John Gielgud (1904 - 2000)

Sir John Gielgud (Male)

Nationality: English

Born: 14 April 1904

Died: 21 May 2000

Actor and director. Gielgud worked in theatre and film. Subsequent to his formal training, he worked in repertory theatre and in the West End before establishing himself at the Old Vic as an exponent of Shakespeare in 1929–31. He was the first classical actor of his generation to discard antique modes of Shakespearean interpretation and performance. His Hamlet, Richard II, Leontes, Angelo, Lear and Prospero were acclaimed as thrilling recoveries and discoveries of roles on which the dreariness of convention had long since settled in handfuls of star-dust. In youth and middle age alike, Gielgud was a modern pioneer working to fulfil the actor's dream of working in a permanent ensemble, performing plays of high quality where profit was neither motive nor stimulus. So the famous companies of first-class actors, designers and directors that Sir John formed and acted with in his historic seasons in the 1930s, 1940s and 1950s became inspirational blue prints for ensembles like the Royal Shakespeare and National Theatre companies years later. From here Gielgud went on to become a prominent figure on the landscape of contemporary theatre and film.