Actor and director, born in London, UK. Educated in London, he made his debut in 1921 at the Old Vic Theatre, and established a reputation as Hamlet (1929) and in The Good Companions (1931). He became a leading Shakespearean actor, directing several of the Shakespeare Memorial Theatre productions. His many film appearances include his role as Disraeli in The Prime Minister (1940), Arthur (1970, Oscar), Prospero's Books (1991), Elizabeth (1998), and The Tichborne Claimant (1999). He supported many contemporary playwrights, including Christopher Fry, Alan Bennett, David Storey, and Harold Pinter, and directed numerous plays. He was knighted in 1953, and received a special Laurence Olivier Award for his services to the theatre in 1985. He had been president of the International Shakespeare Association since 1976. His books include an autobiography, An Actor in his Time (1979), Backward Glances (1989), and Notes from the Gods (1994). He received the Order of Merit in 1996.
| John Gielgud | |
|
John Gielgud as photographed in 1936 by Carl Van Vechten |
|
| Birth name | Arthur John Gielgud |
| Born |
April 14, 1904 South Kensington, London, England, United Kingdom |
| Died |
May 21, 2000, age 96 Wotton Underwood, England, United Kingdom |
Sir Arthur John Gielgud OM, CH (14 April 1904 – 21 May 2000), known as Sir John Gielgud, was an English theatre and film actor, regarded by many as one of the greatest British actors in history.
Life and Work
Arthur John Gielgud was born in Kensington in London to a Protestant mother, Kate Terry, and a Catholic father, Frank Gielgud (who was of Lithuanian descent;
As he aged, Gielgud began to adapt more to changing fashions in the theatre, appearing in plays by Alan Bennett (Forty Years On), David Storey (Home), Charles Wood (Veterans), Edward Bond (Bingo) and Harold Pinter (No Man's Land). Biographer Sheridan Morley writes that while Gielgud never denied being gay, Gielgud always tried to be discreet about it and felt humiliated by the ordeal.
Gielgud reprised his role in "The Best of Friends" as Sydney Cockerell in the 1991 Masterpiece Theatre Production, along with Patrick McGoohan and Dame Wendy Hiller.
The Globe Theatre in London was renamed the Gielgud Theatre in 1994 in his honour.
In 1982 he received an Evening Standard Special Award
Laurence Olivier Awards
1985: Special AwardAcademy Awards
1964: Nominated for Best Supporting Actor, for Becket 1981: Winner for Best Supporting Actor, for ArthurEmmy Awards
1982: Nominated for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or Special, for Brideshead Revisited 1984: Nominated for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or Special, for The Master of Ballantrae 1985: Nominated for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or Special, for Romance on the Orient Express 1989: Nominated for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or Special, for War and Remembrance 1991: Winner for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or Special, for Summer's LeaseTony Awards
1959: Winner, Special Award, for contribution to theatre for his extraordinary insight into the writings of Shakespeare as demonstrated in his one-man show, Ages of Man 1961: Winner, Best Director (Dramatic), for Hamlet 1963: Nominated for Best Director (Dramatic), for The School for Scandal 1965: Nominated for Best Actor (Dramatic), for Tiny Alice 1971: Nominated for Best Actor (Dramatic), for HomeGrammy Awards
1959: Nominated for Best Documentary or Spoken Word Recording, for Ages of Man 1960: Nominated for Best Documentary or Spoken Word Recording, for Hamlet with Richard Burton, Hume Cronyn, Alfred Drake, George Voskovec, Eileen Herlie, William Redfield and George Ross 1964: Nominated for Best Documentary or Spoken Word Recording, for Ages of Man, Volume 2 (One Man in His Time) Part Two - Shakespeare 1979: Winner for Best Spoken Word, Documentary or Drama Recording, for Ages of Man - Recordings from Shakespeare 1982: Nominated for Best Spoken Word, Documentary or Drama Recording, for No Man's Land with Ralph Richardson 1983: Nominated for Best Spoken Word or Non-Musical Recording, for Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats with Irene Worth 1986: Nominated for Best Spoken Word or Non-Musical Recording, for Gulliver 1988: Nominated for Best Spoken Word or Non-Musical Recording, for A Christmas Carol 1989: Nominated for Best Spoken Word or Non-Musical Recording, for Sir John Gielgud Reads Alice in Wonderland 1991: Nominated for Best Album for Children, for The Emperor's New Clothes with Mark IshamNew York Film Critics Circle Awards
1977: Best Actor, for ProvidenceThere is also the Sir John Gielgud Award for "Excellence in the Dramatic Arts" presented by the US-based Shakespeare Guild. Past winners include Ian McKellen, Kenneth Branagh, Kevin Kline and Judi Dench
Other interests
Sir John Gielgud believed that animals should not be exploited. What a Lovely War (1969) Julius Caesar (1970) Lost Horizon (1973) Frankenstein: The True Story (1973) 11 Harrowhouse (1974) Murder on the Orient Express (1974) Providence (1977) Caligula (1979) The Elephant Man (1980) The Formula (1980) Lion of the Desert (1981) Arthur (1981) Chariots of Fire (1981) Gandhi (1982) Wagner (1983) Wicked Lady (1983) The Master of Ballantrae (1984) The Far Pavilions (1984) Plenty (1985) The Whistle Blower (1986) Appointment with Death (1988) Arthur 2: On the Rocks (1988) Getting it Right (1989) Prospero's Books (1991) Shining Through (1992) Scarlett (1994) First Knight (1995) Merlin (1996) Hamlet (1996) Shine (1996) Elizabeth (1998)
|
Preceded by: Timothy Hutton for Ordinary People |
Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor 1981 for Arthur |
Succeeded by: Louis Gossett, Jr. for An Officer and a Gentleman |
User Comments Add a comment…