THE SIMILARITIES BETWEEN SHERLOCK HOLMES AND THE PEOPLE WHO'VE PLAYED HIM (PART ONE)

Now from the click of your mouse button I've deduced the following four observations. One: You have a mouse. Two: You have a mouse that makes a clicking sound whenever you press it. Three: You have a mouse that makes a clicking sound whenever you press it at this article. And Four: Read this article, as it's about the people who've played Sherlock Holmes.

Robert Downey Junior
(Ahead Of His Time)

When Sherlock Holmes was first created by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, circa 1887, the general public perceived his creation to be a man of the future, using advanced scientific techniques so he could solve the crimes presented to him. Coincidentally, Robert Downey Junior, who played Sherlock in the Guy Ritchie series of films, also played another hero that's perceived as being scientifically bent, and ahead of his time: Tony Stark, also known as Iron Man.

John Cleese
(Man Of Cheese)

Sir Arthur was originally going to call his creation Sherrinford Holmes, but changed it to Sherlock Holmes because he was a big cricket fan and there was a cricketer with that name. Coincidentally, John Cleese, who played the Grandson of Sherlock Holmes in the 1977 comedy, 'The Strange Case of the End of Civilization as We Know It', is also a big cricket fan, and his father changed their surname from Cheese to Cleese because he thought it was embarrassing.

Michael Caine
(Without A Clue)

Charles Altamont Doyle, Arthur's father, was sent to a sanatorium in 1881 due to his perpetual alcoholism and epileptic seizures. Coincidentally, Michael Caine, who played a version of Sherlock in the 1988 comedy, 'Without a Clue', also had a member of his family sent to a sanatorium due to them having epileptic seizures. It was his long-lost brother, Stanley, who he never knew existed until after his mother had passed away.

Arthur Wontner
(Political Power)

As some of you may know, Arthur Conan Doyle was politically driven and even ran for parliament twice in his life. First in 1900: representing the Unionist Party in Edinburgh, and then in 1906: representing the border boroughs surrounding Scotland. Coincidentally, Arthur Wontner, who played Sherlock in a series of five films from 1931 to 1937, had a son called Hugh, and he became a well-known hotelier, a well-known politician, and the Lord Mayor of London.

Basil Rathbone
(South Africa Or Bust)

Nine years before he gave birth to Sherlock, 1879, Doyle had his first full piece published in Chambers's Edinburgh Journal. It was called "The Mystery of Sasassa Valley", and it was a story set in South Africa. Coincidentally, Basil Rathbone, who played Sherlock Holmes fourteen times on film -- twice for Fox, and twelve times for Universal -- was born in South Africa on the 13th of June, 1892.

Jeremy Brett
(They Can Say What They Like)

Throughout his life, Jeremy Brett, who played Sherlock Holmes for the Granada television series, had been called a homosexual, a manic depressive, as well as someone who likes to dress up and play-pretend in front of people. Coincidentally, the same things have also been said about Sherlock.

Yes-Yes-Yes. I do know that there have been a lot more actors who've played Holmes over the years. So don't fret, as I'll be back with another rundown of Sherlockian players very-very soon.