Sir John Gielgud
photo by Carl Van Vechten, 1936
Born	Arthur John Gielgud 14 April 1904(1904-04-14) South Kensington, London, England
Died	21 May 2000 (aged 96) Wotton Underwood, Buckinghamshire, England
Years active	1924–2000

Sir Arthur John Gielgud, OM, CH (14 April 1904 – 21 May 2000), known as Sir John Gielgud, was an English theatre and film actor particularly known for his warm expressive voice, which his colleague Sir Alec Guinness likened to "a silver trumpet muffled in silk. Carl Van Vechten ( June 17, 1880 &ndash December 21, 1964) was an American Writer and Photographer who was a Events 43 BC - Battle of Forum Gallorum: Mark Antony, besieging Julius Caesar 's assassin Decimus Junius Brutus in Year 1904 ( MCMIV) was a Leap year starting on Friday (link will display calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Leap year starting on South Kensington is a district in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea in London. London ( ˈlʌndən is the capital and largest urban area in the United Kingdom. England is a Country which is part of the United Kingdom. Its inhabitants account for more than 83% of the total UK population whilst its mainland Events 878 - Syracuse Italy is captured by the Muslim sultan of Sicily. 2000 ( MM) was a Leap year that started on Saturday of the Common Era, in accordance with the Gregorian calendar. Wotton House, or Wotton, the Manor house in Wotton Underwood (Buckinghamshire Britain was rebuilt between 1704 and 1714 to a design very similar to that Buckinghamshire (abbreviated Bucks) is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan home county in South East England. England is a Country which is part of the United Kingdom. Its inhabitants account for more than 83% of the total UK population whilst its mainland The Order of Merit is a British and Commonwealth Order bestowed by the Monarch. The Order of the Companions of Honour is a British and Commonwealth Order. Events 43 BC - Battle of Forum Gallorum: Mark Antony, besieging Julius Caesar 's assassin Decimus Junius Brutus in Year 1904 ( MCMIV) was a Leap year starting on Friday (link will display calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Leap year starting on Events 878 - Syracuse Italy is captured by the Muslim sultan of Sicily. 2000 ( MM) was a Leap year that started on Saturday of the Common Era, in accordance with the Gregorian calendar. England is a Country which is part of the United Kingdom. Its inhabitants account for more than 83% of the total UK population whilst its mainland An actor, actress, player or thespian (see terminology) is a person who Acts in a Dramatic production and who works Sir Alec Guinness, CH, CBE (2 April 1914 &ndash 5 August 2000 was an English Actor. " ^[1][2] Gielgud is a member of the short list of entertainers with the distinction of having won an Emmy, a Grammy, an Oscar and a Tony award. This is a list of persons who have won Grammy, Academy, Tony, and Emmy Awards, "GATE", the four major entertainment awards The Grammy Awards (originally called the Gramophone Awards)—or Grammys —are presented annually by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences "The Oscar" redirects here for the film see The Oscar (film. The Antoinette Perry Awards for Excellence in Theatre, more commonly known as the Tony Awards, recognize achievement in live American Theatre and are presented

Career

Arthur John Gielgud was born in South Kensington in London to a Protestant mother, Kate Terry, and a Catholic father, Frank Gielgud, and was raised a Protestant. South Kensington is a district in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea in London. London ( ˈlʌndən is the capital and largest urban area in the United Kingdom. Protestantism refers to the forms of Christian faith and practice that originated in the 16th century Protestant Reformation. Gielgud had a head start in the theatrical profession, being a great nephew of Dame Ellen Terry. Dame Ellen Terry GBE ( 27 February 1847 &ndash 21 July 1928) was an English stage actress. His elder brother was Val Gielgud who was a pioneering influence in BBC Radio. Val Henry Gielgud ( 28 April 1900 in &ndash 30 November 1981) was an English Actor, Writer, director BBC Radio is a service of the British Broadcasting Corporation which has operated in the United Kingdom under the terms of a Royal Charter since 1927 His niece is Maina Gielgud, dancer and one time artistic director of The Australian Ballet and the Royal Danish Ballet. Maina Gielgud (born London; 14 January 1945 is a former British ballet dancer and a veteran ballet administrator The Australian Ballet was founded in 1962 and had its first performance at Her Majesty's Theatre, Sydney The Royal Danish Ballet is one of the oldest Ballet troupes in Europe.

Early stages

After Westminster School, where he gained a King's Scholarship, Gielgud trained at RADA and had his initial success as a stage actor in classical roles, first winning stardom during a successful two seasons at the Old Vic Theatre from 1929 to 1931 where his performances as Richard II and Hamlet were particularly acclaimed, the latter being the first Old Vic production to be transferred to the West End for a run. The Royal College of St Peter in Westminster, almost always known as Westminster School, is one of Britain 's leading boys' Independent schools with The Royal Academy of Dramatic Art ( RADA) in Bloomsbury, London, is generally regarded as one of the most prestigious Drama schools in the world The Old Vic is a Theatre located just south-east of Waterloo Station in London on the corner of The Cut and Waterloo Road. King Richard the Second is a history play by William Shakespeare believed to be written in approximately 1595 Prince Hamlet is the protagonist in Shakespeare 's tragedy Hamlet. The Old Vic is a Theatre located just south-east of Waterloo Station in London on the corner of The Cut and Waterloo Road. West End theatre is a popular term for mainstream professional theatre staged in the large theatres of London 's "Theatreland" He returned to the role of Hamlet in a famous production under his own direction in 1934 at the New Theatre in the West End, was hailed as a Broadway star in Guthrie McClintic's production in which Lillian Gish played Ophelia in 1936 (and which was assisted by a rival staging starring Leslie Howard that opened shortly afterwards and failed badly by comparison), a 1939 production that Gielgud again directed that was the last play performed at Henry Irving's Orpheum Theatre and was later taken to Elsinore Castle in Denmark (the actual setting of the play), a 1944 production directed by George Rylands and finally a 1945 production that toured the Far East under Gielgud's own direction. Prince Hamlet is the protagonist in Shakespeare 's tragedy Hamlet. The Noël Coward Theatre is a West End theatre on St Martin's Lane in the City of Westminster. Broadway theater, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 39 large professional theaters with 500 seats or more located Gutherie McClintic born 6 August 1893 in Seattle Washington, USA was a successful Theatre director, Film director and Lillian Diana Gish ( October 14 1893 – February 27 1993) was an American stage screen and television actress whose Leslie Howard ( April 3, 1893 - June 1, 1943) was an English stage and Academy Award nominated Film Sir Henry Irving ( February 6 1838 &ndash October 13 1905) born John Henry Brodribb was an English stage actor in the Victorian era Kronborg Castle (Kronborg Slot is situated near the town of Helsingør (immortalised as Elsinore in Shakespeare's Hamlet) on the extreme tip The Kingdom of Denmark ( ˈd̥ænmɑɡ̊ (archaic ˈd̥anmɑːɡ̊ commonly known as Denmark, is a country in the Scandinavian region of northern Europe George Humphrey Wolferstan Rylands CH CBE ( 23 October 1902 &ndash 16 January 1999) known as Dadie Rylands, was In his later years, Gielgud would play the Ghost of Hamlet's Father in productions of the play, first to Richard Burton's Melancholy Dane on the Broadway stage which Gielgud directed in 1964, and then on television with Richard Chamberlain and finally in a radio production starring Gielgud's protégé Kenneth Branagh. Richard Burton, CBE (10 November 1925 &ndash 5 August 1984 was a Welsh multiple award-winning Actor. Broadway theater, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 39 large professional theaters with 500 seats or more located Television ( TV) is a widely used Telecommunication medium for sending ( Broadcasting) and receiving moving Images, either monochromatic Kenneth Charles Branagh (born 10 December 1960) is an Emmy Award -winning Academy Award -nominated Northern Irish Actor

