---
name: "Ralph Forbes"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/ralph-forbes"
roles: ["Actor"]
born: "29 September 1904"
died: "31 March 1951"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 4
average_fi1m_score: 72
average_as: "actor"
average_over: 4
updated: "2026-09-19T23:33:27.859955+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."
---

# Ralph Forbes

Actor. Born 29 September 1904 in Wandsworth, London, England, UK. Died 31 March 1951.

## Details

- **Work:** Actor
- **Born:** 29 September 1904, Wandsworth, London, England, UK
- **Died:** 31 March 1951
- **Active:** 1932–1937
- **Frequently works with:** [Claudine West](https://film.one/person/claudine-west.md), [Ernest Vajda](https://film.one/person/ernest-vajda.md), [Fredric March](https://film.one/person/fredric-march.md), [Irving Thalberg](https://film.one/person/irving-thalberg.md), [Norma Shearer](https://film.one/person/norma-shearer.md), [Sidney Franklin](https://film.one/person/sidney-franklin.md)
- **Average Fi1m score:** 72, as actor, over 4 titles
- **Score spread:** 1 at 80+, 3 at 60–79, 0 under 60
- **Lead roles:** 0 of 3 acting credits billed first or second
- **Genres:** Drama 4, Romance 3, Comedy 1
- **Screen time:** 7 hours of reviewed films
- **Box office:** $3m across 2 films with figures
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ralph_Forbes, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q3418251, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0285391/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/47178

## Biography

Ralph Forbes (born Ralph Forbes Taylor) was an English stage and film actor active in Britain and the United States. He was born on 30 September 1904 in Wandsworth, London, the son of actress Mary Forbes and E. J. Taylor; his younger sister Brenda Forbes also became an actress.

Forbes began his career on the English stage before moving into films. His screen credits include *Smilin' Through* (1932) as Willie Ainley and *The Barretts of Wimpole Street* (1934) as Captain Surtees Cook. He appeared in other films such as *Twentieth Century* (1934), *Romeo and Juliet* (1936), *Mary of Scotland* (1936), *Stage Door* (1937) and *The Hound of the Baskervilles* (1939). His later work included Broadway stage productions until the late 1940s.

Forbes died on 31 March 1951 in New York City, aged 46.

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

## On Fi1m (4)

- *Stage Door* (1937), Fi1m 85, as Cast of Stage Play — [page](https://film.one/film/stage-door.md)
- *Romeo and Juliet* (1936), Fi1m 63, as Paris — [page](https://film.one/film/romeo-and-juliet.md)
- *The Barretts of Wimpole Street* (1934), Fi1m 72, as Captain Surtees Cook — [page](https://film.one/film/the-barretts-of-wimpole-street.md)
- *Smilin' Through* (1932), Fi1m 67, as Willie Ainley — [page](https://film.one/film/smilin-through.md)

