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Leslie Banks

Leslie Banks
Leslie Banks
Born: Jun 09, 1890 in West Derby, England, UK
Died: Apr 21, 1952 in London, England, UK
Occupation: Actor
Active: '30s-'40s
Major Genres: Drama, War
Career Highlights: Henry V, The Man Who Knew Too Much, The Most Dangerous Game
First Major Screen Credit: The Most Dangerous Game (1932)
2 Videos for Leslie Banks
Henry V (1944) Went the Day Well? (1942)
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Biography:

Oxford-educated Leslie Banks embarked upon a stage career at London's Vaudeville Theatre in 1911. During combat in World War I, Banks' face was scarred and partially paralyzed. Returning to the theater at war's end, Banks was able to use his disfigurement to his advantage, favoring the unblemished side of his face when playing comedy, then conversely utilizing his marked side when essaying villains.

Some of his more celebrated stage roles included Captain Hook in Peter Pan, Petruchio in Taming of the Shrew, the capricious title character in Springtime for Henry, and the kindly, doddering lead in the original 1938 staging of Goodbye Mr. Chips. He also distinguished himself as a theatrical producer and director.

Banks entered films in 1932, starring as diabolical people hunter Count Zaroff in The Most Dangerous Game (1932). Leslie Banks continued making occasional film appearances until 1950, most notably as the reluctant hero of Hitchcock's 1934 version of The Man Who Knew Too Much, and the Chorus in Olivier's brilliant Henry V (1945).

~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide.