Decades of Deduction: 10 Sherlock Holmes portrayals since 1939

Updated On: 22 May, 2025 03:08 PM IST | Shachi Chaturvedi

Sherlock Holmes is a fictional detective, adapted onto the screens from British author, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle`s novel `A Study in Scarlet` written way back in 1887. Conan Doyle based Holmes partly on his former professor, Dr. Joseph Bell, who was known for his exceptional diagnostic skills and logical reasoning. Holmes is often accompanied by his loyal friend and chronicler, Dr. John Watson. Over time, Sherlock Holmes became one of the most famous and enduring characters in detective fiction, and is a cultural icon ever since. On May 22nd, we celebrate Sherlock Holmes Day, honouring the legendary fictional detective and his creator, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

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<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Basil Rathbone – Starred in 14 films (1939–1946), becoming one of the most iconic Holmes actors. Nigel Bruce famously portrayed Dr. Watson, Sherlock Holmes’ loyal companion, bringing the character to life in classic film adaptation</span></p>

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Basil Rathbone – Starred in 14 films (1939–1946), becoming one of the most iconic Holmes actors. Nigel Bruce famously portrayed Dr. Watson, Sherlock Holmes’ loyal companion, bringing the character to life in classic film adaptation

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Peter Cushing – Played Holmes in Hammer`s </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Hound of the Baskervilles</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> (1959) accompanied by Andre Morell as Dr. Watson</span></p>

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Peter Cushing – Played Holmes in Hammer`s The Hound of the Baskervilles (1959) accompanied by Andre Morell as Dr. Watson

<p>Christopher Lee<span style="font-weight: 400;"> – Portrayed Holmes in multiple films, including </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">Sherlock Holmes and the Deadly Necklace</span><span style="font-weight: 400;"> (1962)</span></p>

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Christopher Lee – Portrayed Holmes in multiple films, including Sherlock Holmes and the Deadly Necklace (1962)

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Peter Cushing – Appeared once again as detective Sherlock Holmes in Sherlock Holmes (1965 TV Series) alongside Nigel Stock as Dr. Watson</span></p>

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Peter Cushing – Appeared once again as detective Sherlock Holmes in Sherlock Holmes (1965 TV Series) alongside Nigel Stock as Dr. Watson

<p>Roger Moore<span style="font-weight: 400;"> – Starred in </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">Sherlock Holmes in New York</span><span style="font-weight: 400;"> (1976) with </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">Patrick Macnee playing the Holmes` chronicler, Dr. Watson </span></p>

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Roger Moore – Starred in Sherlock Holmes in New York (1976) with Patrick Macnee playing the Holmes` chronicler, Dr. Watson

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Jeremy Brett – Widely acclaimed for his portrayal in the Granada TV series, The Adventure of Sherlock Holmes, 10 seasons (1984–1994) wherein the role of </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">Dr. Watson was portrayed by David Burke</span></p>

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Jeremy Brett – Widely acclaimed for his portrayal in the Granada TV series, The Adventure of Sherlock Holmes, 10 seasons (1984–1994) wherein the role of Dr. Watson was portrayed by David Burke

<p>One of the most iconic and mainstream adaptation of Sherlock Holmes with a significant part for Dr. Watson <span style="font-weight: 400;">– </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">Guy Ritchie`s films (2009, 2011). Wherein Robert Downey Jr. portrayed a dynamic Holmes and the character of "Elementary, Watson" </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">was redefined by Jude Law</span></p>

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One of the most iconic and mainstream adaptation of Sherlock Holmes with a significant part for Dr. Watson – Guy Ritchie`s films (2009, 2011). Wherein Robert Downey Jr. portrayed a dynamic Holmes and the character of "Elementary, Watson" was redefined by Jude Law

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Benedict Cumberbatch – Modernized the character in BBC`s </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">Sherlock</span><span style="font-weight: 400;"> (2010–2017) with</span><span style="font-weight: 400;"> Martin Freeman enacting Holmes` constant companion, "I don’t have friends. I just have one", Dr. Watson</span></p>

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Benedict Cumberbatch – Modernized the character in BBC`s Sherlock (2010–2017) with Martin Freeman enacting Holmes` constant companion, "I don’t have friends. I just have one", Dr. Watson

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Jonny Lee Miller – Starred in CBS`s </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Elementary</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> (2012–2019) is a m</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">odern-day adaptation with contemporary crime-solving with </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">Dr. Watson played by a female lead, Lucy Liu, for the first time</span></p>

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Jonny Lee Miller – Starred in CBS`s Elementary (2012–2019) is a modern-day adaptation with contemporary crime-solving with Dr. Watson played by a female lead, Lucy Liu, for the first time

<p>As the years passed, the fiction grew old too. In I<span style="font-weight: 400;">an McKellen`s </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Mr. Holmes</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> (2015), S</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">herlock Holmes is a retired detective who suffers from dementia. He is unable to remember the two unsolved cases that led to his retirement but tries his best to learn about his past</span></p>

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As the years passed, the fiction grew old too. In Ian McKellen`s Mr. Holmes (2015), Sherlock Holmes is a retired detective who suffers from dementia. He is unable to remember the two unsolved cases that led to his retirement but tries his best to learn about his past

<p>Short on screen time but memorable, Henry Cavill’s Sherlock in <em data-start="63" data-end="77">Enola Holmes</em> shines with wit and charisma. He brings the `Man of Steel` intensity to the iconic detective energy</p>

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Short on screen time but memorable, Henry Cavill’s Sherlock in Enola Holmes shines with wit and charisma. He brings the `Man of Steel` intensity to the iconic detective energy

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Decades of Deduction: 10 Sherlock Holmes portrayals since 1939

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Breaking barriers and building pyramids — Women power in action!