Robert Rendel

Robert Rendel was a British actor born on 2 December 1884 in St Mary Abbots, Kensington, London, whose work spanned stage, screen, television, and radio. He died on 9 May 1944 in Marylebone, London.

Rendel's Broadway career extended from 1916 to 1928 and included appearances in several notable productions. He was part of the original Broadway cast of Somerset Maugham's The Circle in 1921 and appeared in Arnold Ridley's The Ghost Train in 1926. Additional Broadway credits include The Storm, Wings Over Europe, and Come-on Charlie.

On the London stage, Rendel played the Duke of Marlborough in Norman Ginsbury's Viceroy Sarah in 1935. His film career began in the silent era with Slander in 1916, in which he played Harry Carson, followed by The Barricade in 1917 as Gerald Hastings. He appeared in the 1924 film Her Night of Romance as Prince George. In 1932 he took on the role of Sherlock Holmes in the original sound adaptation of The Hound of the Baskervilles. His subsequent film work included Death at Broadcasting House and The Way of Youth, both in 1934, as well as The Price of Wisdom in 1935. Later screen appearances included Fire Over England in 1937, The Four Feathers and The Spy in Black in 1939, and The Day Will Dawn in 1942.

Beyond performing, Rendel was also a contract bridge author. His written works on the subject include How's Your Bridge, co-authored with Sydney Lenz, as well as That Extra Trick and The Squeeze at Auction and Contract Bridge. Rendel is credited with adopting the term "squeeze" from baseball in the context of bridge.