Alec Guinness

Sir Alec Guinness, KBE, CH (April 2, 1914–August 5, 2000) was an Oscar winning English actor who became one of the most versatile and best-loved performers of his generation.

Related Topics:
KBE - CH - April 2 - 1914 - August 5 - 2000 - Oscar - English - Actor

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Allegedly born Alec Guinness de Cuffe (although what is written on the actual birth certificate, which reportedly lacked a father's name, is not known) in London, England, to a single mother (whose maiden name was "Agnes Cuffe"), who would later marry Alec's stepfather, a mentally ill soldier from the Anglo-Irish War who was suffering from what would today be known as Post-traumatic stress disorder. It is rumoured that Guinness' birth father was a wealthy businessman whom he once met.

Related Topics:
London, England - Anglo-Irish War - Post-traumatic stress disorder

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Alec first worked writing copy for advertising before making his debut at the Old Vic Theatre in 1936 at the age of 22.

Related Topics:
Advertising - Old Vic

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He married the artist, playwright, and actress Merula Salaman, a British Jew, in 1938, and they had a son, Matthew Guinness, born in 1940.

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Alec Guinness served in the Royal Navy throughout World War II, serving first as a seaman in 1941 and being commissioned the following year. He commanded a landing craft taking part in the invasion of Sicily and Elba and later ferried supplies to the Yugoslav partisans. During the War he appeared in Terence Rattigan's West End Play for Bomber Command, Flare Path. He returned to the Old Vic in 1946.

Related Topics:
Royal Navy - World War II - 1941 - Old Vic - 1946

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He was initially mainly associated with the Ealing comedies, and particularly for playing eight different characters in Kind Hearts and Coronets. Other films from this period included The Lavender Hill Mob, The Ladykillers, and The Man in the White Suit. In 1952, director Ronald Neame cast Guinness in his first romantic lead role, opposite Petula Clark in The Card.

Related Topics:
Ealing comedies - Kind Hearts and Coronets - The Lavender Hill Mob - The Ladykillers - The Man in the White Suit - 1952 - Petula Clark

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Invited by his friend Tyrone Guthrie to join in the premier season of the Stratford Festival of Canada, Guinness lived for a brief time in Stratford, Ontario. On July 13, 1953, Alec Guinness spoke the first lines of the first play produced by the festival: "Now is the winter of our discontent/Made glorious summer by this sun of York."

Related Topics:
Tyrone Guthrie - Stratford Festival of Canada - Stratford, Ontario - July 13 - 1953

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In 1954, during the shooting of the film Father Brown, he and his wife converted to Roman Catholicism and became devout regular church-goers for the rest of their lives. It is not clear if their minor-aged son, Matthew (14), was also converted at the same time.

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He was appointed CBE in 1955, and was knighted in 1959.

Related Topics:
CBE - 1955 - Knighted

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Guinness was also a talented dramatic and character actor. His film appearances ranged from Lawrence of Arabia to The Bridge on the River Kwai, for which he won an Academy Award as best actor in 1957, and he also played Adolf Hitler in '. He was nominated again in 1958 for his screenplay adapted from Joyce Cary's novel The Horse's Mouth. He also received an Academy Honorary Award for lifetime achievements in 1980. From the 1970s, Guinness made regular television appearances, including the part of George Smiley in the serialisations of two novels by John le Carré: Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy and Smiley's People. One of his last appearances was in the acclaimed BBC drama Eskimo Day.

Related Topics:
Lawrence of Arabia - The Bridge on the River Kwai - Academy Award - Adolf Hitler - The Horse's Mouth - Academy Honorary Award - 1980 - 1970s - George Smiley - John le Carré - Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy - Smiley's People - BBC

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His role as Obi-Wan Kenobi in the immensely successful original Star Wars trilogy brought him worldwide recognition to a new generation. However, he was never happy with being identified with the part. He would throw out any fan mail regarding Star Wars without reading it.

Related Topics:
Obi-Wan Kenobi - Star Wars

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He became a Companion of Honour in 1994 at the age of 80. He also has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 1559 Vine Street.

Related Topics:
Companion of Honour - 1994 - Hollywood Walk of Fame

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Guinness wrote three volumes of bestselling autobiography, beginning with Blessings in Disguise in 1985, followed by My Name Escapes Me in 1996, and A Positively Final Appearance in 1999.

Related Topics:
1985 - 1996 - 1999

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Guinness died of liver cancer on August 5, 2000 at the age of 86, at Midhurst in West Sussex, and was interred in Petersfield, Hampshire, England. His wife died of cancer 2 months later and is interred with her husband of 62 years.

Related Topics:
Liver cancer - August 5 - 2000 - Midhurst - West Sussex - Petersfield, Hampshire - England

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