Photo: Universal Pictures / Public domain (source: Wikimedia Commons)
Claude Rains was born on November 10, 1889 in Clapham, United Kingdom and was credited as a film actor, character actor and stage actor. Death is recorded on May 30, 1967, at the age of 77. Listed accolades include Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play (1951), star on Hollywood Walk of Fame and Donaldson Awards. The listed height was 169 cm.
My Take
Claude Rains is, to me, the gold standard of the character actor who quietly steals every scene he enters. He never needed to top the bill; that voice and those knowing eyes did all the work, letting him layer menace and refinement into the same breath. Four supporting Oscar nominations and a Tony tell you the industry knew it too, yet I value him most for how effortless he made the cultured villain look during Hollywood's Golden Age. Standing under five-foot-seven, he loomed larger than anyone on screen. He is the actor I point to when explaining why supporting roles matter.
1. Profile
- Name (English)
- Claude Rains
- Name (Japanese)
- クロード・レインズ
- Reading
- くろーど・れいんず
- Born
- November 10, 1889 – May 30, 1967
- Zodiac / Chinese zodiac
- Scorpio / Ox
- Origin
- Clapham, United Kingdom
- Height
- 169 cm
- Occupation
- film actor / character actor / stage actor / television actor / actor
2. Background
Awards & achievements
- 1951 Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play
- star on Hollywood Walk of Fame
- Donaldson Awards
3. Links
4. About this entry
Tags
- Last updated
- 2026-06-17
Facts are limited to publicly available information up to 2024; non-public or unconfirmed items are omitted. English text is machine-assisted (facts translated by Sonnet, "My Take" written by Opus 4.8). The Japanese page is the source of record.
Frequently asked questions
When was Claude Rains born?
Born November 10, 1889.
When did Claude Rains die?
Died May 30, 1967, aged 77.
Where was Claude Rains from?
Claude Rains was from Clapham, United Kingdom.
What did Claude Rains do?
Claude Rains worked as film actor, character actor, stage actor, television actor, actor.
How tall was Claude Rains?
Claude Rains was 169 cm.
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