Laurence Olivier (I) (1907–1989)


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Laurence Olivier could speak William Shakespeare's lines as naturally as if he were "actually thinking them", said English playwright Charles Bennett, who met Olivier in 1927. Laurence Kerr Olivier was born in Dorking, Surrey, England, to Agnes Louise (Crookenden) and Gerard Kerr Olivier, a High Anglican priest. His surname came from a ... See full bio »

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Won 1 Oscar. Another 42 wins & 37 nominations. See more awards »

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Known For

Pirullista peliä Andrew Wyke
(1972)
Brasilian pojat Ezra Lieberman
(1978)
Rebekka 'Maxim' de Winter
(1940)
Marathon Man Szell
(1976)

Filmography

Hide Hide Show Show Actor (85 credits)
 1989 Sota requiem
The Old Soldier
 1986 Lost Empires (TV Mini Series)
Harry Burrard
- Episode #1.1 (1986) ... Harry Burrard
 1986 Pietari Suuri (TV Mini Series)
King William III of Orange
- Part IV (1986) ... King William III of Orange
- Part III (1986) ... King William III of Orange
- Part II (1986) ... King William III of Orange
- Part I (1986) ... King William III of Orange
 1985 Villihanhet 2
Rudolf Hess
 1984 Eebenpuutorni (TV Movie)
Henry Breasley
 1984 The Last Days of Pompeii (TV Mini Series)
Gaius
- Part 3 (1984) ... Gaius
- Part 2 (1984) ... Gaius
- Part 1 (1984) ... Gaius
 1984 Bounty - kapina laivalla
Admiral Hood
 1984 Rikollisia taipumuksia (TV Movie)
Dr. Anthony Wainwright
 1983 Wagner (TV Mini Series)
Pfeuffer
- Episode #1.10 (1983) ... Pfeuffer
- Episode #1.6 (1983) ... Pfeuffer
- Episode #1.9 (1983) ... Pfeuffer
- Episode #1.8 (1983) ... Pfeuffer
- Episode #1.7 (1983) ... Pfeuffer
 1983 The Jigsaw Man
Adm. Sir Gerald Scaith
 1983 Mr. Halpern and Mr. Johnson (TV Movie)
Joe Halpern
 1983 Kuningas Lear (TV Movie)
King Lear
 1982 A Voyage Round My Father (TV Movie)
Clifford Mortimer
 1981 Mennyt maailma (TV Mini Series)
Lord Marchmain
- Brideshead Revisited (1981) ... Lord Marchmain
- Home and Abroad (1981) ... Lord Marchmain
 1981 Jumalten taistelu
Zeus
 1981 Inchon
Gen. Douglas MacArthur
 1980 The Jazz Singer - tie tähtiin
Cantor Rabinovitch
 1979 Dracula
Prof. Abraham Van Helsing
 1979 Pienet sydämet
Julius
 1978 Brasilian pojat
Ezra Lieberman
 1978 Betsy
Number One
 1978 Daphne Laureola (TV Movie)
Sir Joseph
 1978 Saturday Sunday Monday (TV Movie)
Antonio
 1977 Come Back, Little Sheba (TV Movie)
Doc
 1977 Yksi silta liikaa
Doctor Spaander
 1977 Jeesus Nasaretilainen (TV Mini Series)
Nicodemus
- Part 4 (1977) ... Nicodemus
- Part 3 (1977) ... Nicodemus
- Part 2 (1977) ... Nicodemus (credit only)
- Part 1 (1977) ... Nicodemus (credit only)
 1976 Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (TV Movie)
Big Daddy
 1976 Arvoitusten juna
Professor James Moriarty (as Sir Laurence Olivier)
 1976 Marathon Man
Szell
 1976 Great Performances (TV Series)
Harry
- The Collection (1976) ... Harry
 1975 Rakkaus ei katso ikää (TV Movie)
Sir Arthur Glanville-Jones
 1973 The Merchant of Venice (TV Movie)
Shylock
 1969-1973 ITV Saturday Night Theatre (TV Series)
Narrator / James Tyrone Sr.
- Long Day's Journey Into Night (1973) ... James Tyrone Sr.
- Emlyn (1969) ... Narrator
- Cornelius (1969) ... Narrator
- MacNeil (1969) ... Narrator
 1972 Pirullista peliä
Andrew Wyke
 1972 Lady Caroline Lamb
Duke of Wellington
 1971 Nikolai ja Aleksandra
Count Witte
 1970 Kolme sisarta
Dr. Ivan Chebutikin
 1970 David Copperfield (TV Movie)
Mr. Creakle
 1969 Battle of Britain
Air Chief Marshal Sir Hugh Dowding
 1969 The Dance of Death
Edgar
 1969 Oi! Mikä ihana sota
Field-Marshal Sir John French
 1969 Male of the Species (TV Movie)
Narrator
 1968/I Kalastajan kengät
Premier Piotr Ilyich Kamenev (as Sir Laurence Olivier)
 1968 Romeo ja Julia
Narrator / Lord Montague / Complementary Role (voice, uncredited)
 1967 Uncle Vanya (TV Movie)
Dr. Mihail Lwowitch Astrow
 1967 NET Playhouse (TV Series)
Dr. Astrov
- Uncle Vanya (1967) ... Dr. Astrov
 1966 Khartoum
The Mahdi
 1965 Othello
Othello
 1965 Bunny on kadonnut
Superintendent Newhouse
 1963 Vanja-eno
Dr. Astrov
 1962 Koettelemuksen aika
Graham Weir
 1961 The Power and the Glory (TV Movie)
Priest
 1960 Spartacus
Crassus
 1960 Kun hymy hyytyy
Archie Rice (as Lawrence Olivier)
 1959 The Moon and Sixpence (TV Movie)
Charles Strickland
 1959 Paholaisen oppipoika
Gen. Burgoyne
 1958 ITV Play of the Week (TV Series)
John Gabriel Borkman
- John Gabriel Borkman (1958) ... John Gabriel Borkman
 1957 Prinssi ja revyytyttö
The Regent
 1955 Rikhard III
Richard III
 1953 The Beggar's Opera
Captain MacHeath
 1952 Viattomuuden kasvot
George Hurstwood
 1951 Näkemiin, Mr. Greene
Police Constable 94-B
 1948 Hamlet
Hamlet, Prince of Denmark
 1944 Henrik V
King Henry V of England
 1943 Muukalainen paratiisissa
Ivan Kouznetsoff
 1941 Pako
Johnnie - The Trapper
 1941 Lady Hamiltonin rakkaustarina
Lord Horatio Nelson
 1940 Mies Elizabethille
Mr. Darcy
 1940 Rebekka
'Maxim' de Winter
 1940 21 Days
Larry
 1939 Humiseva harju
Heathcliff
 1939 Q Planes
Tony McVane
 1938 Lady X:n avioero
Everard Logan
 1937 Kuningatar Elisabet
Michael
 1936 The Conquest of the Air
Vincent Lunardi
 1936 As You Like It
Orlando
 1935 Moscow Nights
Capt. Ivan Ignatoff
 1933 No Funny Business
Clive Dering
 1933 Perfect Understanding
Nicholas Randall
 1932 Westward Passage
Nick Allen
 1931 Potiphar's Wife
Straker
 1931 Keltainen piletti
Julian Rolfe
 1931 Ystäviä ja rakastajia
Lieutenant Ned Nichols
 1930 The Temporary Widow
Peter Bille
 1930 Too Many Crooks (Short)
The Man
Show Show Producer (11 credits)
Show Show Director (7 credits)
Show Show Soundtrack (6 credits)
Show Show Additional Crew (5 credits)
Show Show Writer (4 credits)
Show Show Self (60 credits)
Show Show Archive footage (99 credits)

