Donat processed his number 1 stage appearance within 1921 and his film debut in 1932 in The Private Life of Henry VIII (as Thomas Culpepper), under the notable film director and producer Alexander Korda. He got a successful screen image when the quintessential English gentleman. His virtually all successful films involved The Ghost Goes West (1935), Hitchcock's The 39 Steps (1935) and Goodbye, Mr Chips (1939), which won him the Academy Award for best actor.

Yet, he suffered from either ill-health (chronic asthma) which blighted his career and limited him to xix films. His final role, when a mandarin of "Yang Cheng" in The Inn of the Sixth Happiness (1958) is memorable because it is apparent that he knew that he was approximately dying. He died of the stroke in June 9 of that year at age 53.

Donat was twice married, foremost to Ella Annesley Voysey (1929-1946), by whom he experienced Threesome kids, & afterwards to British actress Renée Asherson (1953-1958).

Filomgraphy
Donat can be better remembered for his roles in the as a result films.

The Private Life of Henry VIII (1921) The Count of Monte Cristo (1934) (as Edmond Dantes - the Count of Monte Cristo) The 39 Steps (1935) Goodbye, Mr. Chips (1939) (for which he won an Academy Award) The Young Mr Pitt (1942) Perfect Strangers (1945) The Winslow Boy (1948) (as Sir Robert Morton KC)