It is interesting to say that what we know today as the “fandom” would not have existed without Sir Conan Doyle’s detective short stories from the late nineteenth century. In fact, the stories were so popular that in 1964 they held the second highest selling spot worldwide after The Bible. The widespread popularity can only be assigned to obsessive personalities Sherlock Holmes himself and his trusted companion, Dr. John Watson.
Updated April 13, 2023: If you’re here for the best actors who have played Sherlock Holmes, you’ll be happy to know that we’ve updated this article with new entries.
The interest—indeed, the investment—in the dynamic duo by the film industry over the years has been unprecedented. A wide range of people, from directors Guy Ritchie to Paul McGuigan, have taken a different approach to the methodical detective and its story. They each had a different actor in mind to portray the oddly unique detective and his habits. Take a look at these 12 actors who did a better job.
12 Ronald Howard as Sherlock Holmes (1954-1955)
Marking the first American TV adaptation of The Great British Detective Show, 1954 Sherlock Holmes stars Ronald Howard in the titular role, with the actor choosing to give the character a more relaxed, disciplined quality in contrast to Basil Rathbone’s high frequency in Hollywood films. The program was conceived to present a more serious, modern version of Holmes to audiences, and took inspiration from Arthur Conan Doyle Study in ScarletAnd It is the novel that introduced the famous detective to the world for the first time.
The series ran for one season and consisted of 39 episodes, and remained the only television adaptation in the United States of the classic stories until 2012. primary. Howard’s outing as the great detective was well received and his beloved ambitious take on Sherlock Holmes helped pave the way for future installments.
11 Yoko Takeuchi in Miss Sherlock (2018)
From Jeremy Brett, the quintessential Holmes, to Benedict Cumberbatch, the beloved detective of the 21st century, more than 75 actors have played Sherlock Holmes in films and on television. Of course, we have many unexpected situations for the classic detective. One such story is a female-led Japanese adaptation of Sir Conan Doyle’s stories.
with Yoko Takeuchi in the leading role, Miss Sherlock It follows brilliant detective Sarah ‘Sherlock’ Shelley Futaba, as he solves mysteries with her best friend, Dr. Watou Tachibana (played by Japanese actress Shihori Kanjia), in modern-day Tokyo. Miss Sherlock The first major series to cast a woman to play Sherlock Holmes, it’s well worth a watch for any fan of detective stories.
10 Arthur Wuntner in The Sleeping Cardinal (1931), et al
Arthur Winterner She portrayed a sly and elegant version of the legendary detective in five British films from 1931 to 1937, beginning with Sleeping CardinalAnd which follows the brilliant detective as he faces off once again against his arch-nemesis Professor Moriarty with the help of his trusted partner Dr. Watson (Ian Fleming) after the criminal blackmails a foreign diplomat. Wontner would go on to reprise his character for four additional films, completing his tenure in 1937 Silver fire.
His role as Holmes was very well received and many believed that he was the perfect embodiment of Arthur Conan Doyle’s beloved character. Writer Vincent Starrett (one of the founders of the Sherlock Holmes enthusiasts Baker Street Irishmen) was very impressed with the British actor’s performance, once declaring, “Surely no better Sherlock Holmes is likely to be seen and heard than Arthur Winterner in pictures, in our time.”
9 Vasily Livanov in The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson (1979-1986)
Vasily Livanov is an actor who played an elegant, British-looking version of the classic detective in a series of Soviet TV movies, Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson. For his complete devotion to the performance of original stories and service to the stage and the performing arts, Livanov was awarded an honorary membership of the Order of the British Empire. The wax figure of the actor is also on display at London’s Sherlock Holmes Museum, which is located on Baker Street and bears the number 221b.
8 Ian McKellen in Mr. Holmes (2015)
British-American mystery film Bill Condon Mr. Holmes He imagines the world’s greatest detective in his fall years. sir Ian McKellen, a living legend of Hollywood, takes on the role of 93-year-old Holmes, who struggles to remember the details of his life and to study his latest condition – himself. McKellen brought so much to his characters and provided a gentle, poignant, and real human take on the classic character.
7 Jonny Lee Miller in Elementary (2012-2019)
In 2012, CBS came out with primaryA modern adaptation of the Sherlock Holmes stories Johnny Lee Miller As Holmes and Lucy Liu as Dr. Joan Watson. Instead of the usual British setting, the story takes place in New York City where Holmes assists the police department in solving crimes. Prior to its release and during its first season, the series received criticism for its close premiere on the BBC Sherlock series. It didn’t take long for audiences to fall in love with Miller and Leo’s beautifully written friendship.
