Posted on May 2, 2024
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William Nigel Ernle Bruce net worth is $16 Million
William Nigel Ernle Bruce Wiki: Salary, Married, Wedding, Spouse, Family
William Nigel Ernle Bruce (4 February 1895 – 8 October 1953), best known as Nigel Bruce, was a British character actor on stage and screen. He was best known for his portrayal of Dr. Watson in a series of films and in the radio series The New Adventures of Sherlock Holmes (starring Basil Rathbone as Sherlock Holmes). Bruce is also remembered for his roles in the Alfred Hitchcock films Rebecca and Suspicion.
The stories we did were modernised but the characters of the famous detective and his biographer were kept more or less as originally written by Conan Doyle. Watson, however, in the films was made much more of a 'comic' character than he ever was in the books. This was with the object of introducing a little light relief. The doctor, as I played him, was a complete stooge for his brilliant friend and one whose intelligence was almost negligible. Many of the lovers of Conan Doyle must have been shocked, not by this caricature of the famous doctor but by seeing the great detective alighting from an aeroplane and the good doctor listening to his radio. To begin with, Basil and I were much opposed to the modernising of these stories but the producer, Howard Benedict, pointed out to us that the majority of youngsters who would see our pictures were accustomed to the fast-moving action of gangster pictures, and that expecting machine guns, police sirens, cars travelling at 80 miles an hour and dialogue such as 'Put em up bud', they would be bored with the magnifying glass, the hansom cabs, the cobblestones and the slow tempo of an era they never knew and a way of life with which they were completely unfamiliar.
2
I am in no way a distinguished man, but if I died tomorrow, I can honestly claim to have been what few men can call themselves - a really happy one. For 26 years I have been blessed with the love and friendship of a very wonderful woman. I have two attractive and splendid daughters of whom I am very proud, and my two sons-in-law I respect and like enormously. Except for a groggy leg I have been given excellent health, and all through my life I have had the friendship of many attractive and worthwhile people, for all this I am very grateful. I have made a few enemies and for their opinions I care not a fig. I may be broke or ill again, but as long as I have Bunny beside me I shall be happy, and I can only hope that our two daughters will enjoy their lives as much as their father has enjoyed every minute of his. (1947)
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Fact
1
Best known for playing Dr. Watson, he is fittingly also a cousin of Christopher Plummer, who went on to play Sherlock Holmes.
2
Although he played the seemingly older Dr. Watson opposite Basil Rathbone as Sherlock Holmes, he was actually 2 1/2 years younger.
3
Began his acting career on stage in 1920.
4
In May 1945 Bruce underwent surgery for varicose veins in his legs as a result of his war injuries.
5
Fought in the British army during World War I and was seriously wounded in action.
6
Younger brother of Sir Michael William Selby Bruce, 11th Baronet of Stenhouse and Airth, a descendant of Robert the Bruce and of the Royal Stuarts. Source: Book entitled 'Tramp Royal' by Sir Michael Bruce of Stenhouse. Published 1945 by Elek Books Ltd, 14 Great James St, London.
7
In late 1944 he began writing an autobiography entitled "Games, Gossip and Greasepaint" which was never published. However many extracts were published in The Sherlock Holmes Journal (London/Oxford, England) Winter issue 1998 Volume 19 Number 1.
8
Two daughters: Jennifer and Pauline
9
Best known for his inimitable, forever-indelible portrayals of a most blithering Dr. John Watson opposite Basil Rathbone's Sherlock Holmes in Universal's World War II-era Holmes films.
