Roddy McDowall

Biography

Roderick Andrew Anthony Jude McDowall (17 September 1928 – 3 October 1998) was an English-American actor, director, and photographer. He is best known for portraying Cornelius and Caesar in the original Planet of the Apes film series, as well as Galen in the spin-off television series.

Career Overview

Roddy McDowall has 227 screen credits in a career dating back to 1938. Their work spans 14 cinematic universes — most prominently Planet of the Apes with 5 titles. Signature works include Planet of the Apes, Conquest of the Planet of the Apes, Planet of the Apes. Explore the interactive character relationship maps on each title page to trace how their roles connect across franchises.

Personal Facts

Known For

Acting

Gender

male

Known Credits

227

Birth Date

1928-09-17 00:00:00

Birth Place

London, England, UK

Known For

• 

  Planet of the Apes
• 

  Conquest of the Planet of the Apes
• 

  Planet of the Apes
• 

  Battle for the Planet of the Apes
• 

  Escape from the Planet of the Apes
• 

  Fright Night

Associated Universes

Universe traveler — spans 14 universes

• Planet of the Apes (5 titles)
• Planet of the Apes (Original) Collection (4 titles)
• Fright Night Collection (2 titles)
• The Flicka Collection (2 titles)
• Rudyard Kipling's The Jungle Book Collection (1 titles)
• The Angel Collection (1 titles)
• Class of 1984 Series (1 titles)
• Class of 1999 Collection (1 titles)

Frequent Collaborators

• James Bacon (3 collaborations)
• Natalie Trundy (3 collaborations)
• Kim Hunter (2 collaborations)
• Linda Harrison (2 collaborations)
• Lou Wagner (2 collaborations)
• Buck Kartalian (2 collaborations)
• Norman Burton (2 collaborations)
• Army Archerd (2 collaborations)
• David Chow (2 collaborations)
• Ricardo Montalban (2 collaborations)

Credits

• actors (222 credits)

  • Elizabeth Taylor: The Lost Tapes

    Self (archive footage)

    actor

    actors
    2024
  • Planet of the Apes: A Milestone of Science Fiction

    Self (archive footage)

    actor

    actors
    2024
  • Paul Newman: The Restless

    Self

    actor

    actors
    2023
  • Cleopatra: The Film That Changed Hollywood

    Self (archive footage)

    actor

    actors
    2001
  • The Return of Captain Sinbad

    Narrator

    actor

    actors
    2001
  • Backstory: 'How Green Was My Valley'

    Self (archive footage)

    actor

    actors
    2000
  • Mary Pickford: A Life on Film

    Self

    actor

    actors
    2000
  • Boom! Hollywood's Greatest Disaster Movies

    Self

    actor

    actors
    2000
  • Linda Darnell: Hollywood's Fallen Angel

    actor

    actors
    1999
  • Keepers of the Frame

    Himself

    actor

    actors
    1999
  • Intimate Portrait: Lauren Bacall

    Self

    actor

    actors
    1999
  • A Bug's Life

    Mr. Soil (voice)

    actor

    actors
    1998
  • Loss of Faith

    Henry Stokes

    actor

    actors
    1998
  • Beyond Titanic

    Self

    actor

    actors
    1998
  • Behind the Planet of the Apes

    Self - Host

    actor

    actors
    1998
  • Something to Believe In

    Gambler

    actor

    actors
    1998
  • Louise Brooks: Looking for Lulu

    Himself - Actor / Friend

    actor

    actors
    1998
  • Star Power: The Creation Of United Artists

    Narrator (voice)

    actor

    actors
    1998
  • Pinky and the Brain: Mice of the Jungle

    Snowball (voice)

    actor

    actors
    1997
  • Vincent Price: The Versatile Villain

    Self

    actor

    actors
    1997
  • Obsessed with Vertigo

    Narrator (Voice)