Gielgud had triumphs in many other plays, notably his greatest popular success Richard of Bordeaux (1933) (a romantic version of the story of Richard II), The Importance of Being Earnest which he first performed at the Lyric Hammersmith in 1930 and would remain in his repertory until 1947, and a legendary production of Romeo and Juliet (1935) which Gielgud directed and alternated the roles of Romeo and Mercutio with a young Laurence Olivier in his first professional Shakespearean leading role. Richard of Bordeaux is a play by Gordon Daviot (pseudonym for Elizabeth Macintosh that depicts the story of Richard II of England in a romantic fashion Richard II (6 January 1367 &ndash ca 14 February 1400 was King of England from 1377 until he was deposed in 1399 The Importance of Being Earnest is a play by Oscar Wilde. It premiered on February 14, 1895 at the St The Lyric Hammersmith is a Theatre on King Street in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham, which takes pride in its original "groundbreaking" productions Romeo and Juliet is a tragedy written early in the Mercutio is a character in William Shakespeare 's famous Tragedy, Romeo and Juliet. Laurence Kerr Olivier Baron William Shakespeare ( baptised Olivier's performance won him an engagement as the leading man of the Old Vic Theatre the following season starting his career as a classical actor, but he was said to have resented Gielgud's direction and developed a wary relationship with Gielgud which resulted in Olivier turning down Gielgud's request to play the Chorus in Olivier's film of Henry V and later doing his best to block Gielgud from appearing at the Royal National Theatre when Olivier was its director. The Old Vic is a Theatre located just south-east of Waterloo Station in London on the corner of The Cut and Waterloo Road. Henry V is a 1944 film adaptation of William Shakespeare 's play of the same name. The Royal National Theatre, located on the South Bank in the London Borough of Lambeth, England. ^[3].

photo of Gielgud as Richard II by Carl Van Vechten (1936). Carl Van Vechten ( June 17, 1880 &ndash December 21, 1964) was an American Writer and Photographer who was a

Queen's Theatre season

Gielgud had hoped to stay in America after his Broadway performance as Hamlet in 1936 to play Richard II in New York, but director Guthrie McClintic was so certain that the production would fail in the U.S. that Gielgud gave up the idea (and was dismayed when Maurice Evans had a legendary success in the play on Broadway after Gielgud gave him his blessing to mount it when he decided not to). The United States of America —commonly referred to as the Broadway theater, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 39 large professional theaters with 500 seats or more located Hamlet is a Tragedy by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written between 1599 and 1601 Year 1936 ( MCMXXXVI) was a Leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. King Richard the Second is a history play by William Shakespeare believed to be written in approximately 1595 New York ( is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern regions of the United States and is the nation's third most populous Gutherie McClintic born 6 August 1893 in Seattle Washington, USA was a successful Theatre director, Film director and The United States of America —commonly referred to as the Maurice Herbert Evans ( June 3, 1901 - March 12, 1989) was an English Actor who became a US citizen in 1941 Broadway theater, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 39 large professional theaters with 500 seats or more located Instead, Gielgud returned to London in 1937 and had an enormous influence on the development of English Theatre when he produced a season of plays at the Queen's Theatre in 1937/38, presenting the aforementioned Richard II, The School for Scandal, The Three Sisters, and The Merchant of Venice with a permanent company (that included Peggy Ashcroft, Michael Redgrave and Alec Guinness) that would shape the development of such theatrical institutions as the Royal Shakespeare Company and the Royal National Theatre. London ( ˈlʌndən is the capital and largest urban area in the United Kingdom. The Queen's Theatre is a West End theatre located in Shaftesbury Avenue in the City of Westminster. King Richard the Second is a history play by William Shakespeare believed to be written in approximately 1595 The School for Scandal is a Comedy of manners written by Richard Brinsley Sheridan. The Merchant of Venice is a play by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written between 1596 and 1598 Dame Peggy Ashcroft DBE ( 22 December, 1907 &ndash 14 June, 1991) was an acclaimed Academy Award -winning English Sir Michael Scudamore Redgrave CBE ( 20 March, 1908 — 21 March, 1985) was an English actor author director and Sir Alec Guinness, CH, CBE (2 April 1914 &ndash 5 August 2000 was an English Actor. The Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC is a British Theatre company The Royal National Theatre, located on the South Bank in the London Borough of Lambeth, England. Gielgud acted in all four productions and directed the two Shakespeare plays, while Tyrone Guthrie directed The School for Scandal and Michael Saint-Denis staged The Three Sisters. William Shakespeare ( baptised Sir William Tyrone Guthrie ( 2 July 1900 &ndash 15 May 1971) was an Anglo-Irish Tony Award -winning theatrical director The School for Scandal is a Comedy of manners written by Richard Brinsley Sheridan. Michel Saint-Denis (1897 &ndash 1971 dit Jacques Duchesne, was a French Actor, Theater director, and Drama theorist Laurence Olivier said that Gielgud's performance in The School for Scandal was "the best light comedy performance I have ever seen - or ever shall!" and considered his Shylock to be among his greatest impersonations, but the greatest success of the season was the production of The Three Sisters, with Gielgud's performance as Vershinin, coupled with his successes in The Seagull (1929 and 1936), The Cherry Orchard (1954), and Ivanov (1965) establishing Chekhov's acceptance on the English-speaking stage. Laurence Kerr Olivier Baron The School for Scandal is a Comedy of manners written by Richard Brinsley Sheridan. Shylock is a central character in Shakespeare 's The Merchant of Venice who famously demanded a pound of flesh from the title character The Seagull ( Russian: "Чайка" ("Chayka" written in 1895 is the first of what are generally considered to be Anton Chekhov's The Cherry Orchard (Вишнëвый сад or Vishniovy sad in Russian) is Russian Playwright Anton Chekhov 's last Ivanov is a four-act play by Anton Chekhov first performed in 1887 Ivanov was originally commissioned by a Moscow theatre owner as comedy Anton Pavlovich Chekhov ( –) (Анто́н Па́влович Че́хов) was a Russian short-story writer and Playwright, considered to be one

Shakespearean legacy

Gielgud played Hamlet at the New Theatre in 1934. The Noël Coward Theatre is a West End theatre on St Martin's Lane in the City of Westminster.

