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Donald Sinden

Donald Sinden

Actor · Died September 11, 2014, aged 90 · Plymouth, Devon, England, UK

​Sir Donald Alfred Sinden CBE (born 9 October 1923) is an English actor of theatre, film and television. Sinden was born in Plymouth, Devon, England, on 9 October 1923. The son of Alfred Edward Sinden and his wife Mabel Agnes (née Fuller), he grew up in the Sussex village of Ditchling, where their home ('The Limes') doubled as the local chemist shop. He was married to actress Diana Mahony from 1948 until her death in 2004. He lives near Tenterden, Kent. The couple had two sons: actor Donald Sinden, who died of lung cancer in 1996, and Marc Sinden who is a West End theatre producer. Early career He trained as an actor at the Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art and made his first stage appearance at the Brighton Little Theatre (of which he later became President) in January 1941, playing Dudley in George and Margaret. He broke into professional acting after appearing with the Mobile Entertainments Southern Area company in modern comedies for the armed forces during the Second World War. Rank Organisation In 1953 he was contracted for seven years to the Rank Organisation at Pinewood Studios and subsequently starred in many outstanding British films of the 1950s including The Cruel Sea, Mogambo, Doctor in the House, Above Us The Waves, Doctor at Large, The Siege of Sidney Street, Twice Round the Daffodils and with a very young Adam Faith in Mix Me a Person. Description above from the Wikipedia article Donald Sinden, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
October 9, 1923
Died
September 11, 2014 (aged 90)
From
Plymouth, Devon, England, UK
Works as
Actor
Titles
27 on MovieCove · 68 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 63 days to Oct 26Up 50% in 30 days

What are Donald Sinden's films like?

Across their 18 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Morality.

Genres

Comedy7 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 39th percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Adventure3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 49th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Adventure movies
Crime3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 41st percentile
: browse their Crime movies
Drama3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 65th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Bonds
48%
Morality
22%
Power
11%
Self
10%
Survival
8%
Society
1%
Romantic love9 titles, browse their movies with this themeFriendship4 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds3 titles, browse their movies with this themeClass3 titles, browse their movies with this themeLoyalty2 titles, browse their movies with this themeRedemption2 titles, browse their movies with this themeDuty2 titles, browse their movies with this themeDeception2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 17 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Serious: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their serious movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

A split, not a type: Light 9 · Serious 3 · Dark 5

Stylized: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their stylized movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

A split, not a type: Grounded 9 · Stylized 6 · Heightened 2

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

A split, not a type: Gentle 8 · Charged 6 · Intense 3

Steady: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their steady movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

Steady 15 · Shifting 2 · Whiplash 0

Some laughs: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their some laughs movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

Straight-faced 6 · Some laughs 7 · Funny 4

Slow burn: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their slow burn movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 9 · Even-paced 8 · Relentless 0

Casual: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their casual movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 11 · Engaged 6 · Full focus 0

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 16 · Open-ended 1 · Ambiguous 0

Roles they play

12 analyzed roles

Usually the Ally: 4 of 12 analyzed roles.

Ally
4 of 12
Hero
3 of 12
Herald
2 of 12
Shadow
2 of 12
Shapeshifter
1 of 12
Show the 12 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
8
Warm
8
Romantic
5
Joyful
4
Melancholic
5
Other
15

How their films linger

Feel-good10 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 2 with a twist

  • Happy12
  • Bittersweet6

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Donald Sinden's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 12 of their 27 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (7).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Donald Sinden's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

68 credits, 27 with a MovieCove page; 5 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Run for Your Wife(2012)

    as Man on Bus

    Midcredits score: 3rd percentile of all films

  • The Accidental Detective (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    as Professor Stein

  • Judge John Deed (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    Show 28 episodes · as Sir Joseph Channing

  • How Proust Can Change Your Life (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    as Duc d'Albufera

  • Nancherrow (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    Show 2 episodes · Actor

  • Alice in Wonderland(1999)

    as Gryphon (voice)

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all films

  • Nancherrow (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    as Robin Jarvis

  • Hey, Mr. Producer! The Musical World of Cameron Mackintosh(1998)

    as Col. Pickering

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all films

  • Atatürk (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    as Narrator (voice)

  • The Canterville Ghost (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    as Lord Dumbleton

  • An Audience with Ronnie Corbett (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    Actor

  • Midsomer Murders(1997)

    Show 1 episode · as Colonel Henry Hammond

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all shows

  • Cuts (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    as Sir Luke Trimingham

  • The Treasure Seekers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    as Old Wincott

  • The Canterville Ghost(1996)

    as Mr. Umney

    Midcredits score: 52nd percentile of all films

  • Balto(1995)

    as Doc (voice)

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films

  • Performance (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    Show 1 episode · as Edmund of Langley

  • The Children (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    as Lord Wrench

  • Playing Shakespeare (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    Show 9 episodes · Actor

  • Present Laughter (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    as Garry Essendine

  • Never the Twain (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    Show 67 episodes · as Simon Peel

  • All's Well That Ends Well(1981)

    as King of France

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films

  • Two's Company(1975)

