Alec Guinness Biography (1914-2000)



Born Alec Guinness de Cuffe, on April 2, 1914, in London, England; son of Andrew (a banker) and Agnes (Cuffe) Guinness; married Merula Salaman (an actress), June 20, 1938; children: Matthew (an actor). Career: Actor, director, and writer. Advertising copywriter, Arks Publicity, 1933-34. Military service: Royal Navy, lieutenant commander, 1941-45. Member: BritishActors' Equity Association, Screen Actors Guild, Atheneum (London), GarrickClub. Awards, Honors: National Board of Review Award, best actor, 1950, for Kind Hearts and Coronets; Academy Award nomination, best actor,1952, for The Lavender Hill Mob; Decorated Commander, Order of the British Empire, 1955; BAFTA Film Award nomination, British Academy Awards, bestBritish actor, 1956, for The Prisoner; Academy Award, best actor, NewYork Film Critics' Award, best actor, and National Board of Review Award, best actor, BAFTA Award, best British film actor, all 1957, and Golden Globe Award, best actor, 1958, for The Bridge on the River Kwai; Volpi Cup, Venice Film Festival, best actor, and Academy Award nomination, best adaptation,both 1958, BAFTA Film Award nomination, best British screenplay, 1960, for The Horse's Mouth; London Evening Standard Award, 1960, for Ross; created Knight Bachelor, 1959; BAFTA Film Award nomination, best British actor, 1961, for Tunes of Glory; Antoinette Perry Award, best dramatic actor, Delia Austrian Medal for Distinguished Performance, Drama Leagueof New York, Page One Award, Newspaper Guild of New York, and Variety--New York Drama Critics' Poll Award, best performance by a male lead in a straight play, all 1964, for Dylan; Academy Award nomination, best supporting actor, 1977, and Golden Globe Award nomination, best supporting actor,1978, for Star Wars; BAFTA Award, best television actor, 1979, for Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy; Special Academy Award for Contributions toFilm, 1979; Honorary Award, Academy Awards, 1980, for advancing the art of screen acting through a host of memorable and distinguished performances; BAFTAAward, best television actor, 1982, for Smiley's People; ShakespearePrize, 1985; Ehron Baer Award for Lifetime Achievement, Berlin Film Festival,1988; Fellowship Award, British Academy of Film and Television Arts, 1988; Academy Award nomination, best supporting actor, Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award, best supporting actor, both 1988, Golden Globe Award nomination, best supporting actor, 1989, for Little Dorrit; Olivier Award nomination, 1989, for A Walk in the Woods; named Companion of Honor, 1994;Life Achievement Award, European Film Awards, 1996. Honorary degrees: Doctorate of Fine Arts, Boston College, 1962; Doctorate of Literature, Oxford University, 1978; Doctorate of Literature, Cambridge University, 1991. Addresses: Agent: London Management, 235-241 Regent St., London W1A 2JT, England.

Nationality
English
Gender
Male
Occupation
Actor, director, writer
Birth Details
April 2, 1914
London, England
Death Details
August 5, 2000
Midhurst, England

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