Paul says on 22/Jul/06
In the summer 2006 issue of "Films of the Golden Age" magazine there is an extensive article about Dennis Hoey (Inspector Lestrade) in which his son says his dad was 6'3". The article includes a picture of Hoey standing right next to John Wayne as they face each other (it's a still from a movie). I can't tell any significant difference between the two height wise. Assuming Wayne was close to his advertised height of 6'4" (which I believe he was), Hoey was indeed 6'3" and Rathbone, at least in his younger years, was a solid 6'1".

sam says on 3/Jun/06
Rathbone was often listed as 6'3", but he was 6'1 3/4".

larry says on 15/Apr/06
Well, Paul - Chaney Jr was barefoot, in hospital pijamas in the scene with Mr. Hoey, so Hoey may not really have been taller than 6'2" Lon Chaney Jr. But Chaney might have been 6'2.5" at that age. ??? Anyway, Rathbone always looked 6'1-6'1.5" to me.

larry says on 13/Apr/06
Frank2 - Thanks! Dennis Hoey was in many Universal movies from the 30's and 40's. He played police detectives often. I've seen him listed as 6'2.5" to 6'3". In the scenes with Chaney Jr. in FRANKENSTEIN MEETS THE WOLFMAN Mr. Hoey looks 1" taller than Lon, but Lon is barefoot. Also, Rathbone looked about 2.5-3.0" less than 6'4" Vincent Price in TALES OF TERROR. Basil WAS quite old then, but I'd say a solid 6'1".

Jason says on 12/Apr/06
So was he 6'1'' or 6'1 1/2''? Not that half an inch matters that much lol.

[Editor Rob: hey, 1/2 inches are always argued over on this site ;-0]

Frank2 says on 12/Apr/06
British character actor Dennis Hoey who played Insepctor Lestrade was about 6'2" and looked about an inch taller than Rathbone.

Watch the classic comedy film The Court Jester and you'll see that Rathbone is two inches taller than 5'11" Danny Kaye.

Frank2 says on 12/Apr/06
Rathbone clearly stated he was 6'1" when he appeared at a lecture conducted at The Wilshire Ebel Theater in LA back in the early 1960's. I used to have the article with the text. Nigel Bruce was an even 6' and in every film they did together, Rathbone looks to be about an inch taller. Dr. Acula (Forry) was about 6'.

larry says on 12/Apr/06
Frank2 - YOUR Mom too!!! Et tu Momma!!! :-) Used to pay 25 cents per issue. Even had issue number one!!! Dr. Acula always described himself as 6 foot and he looked it in his many cameo appearances. Seemed like a very fun guy. I think I heard he was cheated out of the rights to the magazine? Do they still publish it? Rathbone is my favorite Sherlock Holmes, with Nigel Bruce as Watson. Didn't Lionel Atwell play Moriarity? Many happy memories. :-)

Paul says on 11/Apr/06
Basil could very well have been 6'1.5". That's the height I've seen associated with him for many years and it appears quite reasonable based on his on screen appearances. After all, if he was going to lie about it, why wouldn't he just round it up to 6'2"? Even in his later movies, he appears to have retained most of his height.

Nigel Bruce was a tall man also; he appears to be just a shade shorter than Rathbone. I would guess him to be approximately 6'. He was virtually the same size as Cary Grant and Ronald Reagan in movies he made with them (Suspicion and Hong Kong, respectively).

The tallest recurring actor in the Rathbone Holmes series was Dennis Hoey who played Inspector Lestrade. He appears to be 2 to 3 inches taller than Rathbone.

Frank2 says on 11/Apr/06
I used to know Forry Ackerman and even went over to his home, the Ackermansion. I had all of his magazines as a kid. Then one day my mom was cleaning out the garage.....

larry says on 11/Apr/06
Wish I could find the old Famous Monsters of Filmland mags I once had. On the set of SON OF FRANKENSTEIN Basil looked the same height as 6'1" Lugosi. I THINK that was circa '38?

Frank2 says on 9/Apr/06
Thanks Tiger. I'll take that as an endorsement, not as the facetious comment that you intended it to be. And I am right.