Laurence Olivier

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Sir Laurence Kerr Olivier, Baron Olivier of Brighton, (May 22, 1907 - July 11, 1989) was an English actor and director, esteemed by many as the greatest actor of the 20th century.

Laurence Olivier was born in Dorking. He attended the Central School of Speech Training and Dramatic Art. His stage breakthrough was in Noel Coward's Private Lives ( in 1930), and in Romeo and Juliet ( in 1935) alternating the roles of Romeo and Mercutio with John Gielgud. His film breakthrough was portrayal of Heathcliff in Wuthering Heights in 1939.

He was founding director (1962-1973) of the National Theatre of Great Britain.

On July 25, 1930, he married actress Jill Esmond, whom Olivier biographer Donald Spoto described as "a diffident lesbian." They had one son, Tarquin, and were divorced on January 29, 1940.

On August 31, 1940 he married actress Vivien Leigh. They were divorced on December 2, 1960.

On March 17, 1961 he married actress Joan Plowright. They had one son and two daughters. He was not notably faithful in those marriages and had extramarital affairs with both men and women: Joan Plowright said "I have always resented the comments that it was I who was the homewrecker of Larry's marriage to Vivien Leigh. Danny Kaye was attached to Larry far earlier than I." Olivier reportedly was also intimate with playwright Noel Coward.

Among his honours are 10 Oscar nominations (he won best actor/picture for Hamlet in 1949), and two honorary Oscars (1947, 1979). He was knighted in 1947, made a life peer in 1970 (the first actor to achieve this distinction), and was admitted to the Order of Merit in 1981.

He died in Steyning, West Sussex, England, of complications of a neuromuscular disorder and cancer.

Lord Olivier is interred in Westminster Abbey, London, England. The Laurence Olivier Awards, organised by The Society of London Theatre, were renamed in his honour in 1984.

Contents

Acting Appearances in London

Acting Appearances on Broadway

Productions on Broadway

Broadway Directing Credits

Movie Credits

Television Credits

Bisexuality claims

Since Olivier's death, several biographers have produced books about him, several of which bring up the claim that Olivier was bisexual. Joan Plowright said: I have always resented the comments that it was I who was the homewrecker of Larry's marriage to Vivien Leigh. Danny Kaye was attached to Larry far earlier than I.[1] referring to biographer Donald Spoto's claim that Kaye and Olivier were lovers.[2] According to Sir Noel Coward, sexually speaking, Olivier had "a puppy-like acquiescence to all experiences", as quoted by friend Michael Thornton.[3] Terry Coleman's authorised biography of Olivier suggests a relationship between Olivier and an older actor, Henry Ainley, based on correspondence from Ainley to Olivier (although the book disputes that there is any evidence linking Olivier sexually to Kaye).[4] Olivier's son Tarquin disputed this as 'unforgivable garbage'.[5] and sought to suppress them, leading Dame Joan Plowright to privately state that "a man who had been to Eton and in the Guards might be expected to be a little more broad-minded".[3] In August 2006, on the radio program Desert Island Discs, Plowright responded to the question of Oliver's alleged bisexuality by stating: "If a man is touched by genius, he is not an ordinary person. He doesn't lead an ordinary life. He has extremes of behaviour which you understand and you just find a way not to be swept overboard by his demons. You kind of stand apart. You continue your own work and your absorption in the family. And those other things finally don't matter."[3]

References

  1. ^ Filmbug Laurence Olivier Page
  2. ^ Spoto, Donald (1992). Laurence Olivier. Scranton, PA: Harper Collins. ISBN 0-06-018315-2. 
  3. ^ a b c Thornton, Michael (1 September 2006). "Larry gay? Of course he was". Daily Mail. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/showbiz/showbiznews.html?in_article_id=403258. Retrieved on 2006-12-30. 
  4. ^ Coleman, Terry (2005). Olivier. Henry Hilt and Co.. ISBN 0-8050-7536-4. 
  5. ^ amazon.com review of Tarquin Olivier's book, My Father Laurence Olivier
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