Leyland Hodgson (5 October 1892 – 16 March 1949), also known as Leland Hodgson, was an English-born American character actor of the 1930s and 1940s.
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Early years
Hodgson was born in London on 5 October 1892. As the attraction of performing increased, his interest in studying diminished.
Career
Hodgson entered the theatre in 1898. He toured with a stock troupe in Australian provinces, after which he acted in London and on tours of various countries, including seven years in the Orient. He returned to Australia in the early 1920s and acted there. In 1930 he went to Hollywood, where he made his film debut in the Oscar-nominated film, The Case of Sergeant Grischa in 1930.
He continued to act on stage after the move, including a production of East of Suez at the Belasco Theater in Los Angeles in 1930. In 1934 he managed and acted with the International Players stock company.
Over his almost twenty-year career, he appeared in over 130 films, mostly in supporting or smaller roles. He is best known for his work on the Sherlock Holmes franchise of the late 1930s and 1940s, beginning with 1939's The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes.
Death
Hodgson died of a heart attack in Hollywood on 16 March 1949, aged 56, shortly after completing the filming of That Forsyte Woman, which would be released later that year. He was interred at Grand View Memorial Park Cemetery in Glendale, California.
Filmography
(Per AFI database)