6. Anthony Higgins, Young Sherlock Holmes
Young Sherlock Holmes gives a Harry Potter-like spin of the Sherlock Holmes story as it sees an adolescent Holmes and Watson investigating mysteries while at boarding school. The film also explores the origins of Holmes’ rivalry with Moriarty, as the Professor was once a Snape-like teacher of the young detective’s.
5. Natalie Dormer, Elementary
Elementary made some bold choices with its version of Sherlock Holmes, not least its reimagining of Moriarty. Here the character is Jamie Moriarty, an old lover of Sherlock’s who he discovers is really a criminal mastermind. It’s a great original take, far removed from the wizened professor of old, and Dormer makes the character her own.
4. George Zucco, The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes
The wartime Sherlock Holmes films have three different actors in the role of Moriarty but the best is definitely the first. George Zucco is the original great on-screen Moriarty, a gleefully nasty man who brilliantly contrasts with Basil Rathbone’s dashing hero. He also plans to steal the crown jewels, something Andrew Scott’s Moriarty borrowed.
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You missed out on Daniel Davis in two episodes of Star Trek: The Next Generation, that performance definitely belongs here.
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Daniel Davis was great as Moriarty on 2 episodes of Star Trek: The Next Generation.
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Liked Potter…..a lot, too!
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You forgot Vncent D’onofrio in Sherlock: Case of Evil where Moriarty created heroin for the first time
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I wonder how many people who voted here have actually seen the other actors play this role. I bet if they did they would understand that Scott did not play the character at all but just played the Joker from Batman under the guise of Professor Moriarty.
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“Who else could take the top spot?” Really? If we need a good Joker, Andrew Scott’s your man. But for my Moriarty, I’m looking for a better class of criminal. Oh wait. BBC Sherlock ripped that line from the Nolan films, too. All we need now is the Batman theme song and the “Deer Stalker Symbol” on the roof of Scotland Yard.
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Eric porter
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So did no one see George Morfogen, the distinguished NY theater actor, as “Moriarty” in the HBO/Williamstown Theater production of Wm. Gillette’s “Sherlock Holmes”? He’s number one on my list: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lSmzI4NhLL0
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I think Scott’s version is rather impressive. The impact he had on the fandom was massive. He gave a different side to the sherlock series and gave it a much needed plot twist and villain. But that’s my opinion. I respect everyone else’s choice
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Henry Daniel & George Zucco were the only two that played Professor Moriority in the Rathbone & Nigel Bruce series. Seems you didn’t know that one !!!
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Two of my favorite are: Lionel Atwill and Henry Daniell. They offered great performances that are re-watch on a regular basis.
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