Charles Laughton (1 July 1899 â€" 15 December 1962) was an English
stage and film actor. Laughton 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.He played a
wide range of classical and modern parts, 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 portrayed everything from
monsters and misfits to kings. Among Laughton's biggest film hits were
The Barretts of Wimpole Street, Mutiny on the Bounty, Ruggles of Red
Gap, Jamaica Inn, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, The Big Clock, and
Witness for the Prosecution. 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."In his later career, he 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.
stage and film actor. Laughton 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.He played a
wide range of classical and modern parts, 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 portrayed everything from
monsters and misfits to kings. Among Laughton's biggest film hits were
The Barretts of Wimpole Street, Mutiny on the Bounty, Ruggles of Red
Gap, Jamaica Inn, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, The Big Clock, and
Witness for the Prosecution. 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."In his later career, he 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.
Share this
SUBSCRIBE OUR NEWSLETTER
SUBSCRIBE OUR NEWSLETTER
Join us for free and get valuable content delivered right through your inbox.