Charles Laughton
English actor and director, winner of the Academy Award for Best Actor.
Wikipedia / Wikimedia Commons
Charles Laughton (1 July 1899 – 15 December 1962) was an English actor and director. Over his career he received an Academy Award and a Grammy Award as well as nominations for two BAFTAs and a Golden Globe. He earned a motion picture star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1960.
- born
- 1 July 1899, Scarborough, North Riding of Yorkshire, England
- died
- 15 December 1962
- field
- Actor, director
- nationality
- English
- known_for
- Academy Award for Best Actor for The Private Life of Henry VIII (1933); directing The Night of the Hunter (1955)
Lore & Background
Born in the North Riding of Yorkshire, Laughton was trained in London at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art and first appeared professionally on the stage in 1926. He played a wide range of classical and modern roles both on West End and Off West End, making an impact in Shakespeare at the Old Vic. His acting career took him to Broadway and then Hollywood, where he portrayed everything from monsters and misfits to kings. He earned the Academy Award for Best Actor for his portrayal of the title character in the historical drama The Private Life of Henry VIII (1933). Laughton was further Oscar-nominated for his roles as Captain William Bligh in the action adventure Mutiny on the Bounty (1935) and an irascible barrister in the courtroom drama Witness for the Prosecution (1957). Among his biggest film hits were The Barretts of Wimpole Street (1934), Ruggles of Red Gap (1935), Rembrandt (1936), Jamaica Inn (1939), The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1939), The Big Clock (1948), Young Bess (1953), Hobson's Choice (1954) and Spartacus (1960). His final film role was in Advise & Consent (1962). He directed one film, the acclaimed thriller The Night of the Hunter (1955). In his later career, Laughton took up stage directing, notably in the dramas The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial, and Don Juan in Hell, in which he also starred.
Reader's Guide
In 1936, he went to Paris and on 9 May appeared at the Comédie-Française as Sganarelle in the second act of Molière's Le Médecin malgré lui, the first English actor to appear at that theatre, where he performed the role in French and received an ovation.
Did You Know?
- Laughton served in World War I, during which he was gassed.
- He was trained at RADA, where actor Claude Rains was one of his teachers.
- He made his first professional appearance on 28 April 1926 at the Barnes Theatre.
- He won the Academy Award for Best Actor for The Private Life of Henry VIII (1933).
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Charles Laughton?
Charles Laughton (1899–1962) was an English actor and director born in Scarborough, Yorkshire, who became one of Hollywood's most celebrated leading men before his death in 1962.
What is Charles Laughton's most famous role?
He is best remembered for his Academy Award–winning performance as Henry VIII in The Private Life of Henry VIII (1933), a role that cemented his status as a major screen star.
What film did Charles Laughton direct?
Laughton directed The Night of the Hunter (1955), a gothic thriller that has since been widely regarded as a landmark of American cinema.
What major awards and honors did Charles Laughton receive?
He won an Academy Award and a Grammy, earned nominations for two BAFTAs and a Golden Globe, and was given a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1960.
What kind of roles was Charles Laughton known for?
Fans and critics alike praised his extraordinary range, noting that he moved seamlessly between terrifying monsters, eccentric misfits, and commanding royal figures throughout his career.
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