Roddy McDowall Age and Birth Details
Roddy McDowall was born on September 17, 1928, in London, England, making him a Virgo by zodiac sign. His full birth name was Roderick Andrew Anthony Jude McDowall, and public records confirm he was a British-American actor who worked in film and television for more than five decades. His age at death was 66, calculated from his birth date and his passing on October 3, 1998, according to widely cited biographical sources Biography.com.
McDowall became a naturalized United States citizen, and his career spanned classical Hollywood, science fiction, and family entertainment. He appeared in major studio productions and independent projects, with credits that include war dramas, westerns, and horror films. His early life in Britain and later work in Los Angeles shaped a long professional timeline that is often referenced in film history summaries IMDb.
Roddy McDowall Career Timeline and Key Roles
McDowall's first major screen role came in the 1941 film How Green Was My Valley, where he played Huw Morgan as a child actor. He later starred in the 1946 film The Yearling and gained further recognition for his performance in the 1948 drama The Snake Pit. These early parts established him as a reliable child and teenage actor in American cinema during the 1940s.
In the 1960s and 1970s, McDowall shifted toward character roles and science fiction, most notably playing Cornelius and Caesar in the Planet of the Apes franchise. He directed and acted in the 1970 film The Ballad of Cable Hogue and continued working in television series and made-for-TV movies through the 1980s and 1990s TCM. His later career included voice work and guest appearances on popular TV shows, extending his on-screen presence into the final years before his death.
Roddy McDowall Legacy and Public Record Data
McDowall's legacy is documented in studio archives, film databases, and obituaries that list his age, birth date, and career milestones. Public records show he was active in the entertainment industry from the early 1940s until 1998, with a body of work that includes more than 100 film and television credits. His contributions to the Planet of the Apes series remain a central part of his public profile, and his performances are frequently cited in retrospectives about classic science fiction cinema Rotten Tomatoes.
Biographical entries consistently state that Roddy McDowall died on October 3, 1998, in Woodland Hills, California, at age 66. Cause of death was reported as lung cancer, and his passing was covered by major entertainment outlets and news services. His career timeline, from child actor in British films to veteran Hollywood performer, is preserved in studio catalogs and reference sites that track actor filmographies and biographical data Britannica.