Sebastian Shaw (actor)

Sebastian Shaw
Shaw in a 1979 episode of Rumpole of the Bailey
Born	Sebastian Lewis Shaw (1905-05-29)29 May 1905 Holt, Norfolk, England
Died	23 December 1994(1994-12-23) (aged 89) Brighton, Sussex, England
Education	Slade School of Fine Art
Alma mater	Royal Academy of Dramatic Art
Occupations	Actor theatre director novelist playwright poet
Years active	1914–1991
Spouse	Margaret Kate Wellesley-Lynn ​ ​ (m. 1929; died 1956)​
Children	1
Parent	Geoffrey Turton Shaw (father)
Relatives	Martin Shaw (uncle) Mont Campbell (nephew)

Sebastian Lewis Shaw (29 May 1905 – 23 December 1994) was an English actor, theatre director, novelist, playwright and poet. During his 65-year career, he appeared in dozens of stage performances and more than 40 film and television productions.

Shaw was born and brought up in Holt, Norfolk, and made his acting debut at age eight at a London theatre. He studied acting at Gresham's School and the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art. Although he worked primarily on the London stage, he made his Broadway debut in 1929, when he played one of the two murderers in Rope's End. He appeared in his first film, Caste, in 1930 and quickly began to create a name for himself in films. He described himself as a "rotten actor"^[1] as a youth and said his success was primarily due to his good looks. He claimed to mature as a performer only after returning from service in the Royal Air Force during World War II.

Shaw was particularly known for his performances in productions of Shakespeare plays which were considered daring and ahead of their time. In 1966, he joined the Royal Shakespeare Company, where he remained for a decade and delivered some of his most acclaimed performances. He also wrote several poems and a novel, The Christening, in 1975. In 1983, he appeared in the third installment of the original Star Wars Trilogy, Return of the Jedi, as the redeemed Anakin Skywalker, as well as Skywalker's ghost in the original 1983 theatrical release of the film.