biography
| name: |
Gielgud, Sir (Arthur) John
|
pronunciation:
[geelgud]
| sex:
| male
|
| lived:
| (1904–2000)
|
| biography:
| 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 Shakespearian 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. |
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