Laurence Olivier

Date of Birth: May 22, 1907
Place of Birth: Dorking, Surrey, United Kingdom

Skin this page.

Laurence Olivier Biography

EasyEdit

(What's this?)

What's going on here?
Flixster members are collaborating to create the definitive resource for Laurence Olivier information on the Internet. We're adding all the images, info, and ideas that best tell this actor's unique story. To add your knowledge of Laurence Olivier, just log in and click the EasyEdit button at the top of the wiki pages. (Click here for help.)

Laurence Olivier mini-bio: Laurence Kerr Olivier (22 May 1907–11 July 1989) was an Academy Award, Golden Globe, BAFTA and four-time Emmy winning English actor, director, and producer. He is regarded by many as the greatest English speaking actor of the 20th century.

Olivier's career stretched over several decades, prolific both on stage and in film. In both media, he played a wide variety of roles, from Shakespeare's Othello to a Nazi dentist in Marathon Man and Sir Toby Belch. A High Church clergyman's son who found fame on the West End stage, Olivier became determined to master Shakespeare, and in turn he became one of the foremost interpreters of the bard in the 20th century. In later years, Olivier became torn by guilt over having left his second wife Vivien Leigh, and so he immersed himself in his work. Olivier played over 120 stage roles, including: Macbeth, Romeo, Hamlet, Othello, Uncle Vanya, and Archie Rice. He appeared in nearly sixty films, including William Wyler's Wuthering Heights, Alfred Hitchcock's Rebecca, Stanley Kubrick's Spartacus, Otto Preminger's Bunny Lake is Missing, Richard Attenborough's Oh! What a Lovely War, Joseph L. Mankiewicz's Sleuth, John Schlesinger's Marathon Man and his own Hamlet.

VITAL STATS

Laurence Olivier Information:

Eye color:

Height:

Nickname(s):

Notable feature(s):

Education:

Family:

Resides in:

Religious affiliations:

Political affiliation:

Personal interests/hobbies:

Charities/Causes:

Other:

Last update: Aug 14 2008, 10:20 AM EDT by ed (content history | content tools) (help)

Keyword tags:

Laurence Olivier Biography Laurence Olivier Quotes Laurence Olivier Best Movies and Characters

Photos

Meet Other Fans

Comments

kitteh1882

I just watched the Wuthering Heights version with him in it and he was amazing. And I never realized until now how gorgeous he really was as a young man. The only other movie I've seen him in right now is Sleuth and he wasn't exactly a spring chicken then.

posted 544 days ago
tmoney007nc

Who, may I ask, of today's film stars could POSSIBLY perform Hamlet even half as well as Olivier? The answer is no one.

Olivier was not just a film, TV, and theater guru. He was a linguist, a scholar, and a damn good speaker. Shakespeare would be proud of his work.

posted 664 days ago
jsmith181

Actor Charles Shaughnessy stars as Laurence Olivier in "Orson's Shadow" at Pasadena Playhouse!

Orson's Shadow is an ingenious tale of three Hollywood giants - Laurence Olivier, Orson Welles, and Vivien Leigh . The production also stars Sharon Lawrence, Bruce McGill, Scott Lowell, Libby West and Nick Cernoch. Orson's Shadow runs January 11-February 17, 2008

Get 2-for-1 tickets through February 2 - use code M02.
Restrictions apply, call (626) 737-PLAY for details, or visit www.pasadenaplayhouse.org

posted 686 days ago
silverclaudia

He could read the phone book and I'd give it rave reviews! I loved him in Sleuth. The whole movie was perfection!

posted 885 days ago
djsavvy21

he's so good in pride and prejudice!!! i love the scene where he's like, "and this is your opinion of me?" perfect!

posted 999 days ago
smegheadthegnome

erm...isn't pride and prejudice missed off the films list? or are my eyes decieving me?

posted 1037 days ago
Lemmingrocker1311

WOW I've been a fan of Olivier's for years and never knew that he was born down the road from me.

posted 1049 days ago
ratherrandom

One of the best actors ever

posted 1052 days ago
jadseanderson

Last night I finished watching Criterion's Richard III with commentary and it really enforced by belief that it is his best film.

posted 1103 days ago

More Top Actors

Laurence Olivier Experts

No Experts yet. Want your picture here? Click here.

Laurence Olivier Movies

Never Apologize (Unrated, 2007)
Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow (PG, 2004)
War Requiem (Unrated, 1990)
Wild Geese 2 (R, 1985)
The Bounty (PG, 1984)
A Voyage Round My Father (PG, 1984)
King Lear (Unrated, 1983)
The Jigsaw Man (PG, 1983)
Clash of the Titans (PG, 1981)
Inchon (PG, 1981)

View All Laurence Olivier Movies

Facts

No facts approved yet. Be the first

Actor Skins

Laurence Olivier Skins & Layouts

Submit a Skin | Skins Gallery

click to preview

Wuthering Heights (1939)
by kimbermcleod

15 profiles

Use on my profile!
click to preview

Sir Lawrence in Brown
by kimbermcleod

2 profiles

Use on my profile!
click to preview

Default Skin
View with default skin

Laurence Olivier Trivia

the 1968 version of romeo and juliet The English version of the film was narrated by an uncredited Laurence Olivier. Answer »
Laurence Olivier was in "Rebecca". Answer »
Which of the following Shakespeare plays did Laurence Olivier not adapt into a film? Answer »
Which man is considered to have the longest film career. Answer »

More Laurence Olivier Trivia