    actor

    actors
    1997
  • The Second Jungle Book: Mowgli & Baloo

    King Murphy

    actor

    actors
    1997
  • Barbara Stanwyck: Straight Down the Line

    Self

    actor

    actors
    1997
  • Audrey Hepburn: The Fairest Lady

    Self

    actor

    actors
    1997
  • Henry Fonda: Hollywood's Quiet Hero

    Self

    actor

    actors
    1997
  • Twentieth Century Fox: The First 50 Years

    Self

    actor

    actors
    1997
  • Walter Matthau: Diamond in the Rough

    Self

    actor

    actors
    1997
  • The New Batman Adventures

    - Animal Act (1998) ... Mad Hatter (voice) actor actors

    - Over the Edge (1998) ... Mad Hatter (voice) actor actors
    1997
  • It's My Party

    Damian Knowles

    actor

    actors
    1996
  • Dead Man's Island

    Trevor Dunnaway

    actor

    actors
    1996
  • Star Hunter

    Riecher

    actor

    actors
    1996
  • Superman: The Animated Series

    - Knight Time (1998) ... Mad Hatter (voice) actor actors
    1996
  • Last Summer in the Hamptons

    Thomas

    actor

    actors
    1995
  • Darryl F. Zanuck: 20th Century Filmmaker

    Self

    actor

    actors
    1995
  • The Alien Within

    Dr. Henry Lazarus

    actor

    actors
    1995
  • Pinky and the Brain

    - Brainwashed Pt. 3: Wash Harder (1998) ... Snowball (voice) actor actors

    - Brainwashed Pt. 2: I Am Not a Hat (1998) ... Snowball (voice) actor actors

    - Brainwashed Pt. 1: Brain, Brain, Go Away (1998) ... Snowball (voice) actor actors

    - A Pinky And The Brain Halloween (1997) ... Snowball (voice) actor actors

    - Brain Noir (1997) ... Snowball (voice) actor actors
    1995
  • Biography: Bette Davis — If Looks Could Kill

    Self

    actor

    actors
    1994
  • The Story of Lassie

    Self

    actor

    actors
    1994
  • Angel 4: Undercover

    Geoffrey Kagen

    actor

    actors
    1994
  • Mirror Mirror 2: Raven Dance

    Dr. Lasky

    actor

    actors
    1994
  • Hart to Hart: Home Is Where the Hart Is

    Jeremy Sennet

    actor

    actors
    1994
  • Heads

    Fibris Drake

    actor

    actors
    1994
  • Meet Me in St. Louis: The Making of an American Classic

    Narrator (voice)

    actor

    actors
    1994
  • Gargoyles

    - Seeing Isn't Believing (1997) ... Proteus (voice) actor actors

    - The New Olympians (1996) ... Proteus (voice) actor actors
    1994
  • Duckman

    - Apocalypse Not (1996) ... Akers (voice) actor actors
    1994
  • The Evil Inside Me

    Pauly

    actor

    actors
    1993
  • The Sands of Time

    Alan Tucker

    actor

    actors
    1992
  • The Magical World of Chuck Jones

    Self

    actor

    actors
    1992
  • Double Trouble

    Phillip Chamberlin

    actor

    actors
    1992
  • The Naked Target

    Ernest Peabody

    actor

    actors
    1992
  • Batman: The Animated Series

    - Trial (1994) ... Mad Hatter (voice) actor actors

    - The Worry Men (1993) ... Mad Hatter (voice) actor actors

    - Perchance to Dream (1992) ... Mad Hatter (voice) actor actors

    - Mad as a Hatter (1992) ... Mad Hatter (voice) actor actors
    1992
  • Timmy's Gift: A Precious Moments Christmas

