John Rhys-Davies was born May 5, 1944, in Salisbury, Wiltshire, England. Raised in England, Wales and Africa, he is a graduate of the University of East Anglia and The Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts.A character actor with a long background on the stage, television and big screen, Rhys-Davies was first noticed by American audiences in the miniseries "I, Claudius" (1976) and "Shogun" (1980). After playing Sallah in the blockbuster Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981), Rhys-Davies became a welcome presence in Hollywood movies. He repeated the role in Indiana Jones and The Last Crusade, then gained a TV following as Professor Arturo in the cult series "Sliders" (1995-97).
Although he was actually taller than his fellow lead actors, camera tricks made Rhys-Davies appear smaller in his role as the dwarf warrior Gimli in the phenomenally successful Lord of the Rings trilogy (2001-03).
AddIn the Name of the KingWhen a violent race of brutes controlled by the evil Gallian (Ray Liotta) kills his son and kidnaps his wife, Farmer Daimon (Jason Statham) sets off on a quest for revenge. Along the way, he meets those who vow to help him in hopes of bringing peace to their beloved kingdom. Leelee Sobieski, Burt... Read More
AddAnaconda 3: The OffspringBelieving that an elusive anaconda may hold the cure for a life-threatening disease, an enigmatic billionaire hires a mercenary named Hammett (David Hasselhoff) to track down and capture the reptile. But the snake has other ideas, and soon Hammett and his team find themselves in a battle for their... Read More
AddThe Lost WorldUnfazed by ridicule from fellow scientists, Professor Challenger (John Rhys-Davies) leads an expedition to investigate rumored sightings of prehistoric life still thriving in the unexplored African jungle. Joined by a thrill-seeking journalist, his archrival and a beautiful adventurer, it's a... Read More
AddThe Merchant of Venice - BBCWarren Mitchell and Gemma Jones star in Shakespeare's comedy-drama about Portia, a wealthy young woman whose father controls who she'll marry, and Bassanio, who wishes to marry Portia, but can't afford to. Bassanio borrows money from Shylock, but if he can't repay the debt, a "pound of flesh" will... Read More
AddThe King MakerPortuguese mercenary Fernando De Gamma (Gary Stretch) sets sail to the Far East to avenge his father's murder, only to be shipwrecked and sold into slavery in Siam. Freed by the beautiful Maria (Cindy Burbridge), he soon finds himself in the service of the king, where court intrigue threatens his... Read More
