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.
Donald Pleasence Movies & Career Overview
The filmography of Donald Pleasence reflects exceptional commercial consistency. Across 50 major appearances, the actor has built a reputation through performances in multiple genres and storytelling styles.
Dominant Genre
A large portion of Donald Pleasence's work falls within the Drama genre, where audiences tend to respond most strongly to their on-screen presence.
Success Ratio
Approximately 100% of Donald Pleasence's films maintain ratings above 6.5, indicating a consistent level of audience approval.
One of the most highly rated entries in their career remains The News-Benders, which stands out as a key performance.
Best Donald Pleasence Movies Ranked
Must-watch hits from Donald Pleasence's career based on audience ratings.
Full Filmography
Every movie Donald Pleasence has appeared in, with audience ratings and verdicts.
| 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 → |
| 1992 | Diên Biên Phu | Howard Simpson | 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 → |
| 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 "Ladies & Gentlemen... 50 Years of SNL Music".