It would always be, however, for his Shakespearean work that Gielgud would be best known. William Shakespeare ( baptised In addition to Hamlet which he played over 500 times in six productions, he gave what some consider definitive performances in The Tempest (as Prospero) in four productions (and in the 1991 film Prospero's Books), as well as in other roles - Richard II in three productions, Benedick in Much Ado About Nothing which he first played in 1930 and revived throughout the 1950s, Macbeth and Oberon in A Midsummer Night's Dream twice, Romeo three times, and King Lear four times (as well as taking on the part for a final time in a radio broadcast at the age of 90). Hamlet is a Tragedy by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written between 1599 and 1601 The Tempest is a comedy written by William Shakespeare. It is generally dated to 1610-11 and accepted as the last play written solely by him although The year 1991 in film involved some significant events Events April 28 - Bonnie Prospero's Books ( 1991) written and directed by Peter Greenaway, is a cinematic adaptation of The Tempest, by William Shakespeare King Richard the Second is a history play by William Shakespeare believed to be written in approximately 1595 Much Ado About Nothing is a comedy by William Shakespeare. First published in 1600 it is likely to have been first performed in the autumn or winter Much Ado About Nothing is a comedy by William Shakespeare. First published in 1600 it is likely to have been first performed in the autumn or winter Macbeth is among the best-known of William Shakespeare 's plays, and is his shortest tragedy, believed to have been written some time between Oberon, also Auberon, King of Shadows and Fairies, is best known as a character in William Shakespeare 's play A Midsummer Night's Dream A Midsummer Night's Dream is a romantic comedy by William Shakespeare, suggested by " The Knight's Tale " from King Lear is a tragedy by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written between 1603 and 1606 and is considered one of his greatest works He also had triumphs as Malvolio in Twelfth Night (1931), Shylock in The Merchant of Venice (1937), Angelo in Measure for Measure (1950), Cassius in Julius Caesar (1950) (which he immortalized in the 1953 film), Leontes in The Winter's Tale (1951), and Cardinal Wolsey in Henry VIII (1959) (although his 1960 performance as Othello was not a success). Malvolio is the steward of Olivia's household in William Shakespeare 's comedy Twelfth Night or What You Will. Twelfth Night Or What You Will is a Comedy by William Shakespeare, based on the Short story "Of Apolonius and Silla" by Shylock is a central character in Shakespeare 's The Merchant of Venice who famously demanded a pound of flesh from the title character The Merchant of Venice is a play by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written between 1596 and 1598 Angelo is a character in Shakespeare's play Measure for Measure. Measure for Measure is a play by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written in 1603 or 1604 Julius Caesar is a tragedy by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written in 1599 Julius Caesar is an MGM film adaptation of the play by Shakespeare, directed by Joseph L The Winter's Tale is a play by William Shakespeare, first published in the First Folio in 1623 Thomas Cardinal Wolsey (c1470–1471 – November 28 or November 29 1530 who was born in Ipswich Suffolk England was an English Statesman and a cardinal The Famous History of the Life of King Henry the Eighth is a history play by William Shakespeare, based on the life of Henry VIII of England. For many years it was believed that Gielgud also provided the voice for the Ghost of Hamlet's Father in Laurence Olivier's 1948 film version, but it has recently been revealed that the voice was that of Olivier's, electronically distorted. Hamlet is a British film adaptation of William Shakespeare 's play Hamlet, directed by and starring Sir Laurence Olivier. Gielgud did play the Ghost in his own film of the play in 1964 and in the 1970 Hallmark Hall of Fame presentation starring Richard Chamberlain. Richard Burton’s Hamlet is a 1964 filmed record of the Broadway production of William Shakespeare 's tragedy that played from Hallmark Hall of Fame is a long-running irregularly scheduled anthology program on American Television.

Gielgud's crowning achievement, many believe, was Ages of Man, his one-man recital of Shakespearean excerpts which he performed throughout the 1950s and 1960s, winning a Tony Award for the Broadway production, a Grammy Award for his recording of the piece, and an Emmy Award for producer David Susskind for the 1966 telecast on CBS. Ages of Man is a one-man play performed by John Gielgud of a collection of speeches in Shakespeare's plays The Antoinette Perry Awards for Excellence in Theatre, more commonly known as the Tony Awards, recognize achievement in live American Theatre and are presented Broadway theater, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 39 large professional theaters with 500 seats or more located The Grammy Awards (originally called the Gramophone Awards)—or Grammys —are presented annually by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences David Susskind ( December 19, 1920 – February 22, 1987) was a producer of TV movies and stage plays and also a pioneer TV talk show host CBS Broadcasting Inc ( CBS) is an American radio and Television network. Gielgud made his final Shakespearean appearance on stage in 1977 in the title role of John Schlesinger's production of Julius Caesar at the Royal National Theatre. William Shakespeare ( baptised John Richard Schlesinger, CBE ( February 16, 1926 &ndash July 25, 2003) was an Academy Award -winning English Julius Caesar is a tragedy by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written in 1599 The Royal National Theatre, located on the South Bank in the London Borough of Lambeth, England. He also made a recording of many of Shakespeare's sonnets in 1963. Shakespeare's sonnets, or simply The Sonnets, is a collection of Poems in Sonnet form written by William Shakespeare that deal with Among his non-Shakespearean Renaissance roles, his Ferdinand in John Webster's The Duchess of Malfi was well-known. John Webster (c 1580 &ndash c 1634 was an English Jacobean Dramatist, and a late contemporary of William Shakespeare. The Duchess of Malfi is a Macabre, tragic play, written by the English dramatist John Webster and first performed in

