Donald Pleasence
ActingAbout Donald Pleasence
Donald Henry Pleasence OBE (October 5, 1919 – February 2, 1995) was an English actor who gained more than 200 screen credits during a career which spanned over four decades. Often typecast as villainous and/or psychopathic characters, Pleasence is arguably best-known for his work in two of cinema's most successful franchises - James Bond and Halloween.
Donald Pleasence Movies & Career Overview
The filmography of Donald Pleasence reflects exceptional commercial consistency. Across 50 major appearances, the actor has built a reputation through performances in multiple genres and storytelling styles.
Dominant Genre
A large portion of Donald Pleasence's work falls within the Drama genre, where audiences tend to respond most strongly to their on-screen presence.
Success Ratio
Approximately 100% of Donald Pleasence's films maintain ratings above 6.5, indicating a consistent level of audience approval.
One of the most highly rated entries in their career remains The Wind of Change, which stands out as a key performance.
Best Donald Pleasence Movies Ranked
Must-watch hits from Donald Pleasence's career based on audience ratings.
Full Filmography
Every movie Donald Pleasence has appeared in, with audience ratings and verdicts.
| Year | Movie | Character | Success | More |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Ladies & Gentlemen... 50 Years of SNL Music | Self (archive footage) | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 2003 | Halloween: A Cut Above the Rest | Self / Dr. Samuel 'Sam' Loomis (archive footage) | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1993 | The Thief and the Cobbler | Phido the Vulture (voice) | Hit | Similar → |
| 1993 | Femme Fatale | Victor Harty | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1990 | Life of General De Gaulle | Winston Churchill | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1987 | Prince of Darkness | Priest | Hit | Similar → |
| 1987 | Ground Zero | Prosper Gaffney | Hit | Similar → |
| 1987 | Basements | Mr. Kidd (segment "The Room") | Hit | Similar → |
| 1985 | Black Arrow | Sir Oliver Oates | Hit | Similar → |
| 1985 | Phenomena | Professor John McGregor | Hit | Similar → |
| 1983 | The Falklands Factor | Dr. Samuel Johnson | Hit | Similar → |
| 1982 | Computercide | George Dettler | Hit | Similar → |
| 1981 | Escape from New York | President of the United States | Hit | Similar → |
| 1979 | Better Late Than Never | Colonel Riddle | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1978 | Power Play | Blair | Hit | Similar → |
| 1978 | Halloween | Loomis | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1976 | Hindle Wakes | Nat Jeffcote | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1976 | Meriel the Ghost Girl | George Livingston | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1976 | Goldenrod | John Tyler Jones | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1976 | Trial by Combat | Sir Giles Marley | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1975 | The Count of Monte-Cristo | Danglars | Hit | Similar → |
| 1974 | Watch Out, We're Mad | Doctor | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1973 | The Rainbow Boys | Ralph Logan | Hit | Similar → |
| 1972 | Wedding in White | Jim Dougall, Sr. | Hit | Similar → |
| 1972 | Innocent Bystanders | Loomis | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1971 | Skin Deep | Gerry Muddiman | Hit | Similar → |
| 1971 | Wake in Fright | Doc Tydon | Hit | Similar → |
| 1971 | The Fox Trot | Tom | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1970 | Soldier Blue | Isaac Q. Cumber | Hit | Similar → |
| 1969 | The Madwoman of Chaillot | The Prospector | Hit | Similar → |
| 1968 | Sleep is Lovely | Clive | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1968 | The News-Benders | J.G. | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1968 | Creature of Comfort | James Thorne | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1967 | The Diary of Anne Frank | Albert Dussel | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1967 | The Night of the Generals | General Kahlenberge | Hit | Similar → |
| 1964 | The Caretaker | Mac Davies / Bernard Jenkins | Hit | Similar → |
| 1963 | The Great Escape | Blythe 'The Forger' | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1962 | The Inspector | Wolters | Hit | Similar → |
| 1961 | The Horsemasters | Captain Pinski | Hit | Similar → |
| 1961 | What a Carve Up! | Everett Sloane | Hit | Similar → |
| 1961 | The Wind of Change | Pop | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1960 | The Cupboard | Fred Watson | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1960 | Suspect | Parsons, alias Bill Brown | Hit | Similar → |
| 1960 | The Big Day | Victor Partridge | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1958 | The Greatest Man in the World | US President | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1958 | A Tale of Two Cities | Barsad | Hit | Similar → |
| 1957 | The Man in the Sky | Crabtree | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1955 | Value for Money | Limpy | Hit | Similar → |
| 1955 | The Moment of Truth | The Foreign Minister | Hit | Similar → |
| 1954 | Nineteen Eighty-Four | Syme | Hit | Similar → |
Donald Pleasence - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best movie of Donald Pleasence?
According to audience ratings, the best movie starring Donald Pleasence is "The Wind of Change" with a rating of 10.0/10.
How many movies has Donald Pleasence acted in?
Donald Pleasence has been featured in at least 50 major films throughout their career.
What are some other popular movies by Donald Pleasence?
Other notable films include "Creature of Comfort", "The Greatest Man in the World", and "The Cupboard".