Role

:

Performer

Country

:

United Kingdom

Birth

:

April 14, 1904 in London, England

Death

:

May 21, 2000 in Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, England

Genre

:

Choral

 

 

Film

 

 

Keyboard

 

 

Orchestral

 

 

Orchestral

 

John Gielgud was a renowned British actor and director, widely regarded as one of the greatest Shakespearean actors of the 20th century. Born on April 14, 1904, in South Kensington, London, Gielgud was the youngest of three children of Frank Gielgud, a well-known theatre director, and Kate Terry-Lewis, a prominent actress. Gielgud's early years were spent in the theatre, where he was exposed to the world of acting and directing from a young age. He attended the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) in London, where he honed his skills as an actor and director. He made his stage debut in 1921, playing a small role in a production of The Importance of Being Earnest. Gielgud's breakthrough performance came in 1929, when he played the lead role of Hamlet in a production at the Old Vic Theatre in London. The performance was widely acclaimed, and Gielgud was hailed as a new star of the British theatre. He went on to play a number of other Shakespearean roles, including Romeo, Macbeth, and King Lear, cementing his reputation as one of the greatest Shakespearean actors of his time. In addition to his work in the theatre, Gielgud also appeared in a number of films and television shows. He made his film debut in 1932, playing the role of Richard II in a film adaptation of Shakespeare's play. He went on to appear in a number of other films, including The Charge of the Light Brigade (1936), Julius Caesar (1953), and Becket (1964). Gielgud's work in the theatre and film earned him numerous awards and accolades throughout his career. He was awarded the Order of Merit in 1953, and was knighted in 1953. He also won a number of Tony Awards for his work on Broadway, including Best Actor in a Play for his performance in Big Fish, Little Fish in 1961. Despite his success, Gielgud was not without controversy. In 1953, he was arrested for soliciting sex from a male prostitute in a public restroom in London. The incident caused a scandal, and Gielgud's career suffered as a result. However, he was eventually able to overcome the scandal and continue his work in the theatre and film. Gielgud continued to work in the theatre and film until his death in 2000. He was widely regarded as one of the greatest actors of his time, and his legacy continues to inspire actors and directors around the world.

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