Olivier, Laurence Kerr (Sir)

1907

1989

Laurence Olivier, regarded as the greatest English actor of the twentieth century, was born on 22 May 1907 at Dorking, Surrey, the son of the Reverend G. K. Olivier and his wife Agnes Louise (née Crookenden). At the All Saints Choir School, at the age of nine, he made his theatrical debut as Brutus in an abridged “Julius Caesar”, and five years later, in 1922, he appeared as Katherine in a special boys’ performance of “The Taming of the Shrew” presented by Oxford’s St Edwards School at the Stratford Festival, Stratford-upon-Avon. After attending the Central School of Dramatic Art in London in 1924, Olivier joined the Birmingham Repertory Theatre Company, under the management of Sybil Thorndike; in 1929 with the English Stage Society he appeared in the West End in the title role of “Beau Geste” and as Stanhope in “Journey’s End”. He also went to America in 1929, making his Broadway debut in “Murder on the Second Floor”. Back in London he appeared in a number of contemporary and classical roles. In 1935 he and John Gielgud alternated performances as Romeo and Mercutio at the New Theatre. In 1937 Olivier joined the Old Vic Company, where he triumphed in an unabridged “Hamlet”, which he later took to Elsinore. Over the years at the Old Vic, the Chichester Festival (of which he was the first director), the National Theatre (which he was instrumental in founding and served as the first director), Stratford and elsewhere, Olivier displayed an astonishing energy and versatility as an actor. He played Oedipus and Puff in a double bill at the New Theatre in 1945 (B0147, B0148). On alternating nights he acted Antony to Vivien Leigh’s Cleopatra in Shakespeare’s play and Caesar to her Cleopatra in Shaw’s play. He was spectacular as Coriolanus and engaging as Brazen in “The Recruiting Officer”. In 1957 he acted the title role in a superb revival of “Titus Andronicus” and was masterful as the broken-down comedian Archie Rice in “The Entertainer”. He gave memorable performances as Shylock, Othello, Richard III (G0643, B0066), Tyrone in “Long Day’s Journey into Night” and Edgar in “The Dance of Death”. Among the first of his many film roles, and the one that made him a star and matinee idol in America, was the tormented Heathcliff in “Wuthering Heights” in 1939. During the Second World War he served in the Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm, but was demobilized in 1944 to make his brilliant and patriotic film version of “Henry V” (B0066, special Academy Award). Notable among his more than 50 films are Hamlet (1948, Academy Award), Carrie (1950), “Richard III” (1956), “The Prince and the Showgirl” (1957), “The Entertainer” and “Othello” (1961), “Sleuth” (1972) and “Marathon Man” (1976). Olivier also appeared in television productions, notably in “A Voyage Round My Father” (1982) and “King Lear” (1983). He also narrated “The World at War” (1963). He was knighted in 1947 and created Baron (life peer) of Brighton in 1970. He became a member of the Garrick Club in 1936. Honorary degrees were awarded to him by Tufts University (1946), Oxford (1957), Manchester (1968), Sussex (1978), Edinburgh (1964) and London (1968). He married three times, to actresses: those with Jill Desmond and Vivien Leigh ended in divorces, and in 1961 he married Joan Plowright. He wrote “Confessions of an Actor” (1982) and “On Acting” (1986). Lord Olivier died on 11 July 1989 and was buried in Poet’s Corner, Westminster Abbey. He lies with Garrick and Kean. Olivier has been the subject of some 25 books, including those written by Melvyn Bragg, John Cottrell. Robert Daniels, W. A. Darlington and Anthony Holden. (WWW, EB, OCT)