Biography
Douglas "Denis" Findlay Shaw (7 February 1921 – 28 February 1971) was a British character actor who specialized in portraying villains. Shaw was born in Dulwich on 7 February 1921. In the 1950s and 1960s, he was frequently cast as villains in films and television shows, most notably as the German guard Priem in The Colditz Story (1955), as well as a number of British horror films including Jack the Ripper (1959), The Mummy (1959) and The Curse of the Werewolf (1961). He was cast in the leading role of The Great Van Robbery (1959) as the judo-throwing Interpol detective Caesar Smith. Shaw's television credits include The Adventures of Robin Hood, The Avengers, Danger Man, Dixon of Dock Green, The Prisoner, Sherlock Holmes and Z-Cars. Shaw died from a heart attack in London on 28 February 1971, at the age of 50. A familiar face around the bars of Soho in London, he is mentioned in Keith Waterhouse's play Jeffrey Bernard Is Unwell.
Acted in 49
1970s
- 1970
The Misfit
Aircraft Passenger · 1 episode
1960s
- 1969
The Magnificent Six and ½: It's Not Cricket
Heavyset Workman
The Mind of Mr. J.G. Reeder
Wu Tong · 1 episode
- 1968
Tom Grattan's War
Koestler · 2 episodes
The Magnificent Six and ½: Kontiki Kids
Nasty Workman
- 1967
The Viking Queen
Osiris
The Deadly Affair
Wolfe - Publican
- 1965
Londoners
Louie · 1 episode
- 1964
- 1963
- 1962
The Pirates of Blood River
Silver (uncredited)
- 1961
Nothing Barred
Convict
The Curse of the Werewolf
Gaoler
Carry On Regardless
Sinister Passenger (uncredited)
The Hellfire Club
Sir Richard Benlow
Ticket to Paradise
Giuseppe
- 1960
The Night We Got the Bird
Wolfie's Stooge
The Criminal
Taxi Customer at Racetrack (uncredited)
Beyond the Curtain
Krumm
Trouble with Eve
George Rigby
1950s
- 1959
Jack the Ripper
Simes
The Great Van Robbery
Caesar Smith
Naked Fury
Captain Horst
- 1958
Passport to Shame
Mac
A Woman Possessed
Bishop
Moment of Indiscretion
Inspector Marsh
Soapbox Derby
Lender
- 1957
The Depraved
Inspector O'Flynn
Seven Thunders
Fat German Soldier
Let's Be Happy
Fat Man in Train Corridor (uncredited)
- 1956
The Weapon
Groggins
Armchair Theatre
Ziggy · 1 episode
Port Afrique
Grila
Who Done It?
Professor Stumpf
- 1955
The Prisoner
Plainclothesman (uncredited)
The Colditz Story
Priem
- 1954
Forbidden Cargo
Ship's Cook
- 1953
House of Blackmail
Bassett
The Long Memory
Shaw (uncredited)
- 1952
Girdle of Gold
Choirmaster
