Biography
Russell Thorndike (also credited as Arthur Russell Thorndike) was a British actor and novelist. Born in Rochester, Kent, he trained at Ben Greet's Academy and began his stage career in 1903, appearing in Shakespearean roles with his sister Sybil Thorndike and touring extensively before and after the First World War, in which he served and was wounded at Gallipoli.
His film appearances were infrequent. He played the Duke of Bourbon in Henry V (1944), the Harpist's Master (uncredited) in Caesar and Cleopatra (1945), a Priest in Laurence Olivier's Hamlet (1948) and First Priest in Richard III (1955). He is best known for his series of Doctor Syn novels, beginning in 1915, and for stage work that included playing Smee in multiple revivals of Peter Pan.
Thorndike married actress Rosemary Dowson in 1918. He died in 1972.
