After training as an actor at the Central School of Speech and Drama in London, Jeremy Brett made his professional stage debut in Manchester, England, in the repertory company of the Library Theatre in 1954. There he became lifelong friends with actor Robert Stephens. They would go on to share rooms and roles, serve as each other's best man, and died within two months of one another.
Appeared with his former wife, Anna Massey, in the 1979 BBC television production of "Rebecca", where he played "Maxim de Winter" and she played his housekeeper, "Mrs. Danvers".
Born with a speech impediment that was corrected later by surgery as a teenager.
Brett belonged to the Woodmen of Arden, an archery club established in 1758. His father and brothers were also members.
Brett was left-handed. The character of Sherlock Holmes was right handed. A hand double was used whenever Holmes had to write something close up.
Cousin of British actor, Martin Clunes from "British Men Behaving Badly" (1992).
Did not do his own singing in My Fair Lady (1964). He was dubbed by Bill Shirley, in spite of the fact that his own singing voice was actually remarkably good.
During a long period of unemployment in 1970 he took an uncredited non-speaking role as a Russian soldier in Nicholas and Alexandra (1971).
Educated at Eton College.
Ex-brother-in-law of Daniel Massey.
Ex-son-in-law of Raymond Massey and Adrianne Allen.
Famous for his portrayal of Sherlock Holmes in the television series "The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes" (1984) and "The Return of Sherlock Holmes" (1986). When he learned that his Sherlock Holmes was very popular with children (who saw him as a superhero), he was troubled with the fact that Holmes is a cocaine user. In response, he sought and obtained permission from Arthur Conan Doyle's daughter to have Holmes overcome and abandon his addiction, signified with Holmes burying his syringe in the episode "The Devil's Foot."
Father of author David Huggins (The Big Kiss, Luxury Amnesia); stepfather of Caleb W. Sullivan and Rebekah Wilson Giarusso.
Favorite music: Giuseppe Verdi's Requiem; "In Paradisum" from Faure's Requiem; "Habanera" from Georges Bizet's Carmen; Richard Strauss' Vier Letzte Lieder; and "Tuba Mirum" from Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's Requiem.
Grandson, Dan Huggins, born in 2002 to David Huggins and his wife, Madeleine Christie (married 2001).
Has three elder brothers: John, Michael and Patrick.
He owned a Jack Russell terrier mix named "Mr. Binks".
He was briefly considered for the role of James Bond in On Her Majesty's Secret Service (1969), and later auditioned for Live and Let Die (1973).
He was chosen to play Nicholas Rostov in War and Peace (1956) in part because it was felt he resembled his on-screen sibling, Audrey Hepburn.
He was seen as both Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson. He played Sherlock Holmes in the popular television series, and he played Dr. Watson in the 1980 Los Angeles production of "The Crucifer of Blood," a stage play based on "The Sign of Four."