Laurence Olivier British Actor (1907–1989)
Laurence Olivier · film actor and theatre director · British
Known for
Biography
Laurence Olivier was a British actor from Dorking. He died on 11 July 1989 at the age of 82. Among the titles he was known for are Terror in the Aisles (1984) and The Making of a Legend: Gone with the Wind (1988).
The earliest of his listed screen credits is Hokuspokus, from 1930. In total, 80 films and 6 TV series are listed from 1930 to 2015. Listed parts include Marcus Licinius Crassus, Crassus in Spartacus (1960), Dr. Jan Spaander in A Bridge Too Far (1977) and Nicodemus in Jesus of Nazareth (1977). He is last credited, in his lifetime, on War Requiem (1989). Beyond acting, the credits show him as director on 7 titles, including Three Sisters, and writer on 3 titles, including Richard III.
Genres on record for him include shakespearean comedy. Among his notable work are Marathon Man, Wuthering Heights and Hamlet.
He collected 24 awards, with 14 nominations also listed. The first recorded win came with Academy Honorary Award in 1947. More recently, he won Feltrinelli Prize in 1988.
Filmography
86 credits| Year | Title | Role | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | Trumbo | Film | |
| 2004 | Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow | Film | |
| 2000 | The Filth and the Fury | Film | |
| 1989 | War Requiem | Film | |
| 1988 | The Making of a Legend: Gone with the Wind | Film | |
| 1986– | Lost Empires | TV series | |
| 1986– | Peter the Great | William III of England | TV series |
| 1985 | Wild Geese II | Film | |
| 1984 | A Talent for Murder | Film | |
| 1984 | Terror in the Aisles | Film | |
| 1984 | The Bounty | Alexander Hood, 1st Viscount Bridport, Admiral Hood | Film |
| 1984 | The Ebony Tower | Film | |
| 1984– | The Last Days of Pompeii | TV series | |
| 1983 | King Lear | Film | |
| 1983 | Mr. Halpern and Mr. Johnson | Film |
Show all 86 credits
| Year | Title | Role | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1983– | Wagner | TV series | |
| 1981– | Brideshead Revisited | TV series | |
| 1981 | Clash of the Titans | Zeus | Film |
| 1981 | Inchon | Film | |
| 1980 | The Jazz Singer | Film | |
| 1979 | A Little Romance | Film | |
| 1979 | Dracula | Abraham Van Helsing | Film |
| 1978 | Come Back, Little Sheba | Film | |
| 1978 | The Betsy | Film | |
| 1978 | The Boys from Brazil | Film | |
| 1977 | A Bridge Too Far | Dr. Jan Spaander | Film |
| 1977 | Jesus of Nazareth | Nicodemus | TV series |
| 1976 | Marathon Man | Film | |
| 1976 | The Collection | Film | |
| 1976 | The Seven-Per-Cent Solution | Film | |
| 1975 | Love Among the Ruins | Film | |
| 1974 | The Rehearsal | Film | |
| 1973 | Long Day's Journey into Night | Film | |
| 1973 | The Merchant of Venice | Film | |
| 1972 | Lady Caroline Lamb | Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington | Film |
| 1972 | Sleuth | Film | |
| 1971 | Nicholas and Alexandra | Sergei Witte | Film |
| 1970 | Three Sisters | Director | Film |
| 1969 | Battle of Britain | Hugh Dowding, 1st Baron Dowding, Air Chief Marshal Sir Hugh Dowding | Film |
| 1969 | Dance of Death | Film | |
| 1969 | David Copperfield | Film | |
| 1969 | Oh! What a Lovely War | John French, 1st Earl of Ypres | Film |
| 1968 | Romeo and Juliet | Film | |
| 1968 | The Shoes of the Fisherman | Film | |
| 1966 | Khartoum | Muhammad Ahmad ibn ʿAbdallah | Film |
| 1965 | Bunny Lake Is Missing | Film | |
| 1965 | Othello | Othello | Film |
| 1963 | Uncle Vanya | Mikhail Lvovich Astrov | Film |
| 1962 | Term of Trial | Film | |
| 1960 | Spartacus | Marcus Licinius Crassus, Crassus | Film |
| 1960 | The Entertainer | Film | |
| 1959 | The Devil's Disciple | John Burgoyne | Film |
| 1959 | The Moon and Sixpence | Film | |
| 1957 | The Prince and the Showgirl | Director | Film |
| 1955 | Richard III | Richard III of England, Writer, Director | Film |
| 1953 | A Queen Is Crowned | Narrator | Film |
| 1953 | The Beggar's Opera | Film | |
| 1952 | Carrie | Film | |
| 1951 | The Magic Box | Film | |
| 1948 | Hamlet | The Ghost, Prince Hamlet, Director, Writer | Film |
| 1946 | Henry V: The Battle Of Agincourt | Director | Film |
| 1944 | Elizabethan Stage: Henry V | Director | Film |
| 1944 | Henry V | Henry V of England, Director, Writer | Film |
| 1944 | The Volunteer | Film | |
| 1944 | This Happy Breed | Film | |
| 1943 | The Demi-Paradise | Film | |
| 1941 | 49th Parallel | Film | |
| 1941 | That Hamilton Woman | Admiral Horatio Nelson | Film |
