - *Macbeth* (1964), as Banquo - *The Scarecrow of Romney Marsh* (1964), series, as Squire Banks - *Dr. Syn, Alias the Scarecrow* (1963), as Squire Thomas Banks - *Festival* (1963), series, as Sir Augustus Thwaites - *Espionage* (1963), series, as Minister - *The V.I.P.s* (1963), as Airport Director - *Cleopatra* (1963), as Cicero — Fi1m 63, [page](https://film.one/film/cleopatra.md) - *El Cid* (1961), as Don Diego - *The Square* (1961), as The Man - *Man in the Moon* (1960), as Dr. Davidson - *Sunday-Night Play* (1960), series, as Walter Ormund - *Sink the Bismarck!* (1960), as Admiral Sir John Tovey, Commander-in-Chief - 'King George' - *Moment of Danger* (1960), as Inspector Farrell - *Back to Back* (1959), Actor - *I Was Monty's Double* (1958), as Governor of Gibralter - *Girls at Sea* (1958), as Admiral Reginald Victor Hewitt - *The Spaniard's Curse* (1958), as Judge Manton - *I Accuse!* (1958), as Prosecutor at Second Dreyfus Trial - *Windom's Way* (1957), as Patterson - *No Time for Tears* (1957), as Surgeon - *The Dock Brief* (1957), as Morgenhall - *The Spanish Gardener* (1956), as Harrington Brande - *Armchair Theatre* (1956), series, as Det. Supt. Coates - *The Baby and the Battleship* (1956), as Capt. Hugh - *The Man Who Never Was* (1956), as Gen. Coburn - *Alexander the Great* (1956), as Demosthenes - *Pacific Destiny* (1956), as Resident Commissioner - *Storm Over the Nile* (1955), as General Faversham - *The Constant Husband* (1955), as The Judge - *The Dark Avenger* (1955), as King Edward - *The Night My Number Came Up* (1955), as Lindsay - *The Wonderful World of Disney* (1954), series, as Squire Banks - *Svengali* (1954), as Billy's Uncle - *The Beachcomber* (1954), as The Headman - *Forbidden Cargo* (1954), as Director of Customs - *You Know What Sailors Are* (1954), Actor - *The Heart of the Matter* (1953), as Commissioner - *Personal Affair* (1953), as Headmaster Griffith - *Grand National Night* (1953), as Inspector Ayling - *Street Corner* (1953), as Insp. Heron - *The Hour of 13* (1952), as Herbert Frensham - *The Story of Robin Hood and His Merrie Men* (1952), as Scathelock - *The Card* (1952), as Bank Manager - *The Magic Box* (1952), as Official Receiver - *Hallmark Hall of Fame* (1951), series, as Banquo, Ben Weatherstaff, Cardinal Barberini, later Pope Urban VIII - *Scrooge* (1951), as Jacob Marley - *Tom Brown's Schooldays* (1951), as Wilkes - *Flesh and Blood* (1951), as Webster - *Highly Dangerous* (1950), as Lab Director Owens - *Trio* (1950), as Vicar - *The Astonished Heart* (1950), as Ernest - *Sunday Night Theatre* (1950), series, as Epilogue spoken by (voice), Jacques, Hugh Wigmore, Trigorin, General Parmenion, Christopher Williams, Major Booth Voysey, Rev. James Mavor Morell, Shylock, Maurice Lammering - *Passport to Pimlico* (1949), as Bashford - *Train of Events* (1949), as First Plain Clothes Man - *Portrait from Life* (1948), as Johnson - *The Small Voice* (1948), as Dr. Mennell - *Good-Time Girl* (1948), as Seddon - *Nightbeat* (1947), as Police Training Officer - *Mine Own Executioner* (1947), as Co-Counsel at Inquest - *Rebecca* (1947), as Maxim de Winter - *School for Secrets* (1946), as Lt. Cmdr. Lowther - *Morning Departure* (1946), as Commander Gates - *A Girl in a Million* (1946), as Divorce Counsel - *The Years Between* (1946), as Member of Parliament (uncredited) - *Girl in the News* (1940), as Assistant Prosecuting Counsel (Uncredited) - *Band Waggon* (1940), as (uncredited) - *A Girl Must Live* (1939), Actor ## Gallery - ![Michael Hordern](https://film.one/media/person/362366/gallery-d261058981f6.jpg) Michael Hordern — Distributed by PBS/Mobil Masterpiece Theatre, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/25/Publicity_photo_of_Sir_Michael_Hordern_in_1986.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled) - ![Michael Hordern](https://film.one/media/person/362366/gallery-6809ceca96bb.jpg) Michael Hordern — Image via TMDB - ![Michael Hordern](https://film.one/media/person/362366/gallery-445512faf31e.jpg) Michael Hordern — Image via TMDB - ![Michael Hordern](https://film.one/media/person/362366/gallery-8270108650ca.jpg) Michael Hordern — Image via TMDB - ![Michael Hordern](https://film.one/media/person/362366/gallery-24e8578fdbc0.jpg) Michael Hordern — Image via TMDB --- © 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/michael-hordern