Later stage work

As he aged, Gielgud began to adapt more to changing fashions in the theatre, appearing in plays by Edward Albee (Tiny Alice), Alan Bennett (Forty Years On), Charles Wood (Veterans), Edward Bond (Bingo, in which Gielgud played William Shakespeare), David Storey (Home), and Harold Pinter (No Man's Land), the latter two in partnership with his old friend Ralph Richardson, but he drew the line at being offered the role of Hamm in Beckett's Endgame, saying that the play offered "nothing but loneliness and despair. Edward Franklin Albee III ( "AWL-bee" born March 12 1928 is a three time Pulitzer Prize winning American playwright known for works including Tiny Alice, a three act play written by Edward Albee, premiered on Broadway at the Billy Rose Theatre on December Alan Bennett (born 9 May 1934 is an English Author and Tony Award -winning Playwright. Charles Wood may refer to Charles Wood 2nd Earl of Halifax (1912–1980 British politician and peer Charles Wood 3rd Earl of Halifax A veteran (from Latin vetus, meaning "old" is a person who has or is working in the armed forces Edward Bond (born 18 July 1934) is an English Playwright, Theatre director, Poet William Shakespeare ( baptised Home is a play by David Storey. Written in a quasi- absurdist style heavily influenced by Samuel Becket, it is set in a mental asylum No Man's Land is a play by 2005 Nobel in Literature Laureate Harold Pinter written in 1974 and first produced and published in 1975 Sir Ralph David Richardson ( 19 December 1902 &ndash 10 October 1983) was an English Actor, one of a group of theatrical Samuel Barclay Beckett (13 April 1906 – 22 December 1989 was an Irish Writer, Dramatist and poet Endgame by Samuel Beckett, is a one-act play with four characters "^[4] It looked as though Gielgud would retire from the stage after appearing in Half-Life at the Duke of York's Theatre in 1978, but he made a successful comeback in 1988 in Hugh Whitemore's play The Best of Friends as museum curator Sydney Cockerell. Hugh Whitemore is an English Playwright and Screenwriter born in 1936 The Best of Friends is a compilation Album (9th release by Singer/songwriter duo Loggins and Messina, released in late 1976 (see 1977 Sir Sydney Carlyle Cockerell (1867-1962 was a British museum Curator, collector and well-connected figure in the literary world

Directing career

Gielgud was almost as highly regarded for his work as a theatre director as for his acting, having staged his first production as a guest director of the Oxford University Dramatic Society production of Romeo and Juliet in 1932. The Oxford University Dramatic Society ( OUDS) is the principal Funding body and provider of theatrical services to the many independent student productions put on Romeo and Juliet is a tragedy written early in the The custom of OUDS at the time was to cast student undergraduates in the male roles and professional actresses in the female roles. Gielgud engaged Peggy Ashcroft as Juliet and Edith Evans as the nurse, who would play the same roles three years later in his legendary production of the play at the New Theatre. Dame Peggy Ashcroft DBE ( 22 December, 1907 &ndash 14 June, 1991) was an acclaimed Academy Award -winning English Dame Edith Mary Evans DBE ( 8 February 1888 &ndash 14 October 1976) was an actress who had a long and distinguished career on the The Noël Coward Theatre is a West End theatre on St Martin's Lane in the City of Westminster.

Gielgud quickly rose to the status of being one of the top directors for the H. M. Tennent, Ltd. production company in London's West End Theatre and later on Broadway, his productions including Lady Windermere's Fan (1945), The Glass Menagerie (1948), The Heiress (1949), his own adaptation of The Cherry Orchard (1954), The Potting Shed (1958), Five Finger Exercise (1959), Peter Ustinov's comedy Half Way Up a Tree (1967), and Private Lives (1972). West End theatre is a popular term for mainstream professional theatre staged in the large theatres of London 's "Theatreland" Broadway theater, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 39 large professional theaters with 500 seats or more located Lady Windermere's Fan A Play About a Good Woman is a four act Comedy by Oscar Wilde, first produced 22 February 1892 at the The Glass Menagerie is a play by Tennessee Williams that was originally written as a screenplay for MGM, to whom Williams was contracted The Heiress is a 1949 American Drama film directed by William Wyler. The Cherry Orchard (Вишнëвый сад or Vishniovy sad in Russian) is Russian Playwright Anton Chekhov 's last The Potting Shed is a play by Graham Greene. The psychological Drama centers on a secret held by the Callifer family for nearly thirty years A five finger exercise is a Musical composition designed primarily for the purpose of exercising all one's fingers Sir Peter Alexander Ustinov (ˈjuːstɪnɒf or /ˈuːstɪnɒf/ 16 April 1921 – 28 March 2004) born Peter Alexander Baron von Ustinow Private Lives is a play written by Noel Coward in 1930 Coward who also starred in the first production alongside Gertrude Lawrence and Laurence Olivier Gielgud won a Tony Award for his direction of Big Fish, Little Fish in 1961, the only time he won the award in a competitive category (having won honorary awards for "Best Foreign Company" for his 1947 production of The Importance of Being Earnest and for his one-man show Ages of Man). The Antoinette Perry Awards for Excellence in Theatre, more commonly known as the Tony Awards, recognize achievement in live American Theatre and are presented The Importance of Being Earnest is a play by Oscar Wilde. It premiered on February 14, 1895 at the St The Ages of Man are the stages of human existence on the Earth according to Classical mythology. He also directed the operas The Trojans in 1957 and A Midsummer Night's Dream in 1960. Les Troyens (in English The Trojans) is a French Opera in five acts by Hector Berlioz. A Midsummer Night's Dream is an Opera with music by Benjamin Britten and set to a libretto adapted by the composer and Peter Pears from

Gielgud directed other actors in many of the Shakespearean roles that he was famous for playing, notably Richard Burton as Hamlet (1964), Anthony Quayle as Benedick in Much Ado About Nothing (1950), and Paul Scofield as the title role in Richard II (1952). Richard Burton, CBE (10 November 1925 &ndash 5 August 1984 was a Welsh multiple award-winning Actor. Hamlet is a Tragedy by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written between 1599 and 1601 Sir John Anthony Quayle, CBE ( 7 September 1913 &ndash 20 October 1989) was an English Actor and director Much Ado About Nothing is a comedy by William Shakespeare. First published in 1600 it is likely to have been first performed in the autumn or winter Much Ado About Nothing is a comedy by William Shakespeare. First published in 1600 it is likely to have been first performed in the autumn or winter David Paul Scofield, CH, CBE ( 21 January 1922 &ndash 19 March 2008) was an English award-winning actor of stage King Richard the Second is a history play by William Shakespeare believed to be written in approximately 1595 But Gielgud didn't always have the magic touch, staging a disappointing revival of Twelfth Night with Laurence Olivier and Vivian Leigh in 1955 and a disastrous production of Macbeth with Ralph Richardson in 1952. Twelfth Night Or What You Will is a Comedy by William Shakespeare, based on the Short story "Of Apolonius and Silla" by Laurence Kerr Olivier Baron Vivien Leigh Lady Olivier (5 November 1913 &ndash 8 July 1967 was an English actress. Macbeth is among the best-known of William Shakespeare 's plays, and is his shortest tragedy, believed to have been written some time between Sir Ralph David Richardson ( 19 December 1902 &ndash 10 October 1983) was an English Actor, one of a group of theatrical

