Alec GuinnessSir Alec Guinness, CH, CBE (April 2, 1914 - August 5, 2000) was a British actor who became one of the most versatile and best loved performers of his generation. Born in London, he first worked in advertising before making his debut at the Old Vic in 1936. He married the artist, playwright, and actress Merula Salaman in 1938, and they had a son, Matthew, in 1940. Alec Guinness served in the Royal Navy throughout World War II, serving first as a seaman in 1941 and being commissioned the following year and commanded a landing craft taking part in the invasion of Sicily and Elba and later ferrying 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. He was initially mainly associated with the Ealing comedies, and particularly for playing 12 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. In 1954 during the shooting of the film Father Brown, he converted to Roman Catholicism and became devout, attending church regularly for the rest of his life. 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. 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. His part as Obi-Wan Kenobi in Star Wars brought him worldwide recognition by a new generation (and reputedly lots of money), though he was never happy with being identified with the part. He would throw out any fan mail regarding Star Wars without reading it. 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. Sir Alec Guinness died of liver cancer on August 5, 2000, at Midhurst in West Sussex, and was interred near Petersfield, Hampshire, England. He was appointed CBE in 1955, was knighted in 1959, and became a Companion of Honour in 1994. He has a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 1559 Vine Street. 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. A 2003 biography of Guinness, by the author Piers Paul Read, revealed that the actor was bisexual, who before his marriage had had several homosexual relationships. It also revealed that the actor was arrested in Liverpool in 1948 for cottaging (soliciting for sex in a public toilet). When arrested the actor gave as his name Herbert Pocket, the character he had just played in David Lean's film version of Great Expectations and was prosecuted and fined under that name, but avoided public scandal because the police never realised the true identity of "Pocket" until decades later. NOTE: Other accounts give the date of the Liverpool arrest as 1946. Either date is several years after his 1938 marriage -- http://andrejkoymasky.com/liv/fam/biog2/guin1.html and http://myweb.lsbu.ac.uk/~stafflag/alecguinness.html (The Knitting Circle of South Bank University). The biography also states, on the basis of letters written by his wife, Merula, that Guinness was an emotionally abusive husband who regularly publicly humiliated both his wife and son. Merula planned to write a book about her relationship with Guinness but died before the book was written. Filmography, as actor, includes
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Merula planned to write a book about her relationship with Guinness but died before the book was written. Other past Honorees of this organization have included Jamie Lee Curtis; the 2005 Honoree will be Angela Lansbury. The biography also states, on the basis of letters written by his wife, Merula, that Guinness was an emotionally abusive husband who regularly publicly humiliated both his wife and son. Hopkins was past Gala Fundraiser Guest of Honor for Women in Recovery, Inc., a Venice, California-based non-profit organization offering a live-in, 12-Step program of rehabilitation for women in need. Either date is several years after his 1938 marriage -- http://andrejkoymasky.com/liv/fam/biog2/guin1.html and http://myweb.lsbu.ac.uk/~stafflag/alecguinness.html (The Knitting Circle of South Bank University). Today, Hopkins also takes time to support various philanthropic groups. NOTE: Other accounts give the date of the Liverpool arrest as 1946. He was made a Commander of the British Empire (CBE) in 1987, and knighted in 1993. When arrested the actor gave as his name Herbert Pocket, the character he had just played in David Lean's film version of Great Expectations and was prosecuted and fined under that name, but avoided public scandal because the police never realised the true identity of "Pocket" until decades later. Dickens 1970), William Bligh (The Bounty 1984), Richard Lionheart (The Lion in Winter 1968), and Abraham Van Helsing (Bram Stoker's Dracula 1992). It also revealed that the actor was arrested in Liverpool in 1948 for cottaging (soliciting for sex in a public toilet). He has played many great characters including: Zorro (The Mask of Zorro 1998), Quasimodo (The Hunchback of Notre Dame 1982), Othello (Othello 1981), Pablo Picasso (Surviving Picasso 1996), Richard Nixon (Nixon 1995), Titus Andronicus (Titus 1999), John Quincy Adams (Amistad 1997), Adolf Hitler (The Bunker 1981), Charles Dickens (The Great Inimitable Mr. A 2003 biography of Guinness, by the author Piers Paul Read, revealed that the actor was bisexual, who before his marriage had had several homosexual relationships. Kelno on the witness stand during his trial provided an early sign of Hopkins acting brillance. 