Although the show itself is a bit lackluster, Miller shines in the title role. His portrayal adds a lot of realism to the character’s personality and the implied autistic tendencies are executed to great effect by Miller. From refusing to allow anyone closure in Season 1 to promising he wouldn’t leave Joan in the finale no matter what, his character is experiencing a well-deserved development.
6 Henry Cavill in Enola Holmes (2020)
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the great Henry Cavill She has quietly worked through many popular shows, from DC’s Superman to Napoleon Solo to Netflix’s unique portrayal of Sherlock Holmes. Enola Holmes (2020). Although the Netflix movie adapted the first book of the same name by Nancy Spinger and mainly focuses on Sherlock’s younger sister Enola (Millie Bobby Brown), Cavill found space to show off his impressive acting skills. The different stance on Holmes’ character angered The Conan Doyle Estate, who decided to sue Netflix for copyright infringement, as Sherlock is portrayed as having feelings.
Many find the character’s unique look refreshing because it shows that high intelligence doesn’t necessarily mean you have the right to be rude to others. That said, don’t get it twisted: Cavill’s character is still as sharp as ever with his cuts, but with a nicer approach to his surroundings.
5 Basil Rathbone in The Hound of Baskervilles (1939), et al
English actor Basil Rathbone He notably took on the iconic role of the clever hideout in 1939 Baskerville dogAnd Marking the first of his fourteen films featuring the beloved Arthur Conan Doyle. The Gothic mystery is the first time the big screen adaptation of Victorian-era Sherlock Holmes (as in Doyle’s novels) has appeared as the detective in his signature costume. With his compelling charisma and gritty brilliance, Rathbone truly pulled off the role and became synonymous with the utter Holmes, setting a precedent for future portrayals.
The performer will also collaborate with his co-star Nigel Bruce (appearing as Dr. John Watson) on the popular and long-running radio series The New Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, from 1939 to 1946, which coincided with the cinematic pictures. Rathbone made his mark as Holmes, and his relationship with Bruce has been described by historian Jim Harmon as “almost perfect”.
4 Robert Downey Jr. in Sherlock Holmes (2009) and Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows (2011)
Robert Downey Jr. Jude Law starred as Holmes and Dr. Watson in the 2009 Guy Ritchie mystery film Sherlock Holmes, as they fend off a massive threat that threatens all of England. With excellent guidance from Richie, Downey has used his wit, which we’ve seen a lot in the MCU, to bring the iconic character personal brilliance. Many have argued that Downey’s portrayal of Sherlock is entirely eye-opening due to the actor’s indissoluble appeal.
However, there is no doubt that Holmes remains closed in himself and trusts only Watson. The movie followed Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows In 2011, fans are looking forward to his third date Sherlock installment. Downey won a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in a Motion Picture Comedy/Musical for the role.
3 Peter Cushing in The Hound of the Baskervilles (1959), et al
Delay Peter Cushing He was an icon of Hammer’s horror movies, so he naturally wasn’t shy about offering to play the Sherlock Holmes character in Hammer’s setting. He’s played the eccentric detective three times: in his blockbuster Baskerville dog (1959), in the 1968 TV series Sherlock Holmes And in another TV series in 1984 death masks.
As with many other BBC programmes, he missed out on some episodes with his memorable performances until they were revealed again in 2020. To many, Cushing represents a portrait of Holmes with the requisite classic vibe. What is also important is that Baskerville dog It was the first color Sherlock Holmes film.
2 Benedict Cumberbatch as Sherlock in BBC (2010-2017)
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BBC series Sherlockappearing sporadically from 2010 to 2017, starred Benedict Cumberbatchh as Sherlock and Martin Freeman as Dr Watson, perhaps the most popular of all the adaptations. It has been praised for being perfectly set to bring a modern feel to the detective’s life with its writing, acting and directing. SherlockPopular fame can be traced back to the chemistry between Cumberbatch and Freeman, which created a huge fan base for the duo’s relationship.
Of course, there’s no denying that Cumberbatch’s acting has portrayed Holmes’ neurotic variability, mixed with intellectual confidence and emotional vulnerability, more wonderfully than ever. The actor has been nominated for and won numerous awards, including the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie in 2014.
1 Jeremy Brett in The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes (1984)
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1984 TV series The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes It has been accepted by many as the definitive version of Sherlock Holmes. Jeremy Brett Holmes stars alongside David Burke (Dr. Watson) across 42 different Sir Conan Doyle short stories. As a bisexual man, Brett understood indisputably the underlying quirkiness and emotionally complex character of Sherlock Holmes like no other. Scenes like when he destroys a crime scene to prove how smart he is was a perfect portrayal of the famous character’s daring and sometimes moral ambiguity.