But Gielgud was best known for directing productions in which he also starred, including his greatest commercial success Richard of Bordeaux (1933), his definitive production of The Importance of Being Earnest (1939, 1942, 1947), Medea with Judith Anderson's Tony Award-winning performance of the title role with Gielgud supporting her as Jason, The Lady's Not for Burning (1949) that won Richard Burton his first notoriety as an actor, and Ivanov (1965). Richard of Bordeaux is a play by Gordon Daviot (pseudonym for Elizabeth Macintosh that depicts the story of Richard II of England in a romantic fashion The Importance of Being Earnest is a play by Oscar Wilde. It premiered on February 14, 1895 at the St Medea (Μήδεια Mēdeia) in Greek mythology was the daughter of King Aeëtes of Colchis, niece of Circe, granddaughter of Dame Judith Anderson, AC DBE (10 February 1897 &ndash 3 January 1992 was an Australian Tony award - and Emmy -winning Actress The Antoinette Perry Awards for Excellence in Theatre, more commonly known as the Tony Awards, recognize achievement in live American Theatre and are presented Jason ( Greek: Ἰάσων, Etruscan: Easun, Laz: Yason) was a late ancient Greek mythological The Lady's Not for Burning is a 1948 play by Christopher Fry. Richard Burton, CBE (10 November 1925 &ndash 5 August 1984 was a Welsh multiple award-winning Actor. But many believed that his greatest successes were in Shakespearean productions in which he both directed and starred, especially Romeo and Juliet (1935), Richard II (1937, 1953), King Lear (1950, 1955), Much Ado About Nothing (1952, 1955, 1959) and his signature role of Hamlet (1934, 1939, 1945). Romeo and Juliet is a tragedy written early in the King Richard the Second is a history play by William Shakespeare believed to be written in approximately 1595 King Lear is a tragedy by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written between 1603 and 1606 and is considered one of his greatest works Much Ado About Nothing is a comedy by William Shakespeare. First published in 1600 it is likely to have been first performed in the autumn or winter Hamlet is a Tragedy by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written between 1599 and 1601

Radio Work

Gielgud's brother Val Gielgud became the head of BBC Radio Production in 1928^[5], and John made his radio debut there the following year in a version of Pirandello's The Man With the Flower in His Mouth, which he was then performing at the Old Vic Theatre. Val Henry Gielgud ( 28 April 1900 in &ndash 30 November 1981) was an English Actor, Writer, director Luigi Pirandello ( June 28, 1867 — December 10, 1936) was an Italian Dramatist Novelist, and short The Man With the Flower in His Mouth is a play by the Italian playwright Luigi Pirandello. The Old Vic is a Theatre located just south-east of Waterloo Station in London on the corner of The Cut and Waterloo Road. In the ensuing years, John played many of his greatest stage roles on BBC Radio including Richard of Bordeaux, The Importance of Being Earnest, The Tempest, and a production of Hamlet which featured Emlyn Williams as Claudius, Celia Johnson as Ophelia, and Martita Hunt as Gertrude (the part she played in Gielgud's debut in the role at the Old Vic in 1930). Richard of Bordeaux is a play by Gordon Daviot (pseudonym for Elizabeth Macintosh that depicts the story of Richard II of England in a romantic fashion The Importance of Being Earnest is a play by Oscar Wilde. It premiered on February 14, 1895 at the St The Tempest is a comedy written by William Shakespeare. It is generally dated to 1610-11 and accepted as the last play written solely by him although Hamlet is a Tragedy by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written between 1599 and 1601 George Emlyn Williams CBE ( 26 November 1905 &ndash 25 September 1987) known as Emlyn Williams, was a Welsh Dame Celia Elizabeth Johnson DBE (18 December 1908 &ndash 26 April 1982 was an English actress, famous for her role in the 1945 film Brief Martita Hunt (30 January 1900 – 13 June 1969 was a British Theatre and Film actress. He also played some Shakespearean roles which he would never essay on stage, notably as Iago in a 1932 broadcast of Othello opposite Henry Ainley as the Moor. William Shakespeare ( baptised Iago is a Fictional character in William Shakespeare 's play Othello. Henry Hinchliffe Ainley ( ^[6]

John Gielgud played Sherlock Holmes for BBC radio in the 1950s, with Ralph Richardson as Watson. Sherlock Holmes is a famous fictional detective of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries who first appeared in Publication in 1887 Sir Ralph David Richardson ( 19 December 1902 &ndash 10 October 1983) was an English Actor, one of a group of theatrical Gielgud's brother, Val Gielgud, appeared in one of the episodes, perhaps inevitably, as the great detective's brother Mycroft. Mycroft Holmes is a Fictional character in the stories written by Arthur Conan Doyle. As this series was co-produced by the American Broadcasting Company, known American actors also appeared, such as Orson Welles as Professor Moriarty in The Final Problem. George Orson Welles (May 6 1915 – October 10 1985 was an Academy Award -winning director, writer actor and producer for film stage radio and television Professor James Moriarty is a Fictional character who is the best known Antagonist (and Nemesis) of the detective Sherlock Holmes. The Adventure of the Final Problem is a short story by Arthur Conan Doyle, featuring his detective character Sherlock Holmes.

Gielgud made his final radio perfomance in the title role of an All Star production of King Lear in 1994 that was mounted to celebrate his 90th birthday. King Lear is a tragedy by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written between 1603 and 1606 and is considered one of his greatest works The cast included Judi Dench, Kenneth Branagh, Derek Jacobi, and Simon Russell Beale. Dame Judith Olivia Dench, CH, DBE, FRSA, (born 9 December, 1934) usually known as Judi Dench, is an English Kenneth Charles Branagh (born 10 December 1960) is an Emmy Award -winning Academy Award -nominated Northern Irish Actor Sir Derek George Jacobi CBE (ˈdʒækəbi born 22 October, 1938) is an English Actor and Film director, knighted Simon Russell Beale CBE (born January 12, 1961) is an award-winning British Actor.