    Narrator (voice)

    actor

    actors
    1991
  • Stars and Stripes: Hollywood and World War II

    Self

    actor

    actors
    1991
  • Going Under

    Secretary Neighbor

    actor

    actors
    1991
  • Deadly Game

    Dr. Aaron

    actor

    actors
    1991
  • Crazy About the Movies: Dennis Hopper

    Self

    actor

    actors
    1991
  • Earth Angel

    Mr. Tatum

    actor

    actors
    1991
  • Shakma

    Sorenson

    actor

    actors
    1990
  • The Color of Evening

    Henry Seaton

    actor

    actors
    1990
  • When We Were Young: Growing Up on the Silver Screen

    Self

    actor

    actors
    1989
  • Harold Lloyd: The Third Genius

    Self

    actor

    actors
    1989
  • The Big Picture

    Judge

    actor

    actors
    1989
  • Carmilla

    Inspector Amos

    actor

    actors
    1989
  • Broadway's Dreamers: The Legacy of the Group Theatre

    Self (voice)

    actor

    actors
    1989
  • Cutting Class

    Mr. Dante

    actor

    actors
    1989
  • Hollywood on Horses

    Self

    actor

    actors
    1989
  • Quantum Leap

    - A Leap for Lisa (1992) ... Edward St. John V actor actors
    1989
  • Doin' Time on Planet Earth

    Minister

    actor

    actors
    1988
  • Remo Williams: The Prophecy

    Chiun

    actor

    actors
    1988
  • Fright Night Part 2

    Peter Vincent

    actor

    actors
    1988
  • Overboard

    Andrew

    actor

    actors
    1987
  • Happy 100th Birthday, Hollywood

    Self

    actor

    actors
    1987
  • Dead of Winter

    Mr. Murray

    actor

    actors
    1987
  • GoBots: Battle of the Rock Lords

    Nuggit (voice)

    actor

    actors
    1986
  • Matlock

    - The Starlet (1989) ... Don Mosher actor actors

    - The Chef (1987) ... Christopher Hoyt actor actors
    1986
  • Fright Night

    Peter Vincent

    actor

    actors
    1985
  • The Zany Adventures of Robin Hood

    Prince John

    actor

    actors
    1984
  • Murder, She Wrote

    - Fire Burn, Cauldron Bubble (1989) ... Gordon Fairchild actor actors

    - School for Scandal (1985) ... Dr. Alger Kenyon, PHD actor actors
    1984
  • The Wind in the Willows

    Ratty (voice)

    actor

    actors
    1983
  • Rapunzel

    Narrator

    actor

    actors
    1983
  • This Girl for Hire

    Manfred Hayes

    actor

    actors
    1983
  • Class of 1984

    Terry Corrigan

    actor

    actors
    1982
  • Natalie - A Tribute to a Very Special Lady

    actor

    actors
    1982
  • Mae West

    Rene Valentine

    actor

    actors
    1982
  • Evil Under the Sun

    Rex Brewster

    actor

    actors
    1982
  • Hollywood’s Children

    Self (Narrator)

    actor

    actors
    1982
  • Twilight Theatre

    Self - Host

    actor

    actors
    1982
  • The Making of Agatha Christie's 'Evil Under the Sun'

    Self / Rex Brewster

    actor

    actors
    1982
  • Hotel

    - Intimate Strangers (1984) ... Anthony Spears actor actors
    1982
  • Faerie Tale Theatre

    - Rapunzel (1983) ... Narrator (voice) actor actors
    1982
  • The Million Dollar Face

    Derek Kenyon

    actor

    actors
    1981
  • Charlie Chan and the Curse of the Dragon Queen

    Gillespie

    actor

    actors
    1981
  • Farewell to the Planet of the Apes

    Galen

    actor

    actors
    1980
  • Life, Liberty and Pursuit on the Planet of the Apes

    Galen

    actor

    actors
    1980
  • Treachery and Greed on the Planet of the Apes

    Galen

    actor

    actors
    1980
  • The Forgotten City of the Planet of the Apes

    Galen

    actor

    actors
    1980
  • Back to the Planet of the Apes

    Galen

    actor

    actors
    1980
  • The Return of the King

    Samwise Gamgee (voice)

    actor

    actors
    1980
  • The Memory of Eva Ryker

    MacFarland

    actor

    actors
    1980
  • Scavenger Hunt

    Jenkins

    actor

    actors
    1979
  • The Black Hole

    V.I.N.CENT. (voice) (uncredited)

    actor

    actors
    1979
  • Buck Rogers in the 25th Century: Planet of the Slave Girls

    Governor Saroyan

    actor

    actors
    1979
  • Hart to Hart

    Dr. Peterson

    actor

    actors
    1979
  • Sitcom: The Adventures of Garry Marshall

    Chuck the Robot (voice)

    actor

    actors
    1979
  • Buck Rogers in the 25th Century

    - Planet of the Slave Girls (2) (1979) ... Governor Saroyan actor actors

    - Planet of the Slave Girls (1) (1979) ... Governor Saroyan actor actors
    1979
  • The Immigrants

