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Alec Guinness - Known For His Six Collaborations With David Lean

The actor Alec Guinness was from England. He is most known for being one of the three performers who, after "World War II," made the move from Shakespearean theater to Hollywood blockbusters. Early in his youth, Guinness discovered his affinity for performing.

Author:Cecilia JonesJan 23, 202318 Shares1075 Views
The actor Alec Guinnesswas from England. He is most known for being one of the three performers who, after "World War II," made the move from Shakespearean theater to Hollywoodblockbusters. Early in his youth, Guinness discovered his affinity for performing.

Quick Facts About Alec Guinness

Name Alec Guinness
GenderMale
Date of BirthApr 2, 1914
Profession:Actor
NationalityUnited Kingdom
Place of BirthMaida Vale
Height5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Net Worth$100 Million

Early Life Alec Guinness

On April 2, 1914, Alec Guinness was born in Paddington, London, England. He began by writing advertisement text. On the day of his 20th birthday, while still a student at the Fay Compton Studio of Dramatic Art, he landed his first acting role in the play "Libel," which had its world premiere at Hammersmith's Old King's Theater before moving to the West End's Playhouse.
Guinness went from a walk-on to an understudy with two lines very rapidly. At the age of 22, he played the part of Osric in a well-received performance of "Hamlet" at the Albery Theater. Subsequently, he joined the Old Vic, where he was given several iconic parts and collaborated with many players who would go on to become his friends and fellow actors in later productions.
Alec performed various Shakespearean parts in the late 1930s. He had great success turning Charles Dickens' "Great Expectation" into a theater production in 1939. Guinness served in the Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve during World War II. He enlisted in the service as a sailor in 1941 and was commissioned as a temporary lieutenant in 1942.
The following year, he was promoted to temporary lieutenant. He had a temporary leave of absence from the Royal Navy during the Second World War so that he could take part in the Broadway production of "Flare Path."
Alec Guinness From Star Wars
Alec Guinness From Star Wars

Alec Guinness’ Career

In 1946, he made his debut on the big screen in the David Lean movie "Great Expectations," playing the part of "Herbert Pocket." He made his big-screen debut in 1948 as "Fagin" in David Lean's "Oliver Twist." The next year, Guinness won praise for his eight distinct performances in the movie "Kind Hearts and Coronets."
Guinness appeared in several "Ealing comedies" at the beginning of his cinematic career, including "The Mudlark," "The Lavender Hill Mob," "The Ladykillers," "The Swan," and "The Man in the White Suit."
Guinness and Lean worked together once again on the 1957 movie "The Bridge on the River Kwai," in which Guinness portrayed Colonel Nicholson, the commanding commander of a British POW. His first "Academy" and "Golden Globe" awards came from the movie. He was nominated for an "Academy Award" the following year for his work as a screenwriter on the satirical movie "The Horse's Mouth."
Guinness worked with Lean on several movieswhere he portrayed supporting characters, including the Bolshevik commander Yevgraf in "Doctor Zhivago," the Arab leader Prince Feisal in "Lawrence of Arabia," and Professor Godbole in "A Passage to India." His standing in the field was solidified by these responsibilities.
Guinness continued to succeed in the 1970s after experiencing success in the 1960s. He acted in several well-known movies, such as "Cromwell," "Scrooge," "Hitler: The Last Ten Days," "Caesar and Cleopatra," and others.
Even though Guinness had previously established himself, he didn't achieve global recognition until he was cast as "Obi-Wan Kenobi" in the original "Star Wars" trilogy in 1977. He gained worldwide notoriety and success as a result of the movie.
Guinness reprised his part as "Obi-Wan Kenobi" in the sequels "The Empire Strikes Back" and "Return of the Jedi" due to the popularity of the original movie. Even though it may sound strange to say, Guinness did not like making the "Star Wars" trilogy. He even insisted on murdering his character to end his role in the film series.
Guinness had a successful film career, but he also often appeared on television in the 1970s. In the television miniseries Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy and Smiley's People, he played the master spy George Smiley. He acted as "William Dorrit" in the 1987 movie "Little Dorrit."
His performance received a lot of praise and earned him nominations for best supporting actor. He had his last onstage appearance in 1989 at the Comedy Theatre in the play "A Walk in the Woods." This was his 77th onstage appearance as a theater performer. In 1996, he played the title character in the television film "Eskimo Day."

Personal Life Of Alec Guinness

Alec and Merula Silvia Salaman were married from 1938 until he died in 2000. Matthew Guinness, one of their children, went on to become an actress. Guinness passed away in West Sussex on August 5, 2000.
His wife also had liver cancer, and he had been given the diagnosis with liver cancer two days before his death. He had received the prostate cancer diagnosis six months earlier. She died after two months.

Some Interesting Facts About Alec Guinness

  • He became a Roman Catholic.
  • He was knighted by Elizabeth II in 1959 for his contributions to the arts.
  • In 1959, he was awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
  • His portrayal of Obi-Wan Kenobi in George Lucas' original "Star Wars" trilogy is perhaps his most well-known role.
  • Aries is his astrological sign.

The Net Worth Of Alec Guinness

Alec Guinness, an English actor, was thought to be worth $100 million. Although he started his career in theater, he eventually made appearances in several movies. He made a lot of money playing Obi-Wan Kenobi in George Lucas' original "Star Wars" trilogy, which is possibly his most well-known role.

People Also Ask

What Caused Alec Guinness's Death?

Liver cancer was the cause of Alec Guinness' death.

What Was Alec Guinness's Estimated Death Value?

At the time of his death, Alec Guinness had a net worth of $100 million.

What Is The Birth Date Of Alec Guinness?

On April 2, 1914, Alec Guinness was born.

Conclusion

Even though Alec Guinness had proven himself as a bankable performer. He became well-known thanks to the events of George Lucas' "Star Wars" trilogy, which also propelled him to prominence all over the world. We will always love and respect him because of how much he did for the film business.
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Cecilia Jones

Cecilia Jones

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Cecilia Jones loves to write about movies, music, and the most popular and exciting news.
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