Film work

Although he began to appear in British films as early as 1924, making his debut in the silent movie Who Is the Man?, he would not make an impact in the medium until the last decades of his life. His early film roles were sporadic and included the lead in Alfred Hitchcock's Secret Agent (1936), Benjamin Disraeli in The Prime Minister (1940), Cassius in Julius Caesar (1953) (BAFTA Award for Best British Actor), George, Duke of Clarence to Olivier's Richard III (1955), and Henry IV to Orson Welles' Falstaff in Chimes at Midnight (1966). Sir Alfred Joseph Hitchcock, KBE (13 Secret Agent is a 1936 British Film directed by Alfred Hitchcock, based on a novel by W Benjamin Disraeli 1st Earl of Beaconsfield, KG, PC, FRS (born Benjamin D'Israeli; 21 December 1804 &ndash 19 April 1881 was Julius Caesar is an MGM film adaptation of the play by Shakespeare, directed by Joseph L The British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA is a British charity that hosts annual awards shows for film television television craft video games and forms of animation George Plantagenet Duke of Clarence ( 21 October 1449 &ndash 18 February 1478) was the third son of Richard Plantagenet 3rd Duke of York Richard III is a 1955 British film adaptation of William Shakespeare 's historical play Richard III Henry IV (3 April 1367 &ndash 20 March 1413 was King of England and Lord of Ireland (1399&ndash1413 George Orson Welles (May 6 1915 – October 10 1985 was an Academy Award -winning director, writer actor and producer for film stage radio and television Sir John Falstaff is a Fictional character who appears in three plays by William Shakespeare as a companion to Prince Hal the future King Henry V. Chimes at Midnight (aka Falstaff) is a 1965 film directed by Orson Welles based around the character of Sir John Falstaff But he lost his aversion to filming in the late 1960s, and by the 1980s and 1990s he had thrown himself into the medium with a vengeance, so much so that it was jokingly said that he was prepared to do almost anything for his art. He won an Academy Award for his supporting role as a sardonic butler in the 1981 comedy Arthur, starring Dudley Moore and Liza Minnelli, a New York Film Critics Circle Award for Providence (1977), and a BAFTA Award for Murder on the Orient Express (1974), and his performances in The Charge of the Light Brigade (1968), The Elephant Man (1981), and Shine (1996) were critically acclaimed. "The Oscar" redirects here for the film see The Oscar (film. Arthur is a 1981 film set in New York City which tells the story of drunken playboy millionaire Arthur Bach ( Dudley Moore) who is on the brink of Dudley Stuart John Moore, CBE (19 April 1935 &ndash 27 March 2002 was an English Actor, Comedian and Musician. Liza May Minnelli (born March 12, 1946) is a legendary American actress and singer New York Film Critics Circle Awards are given annually to honor excellence in cinema worldwide by an organization of film reviewers from New York City -based publications Providence is a French/Swiss 1977 film directed by Alain Resnais and starring Dirk Bogarde, David Warner, Ellen Burstyn The British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA is a British charity that hosts annual awards shows for film television television craft video games and forms of animation Murder on the Orient Express is a 1974 feature film directed by Sidney Lumet and based on the 1934 novel of the same name by The Charge of the Light Brigade is a British War film made in 1968 by Woodfall Film Productions and distributed by United Artists The Elephant Man is a 1980 Biopic loosely based on the story of the 19th century British deformed celebrity Joseph Merrick (called John Shine is a 1996 Australian film based on the life of pianist David Helfgott, who suffered a mental breakdown and spent years in institutions In 1991, Gielgud was able to satisfy his life's ambition by immortalizing his Prospero on screen in the film Prospero's Books. Prospero is the Protagonist in The Tempest, a play by William Shakespeare. Prospero's Books ( 1991) written and directed by Peter Greenaway, is a cinematic adaptation of The Tempest, by William Shakespeare ^[7]

Television also developed as one of the focal points of his career, with Gielgud giving a particularly notable performance in Brideshead Revisited (1981). Brideshead Revisited The Sacred & Profane Memories of Captain Charles Ryder is a Novel by the English writer Evelyn Waugh, first published in 1945 He won an Emmy Award for Summer's Lease (1989) and televised his stage performances of A Day by the Sea (1957), Home (1970), No Man's Land (1976) and his final theatre role in The Best of Friends as Sydney Cockerell in the 1991 Masterpiece Theatre Production, along with Patrick McGoohan and Dame Wendy Hiller. Summer's Lease is a novel by Sir John Mortimer, author of the Rumpole novels No Man's Land is a play by 2005 Nobel in Literature Laureate Harold Pinter written in 1974 and first produced and published in 1975 The Best of Friends is a compilation Album (9th release by Singer/songwriter duo Loggins and Messina, released in late 1976 (see 1977 Sir Sydney Carlyle Cockerell (1867-1962 was a British museum Curator, collector and well-connected figure in the literary world Patrick Joseph McGoohan (born March 19, 1928) is an American born Actor, raised in Ireland and England who rose to fame in the British Dame Wendy Margaret Hiller DBE ( 15 August 1912 – 14 May 2003) was a distinguished English Film and stage In 1983, he made his second onscreen appearance with fellow theatrical knights Laurence Olivier and Ralph Richardson (following Olivier's own Richard III) in a television miniseries about composer Richard Wagner. Laurence Kerr Olivier Baron Sir Ralph David Richardson ( 19 December 1902 &ndash 10 October 1983) was an English Actor, one of a group of theatrical Richard III is a 1955 British film adaptation of William Shakespeare 's historical play Richard III In 1996 he played a wizard in the TV adaptation of Gulliver's Travels. Gulliver's Travels is a TV Miniseries based on Jonathan Swift 's novel of the same name, produced by Jim Henson Productions and Gielgud and Ralph Richardson were the first guest stars on Second City Television. Sir Ralph David Richardson ( 19 December 1902 &ndash 10 October 1983) was an English Actor, one of a group of theatrical Second City Television (SCTV was a Canadian television Sketch comedy show offshoot from Toronto's The Second City troupe that ran between Playing themselves, they were in Toronto during their tour of Harold Pinter's No Man's Land. No man's land is a term for land that is not occupied or more specifically land that is under dispute between countries or areas that will not occupy it because of fear or uncertainty According to Dave Thomas, in his book, SCTV: Behind the Scenes, their sketch stank and the actors gave a bad performance. See the David Thomas disambiguation page for other people with this name Gielgud's final television performance was on film in Merlin in 1998, his final television studio appearance having been in A Summer Day's Dream recorded in 1994 for the BBC 2 Performance series. Merlin is a 3 hour made-for-television movie released in 1998 that retells the famous legend of King Arthur from the perspective of the wizard ^[8]

Gielgud was one of the few people who has won an Emmy, a Grammy, an Oscar and a Tony Award. This is a list of persons who have won Grammy, Academy, Tony, and Emmy Awards, "GATE", the four major entertainment awards

Gielgud's final onscreen appearance in a major release motion picture was as Pope Paul IV in Elizabeth which was released in 1998. Elizabeth is a 1998 film loosely based on the early reign of Queen Elizabeth I of England. His final acting performance was in a film adaptation of Samuel Beckett's short play Catastrophe, opposite longtime collaborator Harold Pinter and directed by American playwright David Mamet; Gielgud died mere weeks after production was completed at the age of 96 of natural causes. Samuel Barclay Beckett (13 April 1906 – 22 December 1989 was an Irish Writer, Dramatist and poet Catastrophe is a short play by Samuel Beckett, written in French in 1982 at the invistation of A David Alan Mamet (born November 30, 1947) is an American Author, Essayist, Playwright, Screenwriter and