    Mark Levy

    actor

    actors
    1978
  • Circle of Iron

    White Robe

    actor

    actors
    1978
  • The Cat from Outer Space

    Mr. Stallwood

    actor

    actors
    1978
  • Rabbit Test

    Gypsy Grandmother / Dr. D & C Fishbine

    actor

    actors
    1978
  • Laserblast

    Doctor Mellon

    actor

    actors
    1978
  • The Thief of Baghdad

    Hasan

    actor

    actors
    1978
  • Fantasy Island

    - The Devil and Mandy Breem / Instant Millionaire (1980) ... Mephistopheles actor actors
    1978
  • Sixth and Main

    Skateboard

    actor

    actors
    1977
  • Flood!

    Mr. Franklin

    actor

    actors
    1977
  • The Fantastic Journey

    Dr. Jonathan Willoway

    actor

    actors
    1977
  • The Love Boat

    - Like Father, Like Son/Don't Push Me/Second Chance (1979) ... Fred Beery actor actors
    1977
  • Embryo

    Frank Riley

    actor

    actors
    1976
  • That's Entertainment, Part II

    (archive footage)

    actor

    actors
    1976
  • It's Showtime

    Self (archive footage)

    actor

    actors
    1976
  • Mowgli's Brothers

    Mowgli (voice)

    actor

    actors
    1976
  • Mean Johnny Barrows

    Tony Da Vince

    actor

    actors
    1975
  • The White Seal

    Narrator/ White Seal

    actor

    actors
    1975
  • Funny Lady

    Bobby Moore

    actor

    actors
    1975
  • Elizabeth Taylor: An Intimate Portrait

    Self

    actor

    actors
    1975
  • Planet of the Apes

    Galen

    actor

    actors

    - Up Above the World So High (1974) ... Galen actor actors

    - The Liberator (1974) ... Galen actor actors

    - The Cure (1974) ... Galen actor actors

    - The Tyrant (1974) ... Galen actor actors

    - The Interrogation (1974) ... Galen actor actors
    1974
  • Dirty Mary Crazy Larry

    George Stanton (uncredited)

    actor

    actors
    1974
  • The Elevator

    Marvin Ellis

    actor

    actors
    1974
  • Police Woman

    - Pawns of Power (1975) ... Moulton actor actors
    1974
  • Miracle on 34th Street

    Dr. Sawyer

    actor

    actors
    1973
  • Arnold

    Robert

    actor

    actors
    1973
  • Battle for the Planet of the Apes

    Caesar

    actor

    actors
    1973
  • The Legend of Hell House

    Benjamin Franklin Fischer

    actor

    actors
    1973
  • Barnaby Jones

    - See Some Evil... Do Some Evil (1973) ... Stanley Lambert actor actors
    1973
  • The Poseidon Adventure

    Acres

    actor

    actors
    1972
  • The Life and Times of Judge Roy Bean

    Frank Gass

    actor

    actors
    1972
  • Conquest of the Planet of the Apes

    Caesar

    actor

    actors
    1972
  • Hollywood: The Dream Factory

    Self (archive footage)

    actor

    actors
    1972
  • Corky

    Harassed Salesman

    actor

    actors
    1972
  • What's a Nice Girl Like You...?

