When actor Basil Rathbone is mentioned, what do you think of? Is it Rathbone with a deerstalker hat and pipe, in costume as Sherlock Holmes? Or perhaps him in a sword fight with the hero of a film? Born June 13, 1892, Rathbone started as a Shakespearean actor on the stage and entered films in 1921. He started to grow in fame on the screen in the 1930s. Basil Rathbone could seemingly perform in any role. He often played a villain, which was aided by authentic swordsmanship that helped him during a screen sword fight. But Rathbone could also play the hero or love interest.