About Roddy McDowall
Born on September 17, 1928, Roddy began acting in many British films at a young age. The movie that made him famous was How Green Was My Valley in 1941.
Roddy died at age 70 on October 3, 1998 from lung cancer.
Roddy the Child Actor
Roddy McDowall's Childhood Acting Career
Roddy's mother was an aspiring actress, and she had similar dreams for her children, Roddy and Virginia. However, it would be Roddy who would win fame as a child actor. After playing several minor roles in British films such as Scruffy, he got his big break when he played Huw in How Green Was My Valley (1941). He was twelve years old.Roddy starred in several other films after that, including My Friend Flicka (1943) and Lassie Come Home (1943). He enjoyed working with the dog, "Lassie," but he hated working with "Flicka," an animal part that was actually played by several horses. He would later complain that Flicka kept stepping on his feet.
Roddy the Broadway Actor
Roddy McDowall Takes on Vaudeville
Most child actors find it difficult to successfully carry on their acting careers as adults, and Roddy was no exception. In his case, he continued to be cast in boyish roles even as a young man; his youthful appearance made him seem younger than he truly was. He decided to take his chances on Broadway.He was eighteen when he moved to New York and began taking stage roles. In 1947 he played the role of Malcolm in MacBeth. Ben Whiteledge was one of his more famous stage roles in No Time for Sergeants (1956). He also made his Broadway musical debut as Mordred in Camelot (1960 - 1961).
This website has a complete list of the Roddy's stage roles...
Roddy the Chimpanzee
Roddy is probably best known for his role as Cornelius in Planet of the Apes (1968). Since Cornelius was a highly evolved chimpanzee character, the role required a lot of heavy makeup. Thanks to the mask, Roddy had to exaggerate his facial expressions just to give Cornelius life and personality.Roddy continued to play Cornelius and other chimpanzee roles in subsequent Planet of the Apes films, such as Escape from Planet of the Apes (1971), Conquest of the Planet of the Apes (1972), and Battle for the Planet of the Apes (1973).
He was also in the Planet of the Apes TV series (1974).
Vote for Your Favorite Planet of the Apes
Planet of the Apes Movies and TV Series
Personally, I think the first Planet of the Apes movie is the best. As for the rest... well, I try not to think about them. Especially not the remake. What do you think?
Planet of the Apes
Charlton Heston and Roddy McDowall star in this legendary science fiction masterpiece. Astronaut Taylor (Heston) crash lands on a distant planet ruled by apes who use a primitive race of humans for experimentation and sport. Soon Taylor finds himself among the hunted, his life in the hands of a benevolent chimpanzee scientist (McDowall).1 point
Escape from the Planet of the Apes
Roddy McDowall and Kim Hunter reprise their roles from the original Planet of the Apes in this third chapter of the Apes saga. Two intelligent simians from the future, Cornelius (McDowall) and Zire (Hunter) travel to present-day Earth. They become instant sensations, wined and dined and treated like celebrities - until a high-level plot forces them to run for their lives!0 points
Conquest of the Planet of the Apes
Colorful futuristic sets a relentless pace and an action-packed climax highlight the fourth episode of the legendary Apes saga starring Roddy McDowall and Ricardo Montalban. The time is the near future. Apes have supplanted dogs and cats as household pets and replaced servants as personal assistants - until their continual mistreatment provokes one advanced ape from the future Caesar (McDowall) to lead a spectacular revolt. It's thrilling science fiction that offers both a serious message and st...0 points
Planet of the Apes: The Complete TV Series
After their spacecraft travels through a time warp, two astronauts (Ron Harper, James Naughton) from 1981 crash-land back on Earth in the year 3085 - a time when intelligent apes rule and humans have been reduced to servants or pets. Captured by the apes and sentenced to death, they are saved by a curious chimpanzee name Galen (Roddy McDowall). But now all three are on the run, trying to keep one step ahead of the gorilla army led by General Urko (Mark Lenard), who is determined to kill the rene...0 points
Battle for the Planet of the Apes
Roddy McDowall and Claude Akins star in the fifth and last chapter of the legendary Apes saga. Set in 2670 A.D., an idyllic society of man and ape is threatened by both a militant gorilla (Akins) and a tribe of still-intelligent mutant humans. Finally, simmering tensions dividing the primates erupt in an apocalyptic climax. When the smoke clears, the carnage is everywhere, but there is hope for a new beginning for man and ape. Co-starring John Huston, Paul Williams, and Lew Ayres.0 points
Planet of the Apes (The Remake)
After a spectacular crash-landing on an uncharted planet, brash astronaut Leo Davidson (Mark Wahlberg) finds himself trapped in a savage world where talking apes dominate the human race. Desperate to find a way home, Leo must evade the invincible gorilla army led by ruthless General Thade (Tim Roth) and his most trusted warrior, Attar (Michael Clarke Duncan). Now the pulse-pounding race is on to reach a sacred temple that may hold the shocking secrets of mankind's past - and the last hope for it...0 points
Roddy the Photographer
Roddy was also an accomplished photographer. In fact, he published five books on photography. Several of his celebrity photos were published in prominent magazines, including those he took of Elizabeth Taylor. Roddy McDowall as Mr. Soil
You might think it's odd, but Roddy McDowall's minor role in Pixar's A Bug's Life is actually my favorite. He did the voice of Mr. Soil, one of the council ants. It's that distinctive yet soft voice of his that makes me a McDowall fan.It was partly Mr. Soil that sparked my interest in Roddy. In a weird way, it was partly Mr. Soil that led me down a path that changed my life forever.
Mr. Soil was one of Roddy McDowall's very last roles. A Bug's Life came out in November of 1998; Roddy McDowall died the month before it was released to theaters.
Roddy McDowall plays roles in the following movies...
Roddy McDowall - An Excerpt from the Biography Channel
Planet of the Apes and Roddy McDowall
Excerpt from a TV documentary on Planet of the Apes
curated content from YouTube
Roddy McDowall Websites
A Tribute to Roddy McDowall
The best site you'll find about Roddy McDowall.0 points
Roddy McDowall - Biography
Roddy McDowall on IMDb.0 points
Roddy McDowall - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Roddy McDowall according to Wikipedia.0 points
Shout Out For Roddy McDowall!
Leave your tribute to Roddy McDowall!
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- beeobrien beeobrien May 13, 2008 @ 1:10 pm
- I've always loved Roddy McDowall. So intense and such an expressive face.
by Victoria_Neely
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