    Albert Soames

    actor

    actors
    1971
  • A Taste of Evil

    Dr. Michael Lomas

    actor

    actors
    1971
  • Bedknobs and Broomsticks

    Mr. Jelk

    actor

    actors
    1971
  • Terror in the Sky

    Dr. Ralph Baird

    actor

    actors
    1971
  • Escape from the Planet of the Apes

    Cornelius

    actor

    actors
    1971
  • Pretty Maids All in a Row

    Mr. Proffer

    actor

    actors
    1971
  • Journey to Murder

    Rollo Verdew

    actor

    actors
    1971
  • Great Performances

    - Episode 7 (1995) ... Self actor actors
    1971
  • Columbo

    - Short Fuse (1972) ... Roger Stanford actor actors
    1971
  • Night Gallery

    Jeremy Evans

    actor

    actors
    1969
  • Angel, Angel, Down We Go

    Santoro

    actor

    actors
    1969
  • Hello Down There

    Nate Ashbury

    actor

    actors
    1969
  • Midas Run

    Wister

    actor

    actors
    1969
  • Love, American Style

    - Love and the Stutter (1973) ... Howard actor actors
    1969
  • 5 Card Stud

    Nick Evers

    actor

    actors
    1968
  • The Legend of Robin Hood

    Prince John

    actor

    actors
    1968
  • Planet of the Apes

    Cornelius

    actor

    actors
    1968
  • Cricket on the Hearth

    Cricket Crocket (voice)

    actor

    actors
    1967
  • Saint Joan

    Charles, The Dauphin

    actor

    actors
    1967
  • It!

    Arthur Pimm

    actor

    actors
    1967
  • The Cool Ones

    Tony Krum

    actor

    actors
    1967
  • The Adventures of Bullwhip Griffin

    Bullwhip Griffin

    actor

    actors
    1967
  • The Carol Burnett Show

    - Episode 270 (#1115) (1978) ... Self - Guest actor actors

    - Episode 237 (#1007) (1976) ... Self - Guest actor actors

    - Episode 215 (#902) (1975) ... Self - Guest / Various Characters actor actors

    - Episode 204 (#821) (1975) ... Self - Guest / Various Characters actor actors

    - The Jackson Five and Roddy McDowell (1974) ... Self - Guest actor actors
    1967
  • Ironside

    - Murder Impromptu (1971) ... actor actors
    1967
  • The Invaders

    - The Experiment (1967) ... Lloyd Lindstrom actor actors
    1967
  • Lord Love a Duck

    Alan Musgrave

    actor

    actors
    1966
  • Inside Daisy Clover

    Walter Baines

    actor

    actors
    1966
  • Mission: Impossible

    - The Puppet (1972) ... Leo Ostro actor actors
    1966
  • Batman

    - While Gotham City Burns (1966) ... The Bookworm actor actors

    - The Bookworm Turns (1966) ... The Bookworm actor actors
    1966
  • That Darn Cat!

    Gregory Benson

    actor

    actors
    1965
  • The Loved One

    D.J. Jr.

    actor

    actors
    1965
  • The Third Day

    Oliver Parsons

    actor

    actors
    1965
  • The Greatest Story Ever Told

    Matthew

    actor

    actors
    1965
  • Shock Treatment

    Martin Ashley

    actor

    actors
    1964
  • Cleopatra

    Octavian - Caesar Augustus

    actor

    actors
    1963
  • The Power and the Glory

    Mestizo

    actor

    actors
    1963
  • The Longest Day

    Pvt. Morris

    actor

    actors
    1962
  • The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson

    - Episode 110 (1985) ... Self actor actors
    1962
  • The Merv Griffin Show

    - Episode 201 (1966) ... Self actor actors

    - Episode 152 (1965) ... Self actor actors

    - Episode 113 (1965) ... Self actor actors
    1962
  • The Alfred Hitchcock Hour

    - See the Monkey Dance (1964) ... George actor actors

    - The Gentleman Caller (1964) ... Gerald Musgrove actor actors
    1962
  • Ben Casey

    - When I am Grown to Man's Estate (1965) ... actor actors
    1961
  • Midnight Lace

    Malcolm

    actor

    actors
    1960
  • The Subterraneans

    Yuri Gilgoric

    actor

    actors
    1960
  • The Tempest

    Ariel

    actor

    actors
    1960
  • The Twilight Zone

    - People are Alike All Over (1960) ... Sam Conrad actor actors
    1959
  • Heart of Darkness

