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Sir Alec Guinness, KBE, CH (April 2, 1914 – August 5, 2000) was an Oscar
winning English actor who became one of the most versatile and best-loved
performers of his generation.
He was born in London, England, allegedly as Alec Guinness de Cuffe,
although what is written on his birth certificate, which reportedly lacked a
father's name, is not known. His mother's maiden name was "Agnes Cuffe". She
would later marry Alec's stepfather, a mentally ill soldier from the Anglo-Irish
War who was suffering from what would today be known as Post-traumatic
stress disorder. It is rumoured that Guinness' birth father was a wealthy
businessman whom he once met.
Guinness first worked writing copy for advertising before making his debut
at the Old Vic Theatre in 1936 at the age of 22.
He married the artist, playwright, and actress Merula Salaman, a British Jew,
in 1938, and they had a son, Matthew Guinness, an actor born in 1940.
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Alec Guinness served in the Royal Navy throughout World War II, serving
first as a seaman in 1941 and being commissioned the following year. While
in the military Guinness for awhile planned on becoming an Anglican priest.
He commanded a landing craft taking part in the invasion of Sicily and Elba
and later ferried supplies to the Yugoslav partisans. During the War he
appeared in Terence Rattigan's West End Play for Bomber Command, Flare Path.
He returned to the Old Vic in 1946.
He was initially mainly associated with the Ealing comedies, and
particularly for playing eight different characters in Kind Hearts and
Coronets. Other films from this period included The Lavender Hill Mob, The
Ladykillers, and The Man in the White Suit. In 1952, director Ronald Neame
cast Guinness in his first romantic lead role, opposite Petula Clark in The
Card.
Invited by his friend Tyrone Guthrie to join in the premier season of the
Stratford Festival of Canada, Guinness lived for a brief time in Stratford,
Ontario. On July 13, 1953, Guinness spoke the first lines of the first play
produced by the festival (Shakespeare's Richard III): "Now is the winter of
our discontent/Made glorious summer by this sun of York."
In 1954, during the shooting of the film Father Brown, he and his wife
converted to Roman Catholicism and became devout regular church-goers for
the rest of their lives. It is not clear if their minor-aged son, Matthew
(14), was also converted at the same time.
Guinness was also a talented dramatic and character actor. His memorable
film appearances included Great Expectations, Oliver Twist, Lawrence of
Arabia, The Bridge on the River Kwai, Tunes of Glory, and the title role in
Hitler: The Last Ten Days. From the 1970s, Guinness made regular television
appearances, including the part of George Smiley in the serialisations of
two novels by John le Carré: Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy and Smiley's
People. One of his last appearances was in the acclaimed BBC drama Eskimo
Day.
His role as Obi-Wan Kenobi in the immensely successful original Star Wars
trilogy brought him worldwide recognition to a new generation. Guinness
agreed to do the part on the condition that he would not have to do
publicity to promote the film. He was also one of the few cast members who
believed that the film would be a box office hit and negotiated a percentage
deal that made him very wealthy in later life. However, he was never happy
with being identified with the part.
Awards and Honours
He won the Academy Award as Best Actor in 1957 for his role in Bridge on the
River Kwai. He was nominated again in 1958 for his screenplay adapted from
Joyce Cary's novel The Horse's Mouth. He also received an Academy Honorary
Award for lifetime achievements in 1980.
He was appointed CBE in 1955, and was knighted in 1959. He became a
Companion of Honour in 1994 at the age of 80.
He also has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 1559 Vine Street.
Guinness wrote three volumes of bestselling autobiography, beginning with
Blessings in Disguise in 1985, followed by My Name Escapes Me in 1996, and A
Positively Final Appearance in 1999.
Guinness died on August 5, 2000 at the age of 86, at Midhurst in West Sussex,
and was interred in Petersfield, Hampshire, England. His widow died of
cancer two months later and is interred with her husband of 62 years. |
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ALEC GUINNESS PICTURES |
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