Actor
Title
Year
Status
Character
World for Ransom
1954
Gov. Sir Charles Coutts
Four Star Playhouse
1954
TV Series
Col. Mournay
Bwana Devil
1952
Dr. Angus McLean
Limelight
1952
Postant
Hong Kong
1952
Mr. Lighton
Vendetta
1950
Sir Thomas Nevil
Julia Misbehaves
1948
Colonel Bruce Willowbrook
The Exile
1947
Sir Edward Hyde
The Two Mrs. Carrolls
1947
Dr. Tuttle
Dressed to Kill
1946
Doctor Watson
Terror by Night
1946
Dr. John H. Watson
Pursuit to Algiers
1945
Dr. John H. Watson
The Woman in Green
1945
Watson
Son of Lassie
1945
Duke of Radling
The Corn Is Green
1945
The Squire
The House of Fear
1945
Doctor John H. Watson
The Spider Woman
1944
Doctor Watson
Frenchman's Creek
1944
Lord Godolphin
Gypsy Wildcat
1944
High Sheriff
The Pearl of Death
1944
Doctor Watson
The Scarlet Claw
1944
Doctor Watson
Follow the Boys
1944
Nigel Bruce (uncredited)
Crazy House
1943
Dr. Watson
Lassie Come Home
1943
Duke of Rudling
Sherlock Holmes Faces Death
1943
Doctor Watson
Sherlock Holmes in Washington
1943
Doctor Watson
Forever and a Day
1943
Maj. Garrow
Sherlock Holmes and the Secret Weapon
1942
Doctor Watson
Journey for Margaret
1942
Herbert V. Allison
Sherlock Holmes and the Voice of Terror
1942
Doctor Watson
Eagle Squadron
1942
McKinnon
This Above All
1942
Ramsbottom
Roxie Hart
1942
E. Clay Benham
Suspicion
1941
Beaky
The Chocolate Soldier
1941
Bernard Fischer
This Woman Is Mine
1941
Duncan MacDougall
Free and Easy
1941
Florian Clemington
Play Girl
1941
William McDonald Vincent
Hudson's Bay
1941
Prince Rupert
A Dispatch from Reuter's
1940
Sir Randolph Persham
Susan and God
1940
'Hutchie'
Lillian Russell
1940
William Gilbert
Rebecca
1940
Major Giles Lacy
Adventure in Diamonds
1940
Col. J.W. Lansfield
The Blue Bird
1940
Mr. Luxury
The Rains Came
1939
Lord Albert Esketh
The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes
1939
Dr. Watson
The Hound of the Baskervilles
1939
Dr. Watson
Suez
1938
Sir Malcolm Cameron
Kidnapped
1938
Neil MacDonald
The Baroness and the Butler
1938
Major Andros
The Last of Mrs. Cheyney
1937
Willie Wynton
Thunder in the City
1937
The Duke
The Man I Marry
1936
Robert Hartley
The Charge of the Light Brigade
1936
Sir Benjamin Warrenton
Follow Your Heart
1936
Henri Forrester
The White Angel
1936
Dr. West
Under Two Flags
1936
Capt. Menzies
The Trail of the Lonesome Pine
1936
Thurber
The Man Who Broke the Bank at Monte Carlo
1935
Ivan
Jalna
1935
Maurice Vaughan
She
1935
Horace Holly
Becky Sharp
1935
Joseph Sedley
The Scarlet Pimpernel
1934
The Prince of Wales
Springtime for Henry
1934
Johnny Jewlliwell
Treasure Island
1934
Squire Trelawney
The Lady Is Willing
1934
Welton
Murder in Trinidad
1934
Bertram Lynch
Stand Up and Cheer!
1934
Dinwiddle
Coming-Out Party
1934
Troon, the Butler
Channel Crossing
1933
Nigel Guthrie
I Was a Spy
1933
Scottie
Midshipmaid Gob
1932
Maj. Spink
Lord Camber's Ladies
1932
Lord Camber
Bachelor's Folly
1931
Lord Willie Panniford
The Perfect Alibi
1930
Major
Red Aces
1930
Kinsfeather, T.B.
Escape!
1930
Constable
The Squeaker
1930
Collie
Flames of Passion
1922
Undetermined Minor Role (unconfirmed, uncredited)
Soundtrack
Title
Year
Status
Character
Pursuit to Algiers
1945
performer: "Loch Lomond", "Here We Go Gathering Nuts in May" uncredited
The Trail of the Lonesome Pine
1936
performer: "Twilight on the Trail"
Jalna
1935
performer: "There is a Tavern in the Town" 1891, "Little Brown Jug", "Silent Night, Holy Night" 1818
Self
Title
Year
Status
Character
Rough But Hopeful
1946
Short
Himself
Screen Snapshots Series 25, No. 4: Hollywood Celebrations