Nigel Bruce

His last movie, World for Ransom, was released in 1954. His daughter, Quincy, is a recording artist whose first album, "Also Known as Mary," was released in September of 2003. Bruce died in 1953, aged 57, in Santa Monica, California. He had three children with actress Jean Hale, whom he was married to from 1961 to 1983. There were 14 films made and he also played Watson on the radio. He was married to Ann Courtney Harrell from 1957 to 1959. But for millions of fans, Bruce was the definitive Watson. Coleman has been married twice.

Holmes purists objected that Watson in the books was an intelligent and capable person, just not a super detective, and that the Bruce portrayal made him seem dimmer and more bumbling than he was. Though starring lead roles seem to elude him, Coleman is still very vigorous and is actively sought after for strong supporting roles. Watson in the Sherlock Holmes series beginning in 1939 with his good friend Basil Rathbone. Coleman has played less severe roles, however, such as Bill Ray in 1981's On Golden Pond and as Nelson Fox in 1998's You've Got Mail. He played buffoonish, fuzzy-minded gentlemen and his signature role was that of Dr. in 1980's Nine to Five, director Ron Carlisle in 1982's Tootsie and the earnest John McKittrick in 1983's WarGames. During his career he worked on 77 movies, including Treasure Island, The Scarlet Pimpernel, Lassie Come Home, The Corn is Green, and Bwana Devil. His fate in these types of roles were cemented with his performances in roles such as Franklin Hart, Jr.

In 1934 he moved to Hollywood. Though a capable character actor with a wide range, Coleman is usually typecast as a smarmy, selfish, patronizing, self-absorbed bigot. In 1920 he began his career on stage and eight years later started working in silent films. Coleman entered the Virginia Military Institute in 1949, but wound up studying law at the University of Texas before turning to acting. He was severely wounded in World War I and spent most of the war in a wheelchair. He was born in Austin, Texas. The son of a baronet, he was born in Ensenada, Mexico, where his parents were on vacation. Dabney Wharton Coleman (born January 3, 1932) is an American actor.

Watson in a series of films starring Basil Rathbone as Sherlock Holmes. William Nigel Bruce (September 4, 1895 - October 8, 1953), usually credited as Nigel Bruce, was a British character actor, best known as Dr.