    Show 28 episodes · Theme Song Performance · as Robert Hiller

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all shows

  • That Lucky Touch(1975)

    as British Gen. Armstrong

    Midcredits score: 13th percentile of all films

  • The Island at the Top of the World(1974)

    as Sir Anthony Ross

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films

  • Father Dear Father (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    as Philip Glover

  • The Day of the Jackal(1973)

    as Mallinson

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • The National Health (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    as Mr. Carr / Senior Surgeon Boyd

  • Rentadick(1972)

    as Jeffrey Armitage

    Midcredits score: 3rd percentile of all films

  • The Organization (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    Show 7 episodes · as David Pulman

  • The Rivals of Sherlock Holmes(1971)

    Show 1 episode · as Romney Pringle

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all shows

  • Villain(1971)

    as Gerald Draycott

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films

  • The Ten Commandments (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    Show 1 episode · as Major

  • The Judgement of Albion (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1968)

    as Voice

  • Decline and Fall... of a Birdwatcher(1968)

    as The Prison Governor

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all films

  • William and Mary (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1968)

    as William Pearl

  • Late Night Horror (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1968)

    Show 1 episode · as William Pearl

  • Ooh La La! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1968)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • The Prisoner(1967)

    Show 1 episode · as The Colonel

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all shows

  • BBC Play of the Month (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

    Show 1 episode · as Philip Carter

  • Thirty-Minute Theatre (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

    Show 7 episodes · as Andrew Pelham

  • The Wars of the Roses (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

    as Duke of York

  • The Wars of the Roses (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

    Show 1 episode · as Plantagenet

  • Festival (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1963)

    Show 1 episode · as Solinus, Duke of Ephesus

  • Mix Me a Person(1962)

    as Philip Bellamy, QC

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films

  • Twice Round the Daffodils(1962)

    as Ian Richards

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all films

  • The Siege of Sidney Street (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1960)

    as Inspector Mannering

  • Your Money or Your Wife (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1960)

    as Pelham Butterworth

  • Operation Bullshine (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)

    as Lt. Gordon Brown

  • The Captain's Table(1959)

    as Chief Officer Shawe-Wilson

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all films

  • Rockets Galore (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1958)

    as Hugh Mander

  • Doctor at Large (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1957)

    as Dr. Tony Benskin

  • Tiger in the Smoke(1956)

    as Geoffrey Leavitt

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films

  • Eyewitness (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1956)

    as Wade

  • Armchair Theatre (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1956)

    Show 1 episode · as Faulk

  • The Black Tent(1956)

    as Col. Sir Charles Holland

    Midcredits score: 21st percentile of all films

  • An Alligator Named Daisy(1955)

    as Peter Weston

    Midcredits score: 12th percentile of all films

  • Josephine and Men (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1955)

    as Alan Hartley

  • Above Us the Waves(1955)

    as Lieutenant Tom Corbett

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films

  • Simba (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1955)

    as Inspector Drummond

  • Mad About Men (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1954)

    as Jeff Saunders

  • The Beachcomber(1954)

    as Ewart Gray

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films

  • Doctor in the House(1954)

    as Tony Benskin

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films

  • You Know What Sailors Are (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1954)

    Actor

  • A Day to Remember (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1953)

    as Jim Carver

  • Mogambo(1953)

    as Donald Nordley

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • The Cruel Sea(1953)

    as Lockhart

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films

  • Portrait from Life (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1948)

    as Minor Role

Career shape

Star power in the 94th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 68 titles from 1948 to 2012; peak year 1973.

Biggest box office

Mogambo (1953)

$17K worldwide

Highest rated

The Cruel Sea (1953)

Midcredits 93rd

Most popular right now

Two's Company (1975)

Film career

19482012

Peak 1973 · back in prominent film roles after a quiet stretch. Top draw in 1 MovieCove title. Film roles by billing, audience size and rating; 25+ votes. A show carries a single first-air date, so shows are not on the curve.

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting68 of 68: 67 only acting, 1 with another role · typical Midcredits score60thOther crew1 of 68: 0 only other crew, 1 with another role

By decade

1940s1 · acting1950s19 · acting1960s15 · acting1970s11 · 11 acting · 1 crew1980s4 · acting1990s14 · acting2000s3 · acting2010s1 · acting

Billing

usually 4th · top billed in 9% of 11 roles
5368

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30; the columns are the share of top-billed roles in each era, 5-year spans from the year on the label, merged until each holds at least 5 roles.

How do Donald Sinden's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 50th percentile, the median of all 23; across their 17 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 49th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

49thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 17

Approval · how many liked their films

46thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 17

Reach · how many have seen their films

32ndpercentile
Typical film, the median of 17

Midcredits score across 27 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up7
  • 50th to 74th9
  • 25th to 49th5
  • Below 25th6

Shape of the crowd

12 of their 27 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved4
  • Universally Panned1
  • Crowd Pleaser12
  • Broadly Agreed5
  • Mixed5

Most divisive · actor

Run for Your Wife (2012)

85th percentile spread · 72% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Hey, Mr. Producer! The Musical World of Cameron Mackintosh (1998)

Midcredits 98th · 86% liked

Reviewers score the acting 65/100 in their films, across 17 reviewed titles; fans 74, detractors 41. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Who does Donald Sinden work with?

People who share at least 2 of Donald Sinden's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Earl St. John shares the most, 6.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers, cinematographers and editors

Producers

Mixed roles