Origins and personal life

Polish-Lithuanian origin

Gielgud's Catholic father, Franciszek Giełgud, born 1880, was a descendant of a Polish noble family residing at Giełgudyszki manor dating back to Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth (now a town of Gelgaudiškis in Marijampolė County, Lithuania). Catholic is an Adjective derived from the Greek adjective '' / 'katholikos' meaning "whole" or "complete". Poland (Polska officially the Republic of Poland Szlachta ( refers to the noble class in the Kingdom of Poland, the Grand Duchy of Lithuania (since 1569 semi-federal semi-confederal The Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, officially the Commonwealth of the Crown of the Polish Kingdom and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania also known as the Most Serene Republic Gelgaudiškis ( is a city in the Šakiai district municipality, Lithuania. Marijampolė County (Lithuanian Marijampolės apskritis) is one of ten counties in Lithuania. Lithuania, officially the Republic of Lithuania (Lietuvos Respublika is a Country in Eastern often referred to as Northern Europe or in the The Lithuanian form of the name Giełgud is Gelgaudai. Sir John's grandfather was Adam Giełgud (1834-1920), married to Leontyna Aniela Aszperger. Adam Giełgud's father's (Jan Giełgud's) mother was Countness Eleonora Tyszkiewicz-Łohojski, Clan Leliwa (by heraldic adoption). As a descendant of Tyszkiewicz (Tiškevičius) counts he was related to many well-known Polish and Lithuanian personalities, including actress Beata Tyszkiewicz and other Polish noble families. Tyszkiewicz, Tyškievič, Tiškevičiai, Тышкевич was a wealthy and influential Magnate family of Ruthenian / Lithuanian A count is a Nobleman in European countries The word count comes from French comte, itself from Latin

Personal life

Gielgud was convicted of "persistently importuning for immoral purposes" (cottaging) in a Chelsea mews in 1953. Cottaging is a British Gay slang term referring to anonymous male-male sex in a public Lavatory (a cottage or tea-room) or to the Chelsea is an area of south-west London, England, bounded to the south by the River Thames, where its frontage runs from Chelsea Bridge along For other uses see Mew. Distinguish from Muse. For a mews in falconry see Mews (falconry. Instead of being rejected by the public, he received a standing ovation at his next stage appearance. Biographer Sheridan Morley writes that while Gielgud never denied being homosexual, he always tried to be discreet about it and felt humiliated by the ordeal. Sheridan Morley (5 December 1941 − 16 February 2007 was an English author biographer critic director actor and broadcaster Some speculate that it helped to bring to public attention a crusade to decriminalise homosexuality in England and Wales. Longtime partner Martin Hensler, 30 years his junior, died just a few months before Gielgud's own death in 2000. He only publicly acknowledged Hensler as his partner in 1988, in the programme notes for The Best of Friends which was his final stage performance. ^[9][10], Gielgud would avoid Hollywood for over a decade for fear of being denied entry because of the arrest.

Awards and honours

• He was knighted in the 1953 coronation honours, became a Companion of Honour in 1977, and was admitted to the Order of Merit in 1996. The rank of Knight Bachelor is a part of the British honours system. The Coronation of the British Monarch is a Ceremony (specifically Initiation rite) in which the Monarch of the United Kingdom and of the other The Order of the Companions of Honour is a British and Commonwealth Order. The Order of Merit is a British and Commonwealth Order bestowed by the Monarch.

• In 1982 he received an Evening Standard Special Award

• The Globe Theatre in London was renamed the Gielgud Theatre in 1994 in his honour. The Evening Standard Theatre Awards, established in 1955 are presented annually for outstanding achievements in London Theatre. The Gielgud Theatre is a West End theatre, located on Shaftesbury Avenue in the City of Westminster, London, at the corner of Rupert Street

Laurence Olivier Awards

• 1985: Special Award

Academy Awards

• 1964: Nominated for Best Supporting Actor, for Becket
• 1981: Winner for Best Supporting Actor, for Arthur

Emmy 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 Movie, for Summer's Lease

Tony Awards

• 1948: Winner for Outstanding Foreign Company, The Importance of Being Earnest
• 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 for Best Director (Dramatic), for Big Fish, Little Fish
• 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 Home

Grammy 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 Rose
• 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 Isham

New York Film Critics Circle Awards

• 1977: Best Actor, for Providence
• 1981: Best Supporting Actor, for Arthur

Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards

• 1981: Best Supporting Actor, for Arthur
• 1985: Best Supporting Actor, for Plenty

There is also the Sir John Gielgud Award for "Excellence in the Dramatic Arts" presented by the US-based Shakespeare Guild. Becket is a 1964 Film adaptation of the play Becket or the Honour of God by Jean Anouilh made by Hal Wallis Productions Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role is one of the Academy Awards of Merit presented annually by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts Arthur is a 1981 film set in New York City which tells the story of drunken playboy millionaire Arthur Bach ( Dudley Moore) who is on the brink of Brideshead Revisited is a 1981 British Television serial based on the novel of the same name by Evelyn Waugh. War and Remembrance is a novel by Herman Wouk, published in 1978 which is the sequel to The Winds of War. This is a list of winners of the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie. Summer's Lease is a novel by Sir John Mortimer, author of the Rumpole novels The Importance of Being Earnest is a play by Oscar Wilde. It premiered on February 14, 1895 at the St Ages of Man is a one-man play performed by John Gielgud of a collection of speeches in Shakespeare's plays The School for Scandal is a Comedy of manners written by Richard Brinsley Sheridan. The Tony Award for Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Play presented since 1947 is awarded to actors in productions of new or revival plays Tiny Alice, a three act play written by Edward Albee, premiered on Broadway at the Billy Rose Theatre on December Home is a play by David Storey. Written in a quasi- absurdist style heavily influenced by Samuel Becket, it is set in a mental asylum Ages of Man is a one-man play performed by John Gielgud of a collection of speeches in Shakespeare's plays Hamlet is a Tragedy by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written between 1599 and 1601 Richard Burton, CBE (10 November 1925 &ndash 5 August 1984 was a Welsh multiple award-winning Actor. Hume Blake Cronyn, OC ( July 18, 1911 – June 15, 2003) was a Canadian - American Actor of Alfred Drake ( October 7, 1914 - July 25, 1992) was an American Actor and Singer. Jiří Voskovec ( pronounced) ( June 19, 1905 near Benešov as Jiří Wachsmann &ndash July 4, 1981 in Eileen Herlie (born Eileen Herlihy; March 8 1918 &ndash October 8 2008 was a Scottish-American Actress. George Rose ( February 19, 1920 - May 5, 1988) was a English award-winning Actor in theatre and film No man's land is a term for land that is not occupied or more specifically land that is under dispute between countries or areas that will not occupy it because of fear or uncertainty Sir Ralph David Richardson ( 19 December 1902 &ndash 10 October 1983) was an English Actor, one of a group of theatrical Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats is a set of whimsical Poems by T Irene Worth, Honorary CBE ( June 23 1916 - March 9 2002) was an American stage and screen actress who became one of the leading A Christmas Carol in Prose Being a Ghost Story of Christmas (commonly known as A Christmas Carol) is a Novella by Charles Dickens Mark Isham (b September 7, 1951 in New York City) is an American Trumpeter synthesist, and Academy Award-nominated film Composer Providence is a French/Swiss 1977 film directed by Alain Resnais and starring Dirk Bogarde, David Warner, Ellen Burstyn Arthur is a 1981 film set in New York City which tells the story of drunken playboy millionaire Arthur Bach ( Dudley Moore) who is on the brink of Arthur is a 1981 film set in New York City which tells the story of drunken playboy millionaire Arthur Bach ( Dudley Moore) who is on the brink of For the original David Hare play see Plenty Plenty is a 1985 Drama film directed by Fred Schepisi Past winners include Ian McKellen, Kenneth Branagh, Kevin Kline and Judi Dench

