Basil Ruysdael Biography: Age, Height, Net Worth, Death, Cause of Death, Movies, Wife, Ethnicity

Basil Spaulding Millspaugh, professionally known as Basil Ruysdael, was an actor and opera singer who gained recognition for his distinguished career in both classical music and Hollywood films.

He first established himself as a respected bass-baritone with the Metropolitan Opera before successfully transitioning into acting, where his role as Detective Hennessy in the Marx Brothers comedy The Cocoanuts introduced him to film audiences.

His commanding voice and dignified screen presence later made him a familiar face in Westerns, dramas, and television productions throughout the 1940s and 1950s.

Basil Ruysdael
Wiki Facts & About Data
Real Name:	Basil Spaulding Millspaugh
Stage Name:	Basil Ruysdael
Born:	July 24, 1878
Died:	October 10, 1960, Hollywood, California, USA
Place of Birth:	Jersey City, New Jersey, USA
State Of Origin:	New Jersey
Nationality:	American
Ethnicity:	White American
Height:	6 feet 2 inches
Religion:	Protestantism
Parents:	Dr. Charles Millspaugh and Mrs. Charles Millspaugh
Spouse:	Eleanor Mason Manierre, Rose Swettenham, Kathleen Dobbyn
Relationship:	Married (until his death)
Occupation:	Actor, Opera Singer
Net Worth:	$2 million

Early Life and Education

Basil Spaulding Millspaugh, who would have turned 148 years old in 2026, was born on July 24, 1878, in Jersey City, New Jersey.

He was raised by his parents, Dr. Charles Millspaugh and Mrs. Charles Millspaugh, in a well-educated household where Protestant values and academic achievement played an important role in his upbringing.

He attended Waverly High School before enrolling at Cornell University as a special student in mechanical engineering.

While studying there, he became actively involved with the Cornell University Glee Club, where his remarkable singing voice attracted attention.

He eventually left engineering behind to pursue professional vocal training in Europe, preparing for a career in opera.

Personal Life

Basil Ruysdael married three times during his lifetime. His first marriage was to Eleanor Mason Manierre in 1915, but the relationship ended in divorce in 1923.

He later married Rose Swettenham in 1925, and that marriage also ended in divorce nearly two decades later.

In 1945, he married Kathleen Dobbyn after settling in California to focus on his acting career. They remained together until his death in 1960. Despite his three marriages, there are no records indicating that he had any children.

Career

Basil Ruysdael began his professional career as an opera singer, performing with the Savage Grand Opera Company before joining the Metropolitan Opera in New York as a leading bass-baritone.

During his years on the operatic stage, he appeared in numerous classical productions and became known for his powerful voice.

In 1915, he legally adopted the stage name Basil Ruysdael and later expanded his career to Broadway productions, including Robin Hood, Topsy and Eva, and the stage version of The Cocoanuts.

His transition to Hollywood came in 1929 when he reprised his Broadway role as Detective Hennessy in The Cocoanuts.

During the following decades, he worked as a radio announcer, vocal coach, and character actor.

His authoritative voice and distinguished appearance earned him roles in films such as Pinky, Colorado Territory, Broken Arrow, Blackboard Jungle, The Last Hurrah, and The Story of Ruth.

He also appeared in television productions including Perry Mason and Disney’s Davy Crockett series, remaining active until the end of his life.

Net Worth

Basil Ruysdael had an estimated net worth of $2 million.

His income came from his successful career as an opera singer, Broadway performer, radio announcer, vocal coach, and Hollywood character actor.

Death

Basil Ruysdael died on October 10, 1960, in Hollywood, California, at the age of 82. He passed away following complications from surgery, ending a career that spanned more than five decades in opera, radio, film, and television.

Filmography

• The Cocoanuts (1929)
• Colorado Territory (1949)
• Come to the Stable (1949)
• The Doctor and the Girl (1949)
• Pinky (1949)
• The File on Thelma Jordon (1949)
• Broken Arrow (1950)
• My Forbidden Past (1951)
• The Big Night (1951)
• People Will Talk (1951)
• Carrie (1952)
• Prince Valiant (1954)
• The Violent Men (1955)
• Blackboard Jungle (1955)
• Davy Crockett, King of the Wild Frontier (1955)
• Pearl of the South Pacific (1955)
• Diane (1956)
• Jubal (1956)
• These Wilder Years (1956)
• The Last Hurrah (1958)
• The Horse Soldiers (1959)
• The Story of Ruth (1960)
• One Hundred and One Dalmatians (1961)

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