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Personal Details

Other Works:

Stage: Appeared in "No Time for Comedy" on Broadway. Written by S.N. Behrman. Scenic design by Jo Mielziner. Directed by Guthrie McClintic. Ethel Barrymore Theatre: 17 Apr 1939-Sep 1939 (closing date unknown/185 performances). Cast: Katharine Cornell (as "Linda Eastbrook"), Robert Flemyng, Margalo Gillmore (as "Amanda Smith"), Gee Gee... See more »

Publicity Listings:

3 Biographical Movies | 12 Print Biographies | 3 Portrayals | 26 Articles | 3 Pictorials | 8 Magazine Cover Photos | See more »

Official Sites:

Official Site

Alternate Names:

Baron Olivier | Lawrence Olivier | Lord Olivier | Sir Laurence Olivier | Sir Lawrence Olivier | Lieut. [A] Laurence Olivier R.N.R.

Height:

5' 10" (1.78 m)

Spouse:

Joan Plowright  (his death)  (3 children) | See more »

Children:

Tarquin Olivier | See more »

Parents:

Olivier (Crookenden), Agnes Louise | Olivier, Gerard Kerr

Relatives:

Sheila Burrell (cousin)
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Did You Know?

Personal Quote:

We have all, at one time or another, been performers, and many of us still are - politicians, playboys, cardinals and kings. See more »

Trivia:

Lost his temper with Laurence Harvey at a restaurant, after the latter was mocking some of Olivier's fellow actor peers. Friends and colleagues observed how Olivier's temper could be both unpredictable and frightening. See more »

Trademark:

Often played noble and fiercely proud leaders and royalty figures See more »

Nickname:

Larry See more »

Star Sign:

Gemini

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