Other interests

Sir John Gielgud believed that animals should not be exploited. Sir Ian Murray McKellen, CH, CBE (born 25 May 1939 is an English stage and screen actor the Kenneth Charles Branagh (born 10 December 1960) is an Emmy Award -winning Academy Award -nominated Northern Irish Actor Kevin Delaney Kline (born October 24 1947 is an American Academy Award, Screen Actors Guild Award and two time Tony Award -winning stage and film Dame Judith Olivia Dench, CH, DBE, FRSA, (born 9 December, 1934) usually known as Judi Dench, is an English He was particularly fond of birds and joined PETA's campaign against the foie gras industry in the early 1990s, narrating PETA's video exposé of the force-feeding of geese and ducks. Many chefs and restaurateurs who saw that video dropped foie gras from their menus. Sir John received PETA’s Humanitarian of the Year Award twice, in 1994 and 1999. ^[11]

He also authored several books, including his memoirs in An Actor and His Time, Early Stages and Distinguished Company. He also co-wrote, with John Miller, Acting Shakespeare. Acting Shakespeare is a one-man show of Shakespearean speeches devised and performed by Ian McKellen.

Selected filmography

John Gielgud in popular culture

Gielgud is referenced in Bruce Robinson's 1986 cult film Withnail and I. Julius Caesar is an MGM film adaptation of the play by Shakespeare, directed by Joseph L Richard III is a 1955 British film adaptation of William Shakespeare 's historical play Richard III Saint Joan is a 1957 movie based on George Bernard Shaw 's play about the life of Joan of Arc, directed by Otto Preminger The Barretts of Wimpole Street is a 1934 film depicting the real-life romance between poets Elizabeth Barrett ( Norma Shearer) Becket is a 1964 Film adaptation of the play Becket or the Honour of God by Jean Anouilh made by Hal Wallis Productions Richard Burton’s Hamlet is a 1964 filmed record of the Broadway production of William Shakespeare 's tragedy that played from Chimes at Midnight (aka Falstaff) is a 1965 film directed by Orson Welles based around the character of Sir John Falstaff The Loved One is a 1965 film about the funeral business in Los Angeles, which is based on '''The Loved One An Anglo-American Tragedy''' Sebastian is a 1968 Film directed by David Greene, produced by Michael Powell, Herbert Brodkin and Gerry Fisher, and The Charge of the Light Brigade is a British War film made in 1968 by Woodfall Film Productions and distributed by United Artists Oh! What a Lovely War is Stage musical and 1969 Musical film. Julius Caesar is a Independent film adaptation of William Shakespeare 's play, directed by Stuart Burge from a screenplay by Robert Lost Horizon is a 1973 Musical film directed by Charles Jarrott and starring Peter Finch, John Gielgud, Liv Ullmann Frankenstein The True Story is a 1973 British made-for-television Horror film based on the book Frankenstein Murder on the Orient Express is a 1974 feature film directed by Sidney Lumet and based on the 1934 novel of the same name by Providence is a French/Swiss 1977 film directed by Alain Resnais and starring Dirk Bogarde, David Warner, Ellen Burstyn Caligula is a 1979 Film directed by Tinto Brass, with additional scenes filmed by Giancarlo Lui and Penthouse The Elephant Man is a 1980 Biopic loosely based on the story of the 19th century British deformed celebrity Joseph Merrick (called John Lion of the Desert is a 1981 historical film starring Anthony Quinn as Libyan tribal leader Omar Mukhtar fighting Mussolini 's Arthur is a 1981 film set in New York City which tells the story of drunken playboy millionaire Arthur Bach ( Dudley Moore) who is on the brink of For the instrumental theme see Chariots of Fire (instrumental. Gandhi ( 1982) is a Biographical film about Mohandas ("Mahatma" Gandhi, who was a leader of the Nonviolent resistance movement The Wicked Lady was a 1945 Film starring Margaret Lockwood in the title role as a nobleman's wife who turns to highway robbery for The Master of Ballantrae A Winter's Tale is a book by the Scottish author Robert Louis Stevenson, focusing upon the conflict of two brothers The Far Pavilions is an epic Novel of British- Indian history by M The Whistle Blower is a 1986 Spy thriller Film, staring Michael Caine, based on the Novel of the same name by John Hale Arthur 2 On the Rocks is the 1988 Sequel to the 1981 Arthur. Lead actors Dudley Moore and Liza Minnelli reprised Getting It Right is a Randal Kleiser comedy film from 1989 starring Jesse Birdsall, Jane Horrocks, and Helena Bonham Carter Prospero's Books ( 1991) written and directed by Peter Greenaway, is a cinematic adaptation of The Tempest, by William Shakespeare Shining Through is a 1992 World War II film drama It was directed and written by David Seltzer. First Knight is a 1995 Film based on Arthurian legend. The principal characters are Lancelot (played by Richard Gere Hamlet is a 1996 film version of William Shakespeare 's classic play of the same name, adapted and directed by Kenneth Branagh Shine is a 1996 Australian film based on the life of pianist David Helfgott, who suffered a mental breakdown and spent years in institutions Merlin is a 3 hour made-for-television movie released in 1998 that retells the famous legend of King Arthur from the perspective of the wizard Elizabeth is a 1998 film loosely based on the early reign of Queen Elizabeth I of England. Bruce Robinson (born) is an English director and Screenwriter. Events April 12 - Actor Morgan Mason marries The Go-Go's Belinda Carlisle Actor Arnold Schwarzenegger marries A cult film is a Film that has acquired a highly devoted but relatively small group of fans. Withnail and I is a British film made in 1986 by Handmade Films. In an early scene in which Withnail is complaining about his lack of work as an actor, Marwood attempts to console him by suggesting that September is a "bad patch" for actors. Events in September It is the start of the academic year in many countries in the Northern Hemisphere. Withnail responds by saying "Rubbish! Haven't seen Gielgud down the labour exchange. Why doesn't he retire?"

See Also

• List of people who have won Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony Awards

References

Further reading

• Young, Jordan R. (1989). Acting Solo: The Art of One-Person Shows. Beverly Hills: Past Times Publishing Co.

External links

• John Gielgud at the Internet Broadway Database
• John Gielgud at the Internet Movie Database
• John Gielgud at the TCM Movie Database
• Gielgud Archive in the British Library Manuscripts Collections
• Theatre Profiles - Sir John Gielgud