Leslie Banks

Leslie James Banks, CBE (9 June 1890 – 21 April 1952) was an English stage and screen actor, director, and producer now best remembered for playing gruff, menacing characters in black-and-white films of the 1930s and 1940s.

Early life and career

Leslie Banks was born in West Derby, Liverpool, Lancashire, to George and Emily (née Dalby) Banks. He attended school at Glenalmond College in Scotland and later studied at Keble College, Oxford with the intention of becoming a parson but decided against this.

He joined Frank Benson's company and made his acting debut in October 1911 at the town hall, Brechin, playing Old Gobbo in The Merchant of Venice. He then toured the United States and Canada with Henry V. Esmond and Eva Moore 1912–1913. Returning to London, he appeared for the first time on the West End stage at the Vaudeville Theatre on 5 May 1914, as Lord Murdon in The Dangerous Age.

During the First World War he served with the Essex Regiment He received injuries that left his face partially scarred and paralysed. In his acting career he would use this injury to good effect by showing the unblemished side of his face when playing comedy or romance and the scarred, paralysed side of his face when playing drama or tragedy. After the war, Banks joined the Birmingham Repertory Theatre. He returned to London in 1921 and established himself as a leading dramatic actor and West End star known for his powerful yet restrained performances.