Sebastian Shaw, a renowned stage actor, left an indelible mark on the film and television industry, appearing in over forty productions between 1930 and 1991. Born in Holt, Norfolk, England, Shaw's early years on stage began as a child in 1913, with his first leading roles emerging by the late 1920s.
Shaw's first foray into film came in 1930 with the production of Caste. His notable film roles of this period included appearances alongside Miriam Hopkins and Rex Harrison in Men Are Not Gods (1936),as a crime suspect in Murder on Diamond Row (1937),and opposite Conrad Veidt and Valerie Hobson in Michael Powell's U-Boat 29 (1939).
Throughout the 1940s and 1950s, Shaw continued to work in film, with notable roles in documentary-style Journey Together (1945),The Glass Mountain (1949),and Scotch on the Rocks (1953).
In the 1960s, Shaw appeared in Kevin Brownlow and Andrew Mollo's imaginative semi-documentary It Happened Here (1964),which depicted Britons coping during a Nazi persecution. For the most part, his subsequent work consisted of stage and television appearances, including a notable role as a judge in Rumpole of the Bailey (1978).
In 1982, Shaw was approached by George Lucas to make a cameo appearance in the final episode of his Star Wars films, Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi (1983). Shaw played the crucial role of Anakin Skywalker's ghost, which has since made him a cult figure worldwide.
Shaw's later career was marked by his portrayal of distinguished elderly gentlemen, including the role of cold war spy-cum-art critic Basil Sharpe in High Season (1987). He continued to act on stage, film, and television well into his eighties.
Sebastian Shaw passed away at the age of 89 on December 23, 1994, due to natural causes.
