Wednesday, January 06, 2016

John Gielgud (1904-2000)

Birth name: Arthur John Gielgud
Birthdate: Thursday, April 14th, 1904
Location: London, UK

Died: Sunday, May 21st, 2000
Location: Aylesbury, UK
Cause of death: Natural causes

Best known for: English actor and theatre director who dominated the British stage, along with Ralph Richardson and Laurence Olivier, throughout the 20th century. He was an inspiration and mentor to many budding actors who have since gone on to be mentors themselves. He was knighted in 1953, and in 1994 the Globe Theatre was renamed the Gielgud Theatre in his honour. He was twice nominated for an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor - for Becket (1964), losing to Peter Ustinov, and winning for Arthur (1981). He was also nominated for three Golden Globes (winning twice, for Arthur and War and Remembrance (1988)), five Emmys (winning one for Summer's Lease (1989)) and eight BAFTAs (winning for Julius Caesar (1953) and Murder on the Orient Express (1974), and being awarded an Academy Fellowship in 1992).