Laurence Olivier

Acting

Born: 1907-05-22
Died: 1989-07-11
From: Dorking, Surrey, England, UK
Gender: Male
Popularity: 1.9

Also Known As

Лоуренс ОливьеSir Laurence OlivierLaurence Kerr OlivierЛоуренс Олівʼєلارنس الیویه

Biography

Laurence Kerr Olivier, Baron Olivier, OM (22 May 1907 – 11 July 1989) was an English actor and director who, along with his contemporaries Ralph Richardson, Peggy Ashcroft and John Gielgud, dominated the British stage of the mid-20th century. He also worked in films throughout his career, playing more than fifty cinema roles. Late in his career, he had considerable success in television roles. His family had no theatrical connections, but Olivier's father, a clergyman, decided that his son should become an actor. After attending a drama school in London, Olivier learned his craft in a succession of acting jobs during the late 1920s. In 1930 he had his first important West End success in Noël Coward's Private Lives, and he appeared in his first film. In 1935 he played in a celebrated production of Romeo and Juliet alongside Gielgud and Ashcroft, and by the end of the decade he was an established star. In the 1940s, together with Richardson and John Burrell, Olivier was the co-director of the Old Vic, building it into a highly respected company. There his most celebrated roles included Shakespeare's Richard III and Sophocles's Oedipus. In the 1950s Olivier was an independent actor-manager, but his stage career was in the doldrums until he joined the avant garde English Stage Company in 1957 to play the title role in The Entertainer, a part he later played on film. From 1963 to 1973 he was the founding director of Britain's National Theatre, running a resident company that fostered many future stars. His own parts there included the title role in Othello (1965) and Shylock in The Merchant of Venice (1970). Among Olivier's films are Wuthering Heights (1939), Rebecca (1940), and a trilogy of Shakespeare films as actor-director: Henry V (1944), Hamlet (1948), and Richard III (1955). His later films included The Shoes of the Fisherman (1968), Sleuth (1972), Marathon Man (1976), and The Boys from Brazil (1978). His television appearances included an adaptation of The Moon and Sixpence (1960), Long Day's Journey into Night (1973), Love Among the Ruins (1975), Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (1976), Brideshead Revisited (1981) and King Lear (1983). Olivier's honours included a knighthood (1947), a life peerage (1970) and the Order of Merit (1981). For his on-screen work he received four Academy Awards, two British Academy Film Awards, five Emmy Awards and three Golden Globe Awards. The National Theatre's largest auditorium is named in his honour, and he is commemorated in the Laurence Olivier Awards, given annually by the Society of London Theatre. He was married three times, to the actresses Jill Esmond from 1930 to 1940, Vivien Leigh from 1940 to 1960, and Joan Plowright from 1961 until his death.

Photos12

Awards & Nominations24 won · 14 nominated

🏆 Won

Feltrinelli Prize

1988
🏆 Won

Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie

King Lear

1984
🏆 Won

Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Actor

Inchon

1983
Nominated

Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Actor

Inchon

1983
🏆 Won

Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie

Brideshead Revisited

1982
🏆 Won

Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Supporting Actor - Razzie Award

The Jazz Singer

1981
Nominated

Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Supporting Actor - Razzie Award

The Jazz Singer

1981
🏆 Won

Academy Honorary Award

1979
Nominated

Academy Award for Best Actor

The Boys from Brazil

1979
🏆 Won

Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture

Marathon Man

1977
Nominated

Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor

Marathon Man

1977
🏆 Won

BAFTA Fellowship

1976
🏆 Won

Albert Medal

1976
Nominated

Academy Award for Best Actor

Sleuth

1973
🏆 Won

BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role

Oh! What a Lovely War

1970
🏆 Won

Sonning Prize

1966
Nominated

Academy Award for Best Actor

Othello

1966
Nominated

Academy Award for Best Actor

The Entertainer

1961
🏆 Won

Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie

The Moon and Sixpence

1960
Nominated

Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play

1958
Nominated

Academy Award for Best Actor

Richard III

1957
🏆 Won

Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role

Hamlet

1949
🏆 Won

Academy Award for Best Actor

Hamlet

1949
Nominated

Academy Award for Best Actor

Hamlet

1949
Nominated

Academy Award for Best Director

Hamlet

1949
🏆 Won

Academy Honorary Award

1947
🏆 Won

Knight Bachelor

1947
Nominated

Academy Award for Best Actor

Henry V

1947
Nominated

Academy Award for Best Actor

Rebecca

1941
Nominated

Academy Award for Best Actor

Wuthering Heights

1940
🏆 Won

Donaldson Awards

🏆 Won

Order of Merit

🏆 Won

Society of London Theatre Special Award

🏆 Won

Officer of the Legion of Honour

🏆 Won

David di Donatello for best foreign production

🏆 Won

David di Donatello for Best Foreign Actor

🏆 Won

star on Hollywood Walk of Fame

🏆 Won

National Board of Review Award for Best Film

Acting144 titles

Directing7 titles

Writing4 titles

Production10 titles

Creator1 title