Sir Donald Sinden, standing at an exact 5ft 11 (180.3 cm), brought a commanding physical presence to his iconic roles in British cinema and theatre. His height perfectly suited the authoritative naval officers in The Cruel Sea and Above Us the Waves, as well as the intense characterizations in Mogambo and The Day of the Jackal. Throughout his career, this stature enhanced his versatile portrayals, from wartime entertainments for troops—after being rejected for naval service due to asthma—to his 2007 tour An Evening with... Sir Donald Sinden, where he captivated audiences with life anecdotes.