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. Overlooked in those days because it was television, his portayal of Dr. He has a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 1559 Vine Street. Adam Kelno in the 1974 TV mini-series QB VII based on the Leon Uris novel of the same name. He was appointed CBE in 1955, was knighted in 1959, and became a Companion of Honour in 1994. Anthony Hopkins showed his brilliance with character behavior as Dr. Sir Alec Guinness died of liver cancer on August 5, 2000, at Midhurst in West Sussex, and was interred near Petersfield, Hampshire, England. Lecter's slurping sound from Silence of the Lambs was apparently improvised. One of his last appearances was in the acclaimed BBC drama Eskimo Day. His most famous role was as the character Hannibal Lecter in the film The Silence of the Lambs for which he also won the Academy Award for Best Actor. He reprised the role twice in Hannibal and Red Dragon. 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. He has a daughter named Abigail Hopkins (born 1968) from his first marriage. He would throw out any fan mail regarding Star Wars without reading it. He's currently married to Stella Arroyave. His part as Obi-Wan Kenobi in Star Wars brought him worldwide recognition by a new generation (and reputedly lots of money), though he was never happy with being identified with the part. His first two wives were Petronella Barker (1967-1972) and Jennifer Lynton (1973-2003). He also received an Academy Honorary Award for lifetime achievements in 1980. He's been married three times. He was nominated again in 1958 for his screenplay adapted from Joyce Cary's novel The Horse's Mouth. However, as a dual national, he retains his knighthood and can use the title 'Sir' in the UK, but not in the US, since it is considered 'inappropriate' according to the British consulate. 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. He now resides in the United States where he became a naturalized citizen on April 12, 2000. Guinness was also a talented dramatic and character actor. He also conquered an alcohol addiction in 1975 and has not touched a drop since, drinking sparkling cider (which in the US refers to carbonated, unfermented apple juice) at his March 2003 wedding. In 1954 during the shooting of the film Father Brown, he converted to Roman Catholicism and became devout, attending church regularly for the rest of his life. He was strongly influenced and encouraged to become an actor by fellow Welshman Richard Burton, whom he met briefly at the age of fifteen. In 1952, director Ronald Neame cast Guinness in his first romantic lead role, opposite Petula Clark in The Card. Sir Anthony Hopkins, CBE (born December 31, 1937) is a British-born American actor who was born Philip Anthony Hopkins in Margam, near Port Talbot, Wales to Richard and Muriel. Other films from this period included The Lavender Hill Mob, The Ladykillers, and The Man in the White Suit. He was initially mainly associated with the Ealing comedies, and particularly for playing 12 different characters in Kind Hearts and Coronets. He returned to the Old Vic in 1946. During the War he appeared in Terence Rattigan's West End Play for Bomber Command, Flare Path. Alec Guinness served in the Royal Navy throughout World War II, serving first as a seaman in 1941 and being commissioned the following year and commanded a landing craft taking part in the invasion of Sicily and Elba and later ferrying supplies to the Yugoslav partisans. He married the artist, playwright, and actress Merula Salaman in 1938, and they had a son, Matthew, in 1940. Born in London, he first worked in advertising before making his debut at the Old Vic in 1936. Sir Alec Guinness, CH, CBE (April 2, 1914 - August 5, 2000) was a British actor who became one of the most versatile and best loved performers of his generation. Great Expectations (1946). Oliver Twist (1948). Kind Hearts and Coronets (1949). A Run for Your Money (1949). Last Holiday (1950). The Mudlark (1950). The Lavender Hill Mob (1951). The Man in the White Suit (1951). The Card (1952). The Captain's Paradise (1953). The Square Mile (1953) (voice). The Malta Story (1953). Father Brown (1954). The Stratford Adventure (1954). To Paris with Love (1955). The Prisoner (1955). The Ladykillers (1955). Rowlandson's England (1955). The Swan (1956). The Bridge on the River Kwai(1957). Barnacle Bill (1957). The Horse's Mouth (1958). The Scapegoat (1959). Our Man in Havana (1959). Tunes of Glory (1960). A Majority of One (1961). Defiant (1962). H.M.S. Lawrence of Arabia (1962). The Fall of the Roman Empire (1964). Doctor Zhivago (1965). But Not Serious (1965). Situation Hopeless.. Hotel Paradiso (1966). The Quiller Memorandum (1966). The Comedians (1967). Cromwell (1970). Scrooge (1970). Fratello sole, sorella luna (1972). Hitler: The Last Ten Days (1973). Murder by Death (1976). Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope (1977). Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back (1980). Raise the Titanic (1980). Lovesick (1983). Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi (1983). A Passage to India (1984). A Handful of Dust (1988). Little Dorrit (1988). Kafka (1991). A Foreign Field (1993). Mute Witness (1994). |