Laurence Olivier was an English actor.
Biography
Born in Dorking, Surrey, Olivier came from a family with no theatrical connections, but impressed in several school productions, notably being called "already a great actor" by Ellen Terry after a performance of Julius Caesar. He studied at the Central School of Speech Training and Dramatic Arts and later joined the Birmingham Repertory Theatre Company, gaining his first major success with Noël Coward's Private Lives.
Despite an intial rivalry with John Gielgud, Olivier gained great success in Coriolanus and Henry V, as well as making initial ventures into films, gaining an Academy Award nomination for his performance in Wuthering Heights. As well as sn actor he was also a successful director, and his Hamlet was the first non American film to win the Academy Award for Best Picture.
As he grew older and ceased to play romantic leads, Olivier made his last Shakespearian stage appearance in 1968, playing Shylock in The Merchant of Venice. He gained another Academy Award nomination for Sleuth in 1972 (along with his sole co-star in the film, Michael Caine), Marathon Man and The Boys From Brazil.
In 1983 he played his last Shakespearian role, a critically acclaimed King Lear. Olivier ultimately died of renal failure in 1989.
Singing
Olivier's first singing role came in Fire Over England, where he sings the song "The Spanish Lady's Love" as a duet, and later reprises it solo. He also appeared in the film version of The Beggar's Opera as Captain MacHeath, and in 1960 sang several pieces in character as Archie Rice, a fading music hall entertainer in the play and film The Entertainer.
Film
Fire Over England (1937)
- The Spanish Lady's Love(duet)
- The Spanish Lady's Love (reprise)(solo)
49th Parallel (1941)
- Alouette (solo)
The Beggar's Opera (1953)
- At the Tree I Shall Suffer (solo)
- How Could I Be Happy With Either? (solo)
- The Charge is Prepared (solo)
The Entertainer (1960)
- Why Should I Care? (solo)
- Hide Your Face Mum (contains solo lines)
- Thank God I'm Normal (solo)
- I Don't Care Where They Bury My Body (solo)
- Why Should I Care? (reprise)(solo)
Stage
The Entertainer (1957)(originated the role)
- Why Should I Care? (solo)
- Hide Your Face Mum
- Thank God I'm Normal (solo)
- The Absent-Minded Beggar
- I Don't Care Where They Bury My Body (solo)
- Why Should I Care? (reprise)(solo)
