Donald Pleasence
ActingAbout Donald Pleasence
Donald Henry Pleasence OBE (October 5, 1919 – February 2, 1995) was an English actor who gained more than 200 screen credits during a career which spanned over four decades. Often typecast as villainous and/or psychopathic characters, Pleasence is arguably best-known for his work in two of cinema's most successful franchises - James Bond and Halloween.
Career Statistics & Market Influence
Analyzing the cinematic journey of Donald Pleasence reveals a career defined by exceptional commercial consistency. With a total of 50 major appearances, the actor has established a significant footprint in global cinema.
Genre Dominance: Drama
The majority of Donald Pleasence's filmography leans towards the Drama genre. Audience data suggests that viewers respond most favorably to this persona, though their versatility has allowed for successful crossovers into other categories.
The "Box Office" Signature
With a 100% Success Ratio (movies rated above 6.5), Donald Pleasence remains a reliable draw for studios. Their peak performance was recorded in The News-Benders, which continues to be the benchmark for their career rating-wise.
Best Donald Pleasence Movies Ranked
Must-watch hits from Donald Pleasence's career based on audience ratings.
Complete Filmography & Success Status
Tracking the career evolution and box office verdicts of Donald Pleasence.
| Year | Movie | Character | Success | More |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Ladies & Gentlemen... 50 Years of SNL Music | Self (archive footage) | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 2003 | Halloween: A Cut Above the Rest | Self / Dr. Samuel 'Sam' Loomis (archive footage) | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1993 | The Thief and the Cobbler | Phido the Vulture (voice) | Hit | Similar → |
| 1991 | Shadows and Fog | Doctor | Hit | Similar → |
| 1987 | Prince of Darkness | Priest | Hit | Similar → |
| 1987 | Basements | Mr. Kidd (segment "The Room") | Hit | Similar → |
| 1985 | Black Arrow | Sir Oliver Oates | Hit | Similar → |
| 1985 | Phenomena | Professor John McGregor | Hit | Similar → |
| 1981 | Halloween II | Dr. Sam Loomis | Hit | Similar → |
| 1981 | Escape from New York | President of the United States | Hit | Similar → |
| 1979 | All Quiet on the Western Front | Kantorek | Hit | Similar → |
| 1978 | Power Play | Blair | Hit | Similar → |
| 1978 | Halloween | Loomis | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1977 | Telefon | Nicolai Dalchimsky | Hit | Similar → |
| 1977 | Oh, God! | Doctor Harmon | Hit | Similar → |
| 1976 | The Eagle Has Landed | Himmler | Hit | Similar → |
| 1976 | Hindle Wakes | Nat Jeffcote | Hit | Similar → |
| 1976 | Trial by Combat | Sir Giles Marley | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1975 | The Count of Monte-Cristo | Danglars | Hit | Similar → |
| 1974 | Watch Out, We're Mad | Doctor | Hit | Similar → |
| 1974 | From Beyond the Grave | Jim Underwood | Hit | Similar → |
| 1973 | The Rainbow Boys | Ralph Logan | Hit | Similar → |
| 1972 | Wedding in White | Jim Dougall, Sr. | Hit | Similar → |
| 1972 | Innocent Bystanders | Loomis | Hit | Similar → |
| 1971 | Wake in Fright | Doc Tydon | Hit | Similar → |
| 1970 | Soldier Blue | Isaac Q. Cumber | Hit | Similar → |
| 1969 | The Madwoman of Chaillot | The Prospector | Hit | Similar → |
| 1968 | The News-Benders | J.G. | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1967 | Will Penny | Preacher Quint | Hit | Similar → |
| 1967 | You Only Live Twice | Ernst Stavro Blofeld | Hit | Similar → |
| 1967 | The Night of the Generals | General Kahlenberge | Hit | Similar → |
| 1966 | Fantastic Voyage | Dr. Michaels | Hit | Similar → |
| 1966 | Cul-de-sac | George | Hit | Similar → |
| 1964 | The Caretaker | Mac Davies / Bernard Jenkins | Hit | Similar → |
| 1963 | The Great Escape | Blythe 'The Forger' | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1962 | The Inspector | Wolters | Hit | Similar → |
| 1961 | The Horsemasters | Captain Pinski | Hit | Similar → |
| 1961 | What a Carve Up! | Everett Sloane | Hit | Similar → |
| 1960 | Suspect | Parsons, alias Bill Brown | Hit | Similar → |
| 1960 | The Big Day | Victor Partridge | Hit | Similar → |
| 1960 | Hell Is a City | Gus Hawkins | Hit | Similar → |
| 1960 | The Battle of the Sexes | Irwin Hoffman | Hit | Similar → |
| 1960 | The Flesh and the Fiends | William Hare | Hit | Similar → |
| 1959 | Look Back in Anger | Hurst | Hit | Similar → |
| 1958 | Heart of a Child | Spiel | Hit | Similar → |
| 1958 | A Tale of Two Cities | Barsad | Hit | Similar → |
| 1957 | The Man in the Sky | Crabtree | Hit | Similar → |
| 1956 | 1984 | R. Parsons | Hit | Similar → |
| 1955 | Value for Money | Limpy | Hit | Similar → |
| 1954 | Nineteen Eighty-Four | Syme | Hit | Similar → |
Donald Pleasence - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best movie of Donald Pleasence?
According to audience ratings, the best movie starring Donald Pleasence is "The News-Benders" with a rating of 9.0/10.
How many movies has Donald Pleasence acted in?
Donald Pleasence has been featured in at least 50 major films throughout their career.
What are some other popular movies by Donald Pleasence?
Other notable films include "Halloween: A Cut Above the Rest", "The Great Escape", and "Trial by Combat".