[1][2] Basil was born at the Russian embassy in Ponte a Moriano, Italy, to Peter von Wrangell and Marussia Sasso-Ruffo.
On his father's side, his family line had reportedly served as court attaches of old Russia since 1200 A.D.[3] Basil's brother, George Wrangell, was a society columnist in New York City.
[4] Basil attended the elite Grosvenor School in Nottingham, England, as a young man, until his family lost their wealth during the Russian Revolution.
A chance opportunity to serve as an interpreter for Fred Niblo on Ben-Hur led to Basil traveling to America to take an entry-level job in a cutting room at a studio.
[4] For television, he edited many episodes of I Spy, Peyton Place, Combat!, and Adventures in Paradise.