Tom Courtenay

Tom Courtenay (pronounced "Courtney") (born February 25, 1937) is a British actor who came to prominence in the early 1960s with a succession of critically-acclaimed films including The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner (1962), Billy Liar (1963) and Dr. Zhivago (1965). (In the latter two, he appeared alongside Julie Christie).

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

He was born Thomas Daniel Courtenay in Hull, England, and made his stage d?but in 1960 with the Old Vic company. His Hamlet at the Edinburgh Festival of 1968 marked him out as one of Britain's leading stage actors as well as a film actor. He showed his comic talent again by creating the role of Norman in Alan Ayckbourn's trilogy, The Norman Conquests. He was briefly married to the actress, Cheryl Kennedy. His television appearances have been relatively few, but have included She Stoops to Conquer on BBC and several Ayckbourn plays. He appeared in "I Heard the Owl Call My Name" on US television in 1973.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

His best known film role after the 1960s is probably in The Dresser, (from Ronald Harwood's play of the same name, in which he also appeared), with Albert Finney. For reasons which remain obscure at this late date, he was cast as Bill Cosby's loyal valet in the notorious 1987 flop Leonard Part 6. In 2003 he appeared on the West End stage again in the one-man show Pretending To Be Me, as Philip Larkin.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Sir Thomas Courtenay was knighted in 2001. He is the subject of the song 'Tom Courtenay' by Yo La Tengo.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

February 25: February 25 is the 56th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. There are 309 days remaining, 310 in leap years....

1937: 1937 was a common year starting on Friday (link will take you to calendar)....

British: The word British has several different uses. See the article on Britain for more details on the development and use of the word Britain....

Tom Courtenay related Images and Photos (experimental)

Tom Courtenay	Tom Horn	Tom Horn (DVD)	Tom, Dick & Harry
Tom Jones	Tom Adams	Tom Wopat	Tom Tully
Tom Waits	Tom Wopat	Tom Thumb	Tom Brady