The older brother of Sherlock Holmes by 7 years. Described by Conan Doyle in “The Adventure of the Bruce-Partington Plans” as “Heavily built and massive; there was a suggestion of uncouth physical inertia in the figure, but above this unwieldy frame there was perched a head so masterful in its brow, so alert in its steel-grey, deep-set eyes, so firm in its lips, and so subtle in its play of expression, that after the first glance one forgot the gross body and remembered only the dominant mind.”
Holmes himself says his brother has “the tidiest and most orderly brain, with the greatest capacity for storing facts, of any man living”. Although an occasional problem-solver for Holmes, he is impractical and has little ambition or energy. He founded a Gentleman's club known as the Diogenes, where he spends most of his spare time, in a silent room alone with his thoughts. His greatest use to Holmes is the power and influence that he appears to have within the British government.
Holmes Facts
3
Mycroft is one of three children. He is the older brother to both Sherlock and Eurus.
4
Mycroft is the only character to always call Holmes "Sherlock". He only appears in 4 stories.
1
Mycroft walked from Pall Mall, where he lodged to Whitehall each day and back again - clocking up the grand total of one mile walked per day.
Portrayed by
To date, Arthur Conan Doyle's characters have been translated onto the page, into products and onto the screen by Hollywood and beyond. Here are just a few of the interpretations of this original Arthur Conan Doyle character over the years. Work with us to create the next version of this fascinating character.
Mark Gatiss
Sherlock, BBC (2015)
Stephen Fry
Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows, Warner Bros (2011)
Charles Gray
The Greek Interpreter, Granada (1985)
Rhys Ifans
Elementary, CBS (2013)
John Sessions
Mr Holmes, Miramax (2015)
Robert Morley
A Study In Terror, Columbia Pictures (1965)