    Charles Marlow

    actor

    actors
    1958
  • The Big Country

    Hannassey Watchman (uncredited)

    actor

    actors
    1958
  • Naked City

    - The Fault in Our Stars (1961) ... Donnie Benton actor actors
    1958
  • Matinee Theater

    - Washington Square (1958) ... actor actors

    - White-Headed Boy (1957) ... actor actors

    - Talk You of Killing (1957) ... actor actors

    - The Vicarious Years (1957) ... actor actors
    1955
  • The Steel Fist

    Eric Kardin

    actor

    actors
    1952
  • Hill Number One: A Story of Faith and Inspiration

    Pvt. Huntington (The Professor)

    actor

    actors
    1951
  • Big Timber

    Jimmy

    actor

    actors
    1950
  • Everybody's Dancin'

    Roddy McDowall

    actor

    actors
    1950
  • Killer Shark

    Ted White

    actor

    actors
    1950
  • Robert Montgomery Presents

    - Great Expectations: the Reality (Part 2) (1954) ... Pip actor actors

    - Great Expectations: the Promise (Part 1) (1954) ... Pip actor actors

    - When We are Married (1951) ... Gerald Forbes actor actors
    1950
  • Black Midnight

    Scott Jordan

    actor

    actors
    1949
  • Tuna Clipper

    Alec MacLennan

    actor

    actors
    1949
  • Kidnapped

    David Balfour

    actor

    actors
    1948
  • Macbeth

    Malcolm

    actor

    actors
    1948
  • Rocky

    Chris Hammond

    actor

    actors
    1948
  • Holiday in Mexico

    Stanley Owen

    actor

    actors
    1946
  • Molly and Me

    Jimmy Graham

    actor

    actors
    1945
  • Thunderhead: Son of Flicka

    Ken McLaughlin

    actor

    actors
    1945
  • The Keys of the Kingdom

    Francis Chisholm, as a boy

    actor

    actors
    1944
  • The White Cliffs of Dover

    John Ashwood II as a Boy

    actor

    actors
    1944
  • Golden Globe Awards

    - The 41st Golden Globe Awards (1984) ... Self actor actors

    - The 40th Golden Globe Awards (1983) ... Self actor actors
    1944
  • Lassie Come Home

    Joe Carraclough

    actor

    actors
    1943
  • My Friend Flicka

    Ken McLaughlin

    actor

    actors
    1943
  • The Pied Piper

    Ronnie Cavanaugh

    actor

    actors
    1942
  • On the Sunny Side

    Hugh Aylesworth

    actor

    actors
    1942
  • Son of Fury: The Story of Benjamin Blake

    Benjamin - as a Boy

    actor

    actors
    1942
  • Confirm or Deny

    Albert Perkins

    actor

    actors
    1941
  • How Green Was My Valley

    Huw Morgan

    actor

    actors
    1941
  • This England

    Hugo

    actor

    actors
    1941
  • Man Hunt

    Vaner

    actor

    actors
    1941
  • You Will Remember

    Young Bob Slater

    actor

    actors
    1941
  • Saloon Bar

    Boy

    actor

    actors
    1940
  • Just William

    Ginger

    actor

    actors
    1940
  • His Brother’s Keeper

    Boy

    actor

    actors
    1940
  • Poison Pen

    Choirboy

    actor

    actors
    1939
  • The Outsider

    Cured Child

    actor

    actors
    1939
  • Hey! Hey! USA

    Boy

    actor

    actors
    1938
  • Convict 99

    Jimmy

    actor

    actors
    1938
  • Murder in the Family

    Peter Osborne

    actor

    actors
    1938

• production (4 credits)

  • Overboard

    executive producer

    production
    1987
  • Big Timber

    associate producer

    production
    1950
  • Killer Shark

    associate producer

    production
    1950
  • Black Midnight

    associate producer

    production
    1949

• directing (1 credits)

  • The Ballad of Tam Lin

    director

    directing
    1970