## Complete filmography (72)

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

- *Frenchman's Creek* (1944), as Harry St. Columb
- *Curtain Call* (1940), as Leslie Barrivale
- *Adventure in Diamonds* (1940), as Mr. Perrins
- *Calling Philo Vance* (1940), as Tom McDonald
- *Tower of London* (1939), as Henry Tudor
- *The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex* (1939), as Lord Knollys
- *The Magnificent Fraud* (1939), as Harrison Todd
- *The Hound of the Baskervilles* (1939), as Sir Hugo Baskerville
- *Convicts at Large* (1938), as David Brent
- *Annabel Takes a Tour* (1938), as Viscount Ronald River-Clyde
- *If I Were King* (1938), as Oliver le Dain
- *Kidnapped* (1938), as James
- *Women Are Like That* (1938), as Martin Brush
- *Stage Door* (1937), as Cast of Stage Play — Fi1m 85, [page](https://film.one/film/stage-door.md)
- *Make a Wish* (1937), as Walter Mays
- *Woman Against the World* (1937), as Larry Steele
- *The Legion of Missing Men* (1937), as Bob Carter
- *The Thirteenth Chair* (1937), as Major Lionel Trent
- *The Last of Mrs. Cheyney* (1937), as Cousin John Clayborn
- *Rich Relations* (1937), as Dave Walton
- *Love Letters of a Star* (1936), as Meredith Landers
- *Daniel Boone* (1936), as Stephen Marlowe
- *Romeo and Juliet* (1936), as Paris — Fi1m 63, [page](https://film.one/film/romeo-and-juliet.md)
- *Piccadilly Jim* (1936), as Lord Frederick 'Freddie' Priory
- *Mary of Scotland* (1936), as Randolph
- *I'll Name the Murderer* (1936), as Tommy Tilton
- *The Three Musketeers* (1935), as Duke of Buckingham
- *The Goose and the Gander* (1935), as Ralph Summers
- *Streamline Express* (1935), as Fred Arnold
- *Rescue Squad* (1935), as DeWitt Porter
- *Age of Indiscretion* (1935), as Felix Shaw
- *Enchanted April* (1935), as Peppo Briggs
- *Strange Wives* (1934), as Paul
- *Outcast Lady* (1934), as Boy Fenwick
- *The Barretts of Wimpole Street* (1934), as Captain Surtees Cook — Fi1m 72, [page](https://film.one/film/the-barretts-of-wimpole-street.md)
- *The Fountain* (1934), as Ballater
- *Shock* (1934), as Derek Marbury
- *Twentieth Century* (1934), as George Smith
- *Riptide* (1934), as David Fenwick
- *The Mystery of Mr. X* (1934), as Sir Christopher Marche
- *Bombay Mail* (1934), as William Luke-Patson
- *The Solitaire Man* (1933), as Bascom
- *The Avenger* (1933), as Norman Craig
- *Pleasure Cruise* (1933), as Richard Orloff / Taversham
- *The Phantom Broadcast* (1933), as Norman Wilder
- *Christopher Strong* (1933), as Harry Rawlinson
- *Smilin' Through* (1932), as Willie Ainley — Fi1m 67, [page](https://film.one/film/smilin-through.md)
- *Thunder Below* (1932), as Davis
- *Beau Ideal* (1931), as John Geste
- *The Bachelor Father* (1931), as John Ashley
- *Her Wedding Night* (1930), as Larry Charters
- *Inside the Lines* (1930), as Eric Woodhouse
- *The Lady of Scandal* (1930), as John
- *Mamba* (1930), as Karl von Reiden
- *The Green Goddess* (1930), as Dr. Traherne
- *Lilies of the Field* (1930), as Ted Willing
- *Restless Youth* (1928), as Bruce Neil
- *The Masks of the Devil* (1928), as Manfred
- *The Whip* (1928), as Lord Brancaster
- *The Actress* (1928), as Arthur Gower
- *Under the Black Eagle* (1928), as Karl von Zorn
- *The Trail of '98* (1928), as Larry
- *The Latest from Paris* (1928), as Joe Adams
- *The Enemy* (1927), as Carl Behrend
- *Mr. Wu* (1927), as Basil Gregory
- *Beau Geste* (1926), as John Geste
- *Charley's Aunt* (1926), as Jack Chesney
- *Réveille* (1924), as The Kid
- *Owd Bob* (1924), as David McAdam
- *Comin' Thro the Rye* (1923), as George Tempest
- *The Glorious Adventure* (1922), as Courtier (uncredited)
- *A Lowland Cinderella* (1922), as Master of Darrock

## Gallery

- ![Film actor Ralph Forbes. Subjects (LCTGM): actors (1930)](https://film.one/media/person/1226597/gallery-cf5795624c11.jpg) Film actor Ralph Forbes. Subjects (LCTGM): actors (1930) — Unknown photographerUnknown photographer, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a4/Film_actor_Ralph_Forbes_%28SAYRE_826%29.jpg/1280px-Film_actor_Ralph_Forbes_%28SAYRE_826%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Ralph Forbes](https://film.one/media/person/1226597/gallery-6b1a27621593.jpg) Ralph Forbes — film screenshot, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/3d/Ralph_Forbes_in_Daniel_Boone_%281936%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![G. B. Falci 64 - Renée Adorée and Ralp Forbes in Mister Wu](https://film.one/media/person/1226597/gallery-017564b11dc1.jpg) G. B. Falci 64 - Renée Adorée and Ralp Forbes in Mister Wu — G. B. Falci, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/41/G._B._Falci_64_-_Ren%C3%A9e_Ador%C3%A9e_and_Ralp_Forbes_in_Mister_Wu.jpg/1280px-G._B._Falci_64_-_Ren%C3%A9e_Ador%C3%A9e_and_Ralp_Forbes_in_Mister_Wu.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![G. B. Falci 67 - Renée Adorée and Ralp Forbes in Mister Wu](https://film.one/media/person/1226597/gallery-086d7655665a.jpg) G. B. Falci 67 - Renée Adorée and Ralp Forbes in Mister Wu — G. B. Falci, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/9c/G._B._Falci_67_-_Ren%C3%A9e_Ador%C3%A9e_and_Ralp_Forbes_in_Mister_Wu.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Ralph Forbes](https://film.one/media/person/1226597/gallery-ab3247e54f4a.jpg) Ralph Forbes — Image via TMDB
- ![Ralph Forbes](https://film.one/media/person/1226597/gallery-e309c6e34269.jpg) Ralph Forbes — 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/ralph-forbes