Lyn Harding

Though Lyn Harding never played Sherlock Holmes, he was an imposing presence in the genre. Ask a knowledgeable fan to name the three greatest villains of the Canon, and you will likely hear Grimesby Roylott and Professor Moriarty mentioned. Harding played both. He was “Rylott” in Doyle’s play of “The Speckled Band” in 1910 (which he also produced). He would reprise the role for the Raymond Massey movie version in 1931. In 1935, he would play Moriarty to Athur Wontner’s Holmes in “The Triumph of Sherlock Holmes.” He would again play him in the 1937 film “The Silver Blaze.” Harding had a solid, menacing presence, and is considered by many to be cinema’s best Moriarty. I feel he was too stout for my image, which is based on Paget’s drawings. However, he was absolutely outstanding as Rylott in the film. He could not have played the role better.