Charles Laughton | |
|---|---|
 Promotional portrait for The Barretts of Wimpole Street (1934) | |
| Born | 1 July 1899 Scarborough, North Riding of Yorkshire, England |
| Died | 15 December 1962 (aged 63) Hollywood, California, US |
| Resting place | Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Hollywood Hills |
| Citizenship |
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| Alma mater | Royal Academy of Dramatic Art |
| Occupations |
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| Years active | 1926–1962 |
| Works | Filmography |
| Spouse | |
Charles Laughton (/ˈlɔːtən/;[1] 1 July 1899 – 15 December 1962) was a British and American actor. He was trained in London at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art and first appeared professionally on the stage in 1926. In 1927, he was cast in a play with his future wife Elsa Lanchester, with whom he lived and worked until his death.
Laughton played a wide range of classical and modern roles, making an impact in Shakespeare at the Old Vic. His film career took him to Broadway and then Hollywood, but he also collaborated with Alexander Korda on notable British films of the era, including The Private Life of Henry VIII, for which he won the Academy Award for Best Actor for his portrayal of the title character. He received two further nominations for his roles in Mutiny on the Bounty and Witness for the Prosecution, and reprised the role of Henry VIII in Young Bess. He portrayed everything from monsters and misfits to kings.[2] Among Laughton's biggest film hits were The Barretts of Wimpole Street, Ruggles of Red Gap, Jamaica Inn, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, The Big Clock, and Spartacus. Daniel Day-Lewis cited Laughton as one of his inspirations, saying: "He was probably the greatest film actor who came from that period of time. He had something quite remarkable. His generosity as an actor; he fed himself into that work. As an actor, you cannot take your eyes off him."[3]
In his later career, Laughton took up stage directing, notably in The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial, and George Bernard Shaw's Don Juan in Hell, in which he also starred. He directed one film, the thriller The Night of the Hunter, which after an initially disappointing reception is acclaimed today as a film classic.
- ^ Pointon, Graham, ed. (1990). BBC Pronouncing Dictionary of British Names (2nd ed.). Oxford: The University Press. p. 140. ISBN 0-19-282745-6.
- ^ "Charles Laughton: dazzling player of monsters, misfits and kings". 24 November 2012. Archived from the original on 25 November 2012.
- ^ "Daniel Day-Lewis – 'Movies 101' Part 4". 8 May 2008. Archived from the original on 11 December 2021. Retrieved 31 August 2019 – via YouTube.