Although neither his parents were actors, Basil Rathbone followed in the footsteps of some of his relatives by going into the acting profession. He originally started his acting career on the stage, most notably in Shakespearean plays both in London and on Broadway. He made the transition to acting in motion pictures easily. He specialized in playing dark characters, probably because of the piercing nature of his eyes. While in Hollywood, he and his wife were renowned for hosting lavish parties.