| 1940 | 21 Days | Film | |
| 1940 | Pride and Prejudice | Mr. Darcy | Film |
| 1940 | Rebecca | Film | |
| 1939 | Q Planes | Film | |
| 1939 | Wuthering Heights | Heathcliff | Film |
| 1938 | The Divorce of Lady X | Film | |
| 1937 | Fire Over England | Michael Ingolby | Film |
| 1936 | As You Like It | Film | |
| 1936 | Conquest of the Air | Film | |
| 1935 | Moscow Nights | Film | |
| 1933 | No Funny Business | Film | |
| 1933 | Perfect Understanding | Film | |
| 1932 | Westward Passage | Film | |
| 1931 | Friends and Lovers | Film | |
| 1931 | The Yellow Ticket | Film | |
| 1930 | Hokuspokus | Film | |
| 1930 | The Temporary Widow | Film | |
| 1930 | Too Many Crooks | Film |
Awards and nominations
24 won, 14 nominated| Year | Award | For | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | Feltrinelli Prize | Won | |
| 1984 | Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie | King Lear | Won |
| 1983 | Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Actor | Inchon | Won |
| 1982 | Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie | Brideshead Revisited | Won |
| 1981 | Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Supporting Actor - Razzie Award | The Jazz Singer | Won |
| 1981 | Order of Merit | Won | |
| 1979 | Academy Honorary Award | Won | |
| 1977 | Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture | Marathon Man | Won |
| 1976 | Albert Medal | Won | |
| 1976 | BAFTA Fellowship | Won | |
| 1970 | BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role | Oh! What a Lovely War | Won |
| 1966 | Sonning Prize | Won | |
| 1960 | Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie | The Moon and Sixpence | Won |
| 1949 | Academy Award for Best Actor | Hamlet | Won |
| 1949 | Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role | Hamlet | Won |
Show all 38 entries
| Year | Award | For | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1947 | Academy Honorary Award | Won | |
| 1947 | Knight Bachelor | Won | |
| David di Donatello for Best Foreign Actor | Won | ||
| David di Donatello for best foreign production | Won | ||
| Donaldson Awards | Won | ||
| National Board of Review Award for Best Film | Won | ||
| Officer of the Legion of Honour | Won | ||
| Society of London Theatre Special Award | Won | ||
| star on Hollywood Walk of Fame | Won | ||
| 1983 | Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Actor | Inchon | Nominated |
| 1981 | Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Supporting Actor - Razzie Award | The Jazz Singer | Nominated |
| 1979 | Academy Award for Best Actor | The Boys from Brazil | Nominated |
| 1977 | Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor | Marathon Man | Nominated |
| 1973 | Academy Award for Best Actor | Sleuth | Nominated |
| 1966 | Academy Award for Best Actor | Othello | Nominated |
| 1961 | Academy Award for Best Actor | The Entertainer | Nominated |
| 1958 | Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play | Nominated | |
| 1957 | Academy Award for Best Actor | Richard III | Nominated |
| 1949 | Academy Award for Best Actor | Hamlet | Nominated |
| 1949 | Academy Award for Best Director | Hamlet | Nominated |
| 1947 | Academy Award for Best Actor | Henry V | Nominated |
| 1941 | Academy Award for Best Actor | Rebecca | Nominated |
| 1940 | Academy Award for Best Actor | Wuthering Heights | Nominated |
Personal life
Marriages on record are to Jill Esmond (1930 to 1940), Vivien Leigh (1940 to 1960) and Joan Plowright (1961 to 1989). He had 4 children on record. Education on record includes St Edward's School and Royal Central School of Speech and Drama.
Laurence Olivier Photos
Frequently asked questions
How old was Laurence Olivier at the time of death?
Laurence Olivier died on 11 July 1989 at the age of 82. He was born on 22 May 1907.
What is Laurence Olivier known for?
Laurence Olivier was known for Terror in the Aisles (1984) and The Making of a Legend: Gone with the Wind (1988).
What is Laurence Olivier’s nationality?
Laurence Olivier was British, born in Dorking.
Who was Laurence Olivier married to?
Laurence Olivier’s marriages on record are to Joan Plowright (1961 to 1989), Vivien Leigh (1940 to 1960) and Jill Esmond (1930 to 1940).
Has Laurence Olivier won any awards?
Yes. 24 awards are on record, including Feltrinelli Prize (1988).
Sources
- Wikidata (Q55245), accessed October 2026
- Photo: Allan warren · CC BY-SA 3.0
Last checked by the Wiki of Celebs editorial team
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