Career Highlights: The Golden Voyage of Sinbad, Unman, Wittering and Zigo, The Incredible Sarah
First Major Screen Credit: Passport to Treason (1956)
Biography
After studying at RADA, London-born Douglas Wilmer made his 1945 stage debut in repertory at Rugby. One year later, Wilmer made his first London theatrical appearance. Though most closely associated with classical roles, he scored one of his biggest stage successes in a contemporary work, One Way Pendulum (1959). Wilmer's film work includes the role of Nayland Smith in two of Christopher Lee's Fu Manchu films. He also repeated his British-TV characterization of Sherlock Holmes in Gene Wilder's The Adventure of Sherlock Holmes' Smarter Brother (1977). In addition, Douglas Wilmer was seen in the Ray Harryhausen epics Jason and the Argonauts (1963, as Pelius) and Golden Voyage of Sinbad (1979, as the Vizier); his last film to date was the 1983 Bond flick Octopussy. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Wilmer was an honorary member of the Sherlock Holmes Society of London.[2] He has recorded a series of the stories on audio cassette for Penguin audio books and has appeared as a guest at several UK and US events, the most recent being the Society's Golden Jubilee Dinner in January 2001.[3]
In 2009 Wilmer released his autobiography entitled "Stage Whispers". On March 24th 2009 Wilmer was guest of honour at a launch party for his book held at the National Liberal Club in Whitehall Place, London.