Who Is Albert Finney? Age, Biography, and Wiki
Albert Finney was born on May 9, 1936, in Salford, Lancashire, England. He was an influential English actor renowned for his dynamic performances across film, television, and stage. Finney gravitated towards acting early on, attending the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA). Over his illustrious career, which spanned several decades, he garnered critical acclaim and numerous awards, including BAFTA Awards, Golden Globe Awards, and an Academy Award nomination. Finney became celebrated for roles in classics like "Tom Jones," "Murder on the Orient Express," and "The Dresser." He passed away on February 7, 2019, yet his legacy continues to resonate in the world of performing arts.
| Occupation | Voice Actors |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | May 9, 1936 |
| Age | 82 Years |
| Birth Place | Salford, Lancashire, England |
| Horoscope | Taurus |
| Country | England |
| Date of death | 7 February, 2019 |
| Died Place | Chelsea, London, England |
Popularity
Albert Finney's Popularity over time
Height, Weight & Measurements
- Height: 5 feet 9 inches (175 cm)
- Weight: Approx. 170 lbs (77 kg)
- Body Stats: Known for his robust frame, Finney's body stats reflected his strong presence on-screen, with a charismatic yet commanding stature that suited a variety of roles throughout his career.
In May 2011, Finney disclosed that he had been receiving treatment for kidney cancer. According to a 2012 interview, he had been diagnosed with the disease five years earlier and had surgery, followed by six rounds of chemotherapy. Finney died of a chest infection at the Royal Marsden Hospital on 7 February 2019; he was 82.
Family, Dating & Relationship Status
Albert Finney's personal life was as captivating as his professional career. He was married three times—first to actress Jane Wenham, then to the French actress and screenwriter, Marie-Louise. His final marriage was to Pene Delmage in 2006, who remained by his side until his death. Finney did not have any children, leading to speculation about his relationships, both on and off the screen. His profound romantic experiences were often hinted at in interviews, though he preferred to keep his private life away from the media spotlight.
At Birmingham he played the title role of Henry V, and in 1958, made his London stage debut in Jane Arden's The Party, directed by Charles Laughton, who featured in the production along with his wife, Elsa Lanchester. In 1959, Finney appeared at Stratford in the title role of Coriolanus, replacing an ill Laurence Olivier.
Finney guest featured for several episodes of Emergency-Ward 10 and was Lysander in a TV version of A Midsummer Night's Dream (1959) directed by Peter Hall.
Net Worth and Salary
At the time of his passing, Albert Finney's net worth was estimated to be around $10 million. His wealth stemmed from a long and fruitful career in acting, directing, and producing. Finney's earnings throughout his career were bolstered by lucrative film roles, stage performances, and endorsements. He was known for his refusal to engage with Hollywood’s celebrity culture, instead focusing on his craft, which effectively sustained his reputation and financial success.
Finney starred in the Academy Award-winning 1963 film Tom Jones, directed by Richardson and written by Osborne. Due to the success of Tom Jones, British exhibitors voted Finney the ninth most popular film actor in 1963. Finney received 10% of the film's earnings, which made him over $1 million.
Finney followed this with a small part in ensemble war film The Victors (1963), which was a box-office failure. He then made his Broadway debut in Luther in 1963. When that run ended he decided to take a year off and sail around the world. "People told me to cash in on my success while I was hot," he later said.
"I'd been acting for about eight years and had only had one vacation ...
Captain Cook had been a hero of mine when I was a kid, and I thought it would be exciting to go to some of the places in the Pacific where he'd been." The success of Tom Jones enabled Finney to produce his next film, Night Must Fall, in 1964, which he also featured in and which was directed by Reisz.
A remake of the classic 1937 film of the same title, the film was a failure and Finney's performance received poor reviews.
Career, Business, and Investments
Albert Finney's career was marked by versatility and depth. Starting in theater, he made his film debut in 1960 and quickly rose to prominence with his role in "Saturday Night and Sunday Morning." Finney was involved in various high-profile projects, showcasing a range of characters from charming leads to complex antiheroes. Alongside acting, he ventured into directing and produced several films. Finney's business savvy allowed him to invest in arts-related initiatives, ensuring the enrichment of drama and film education for future generations.
Albert Finney (9 May 1936 – 7 February 2019) was an English actor. He attended the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art and worked in the theatre before attaining fame for movie acting during the early 1960s, debuting with The Entertainer (1960), directed by Tony Richardson, who had previously directed him in theatre. He maintained a successful career in theatre, film and television.
Social Network
Although Albert Finney was known for his iconic roles, he notably steered clear from the limelight on social media platforms and traditional celebrity culture. While his legacy continues to inspire many on social media through fan accounts and memorial pages, he maintained a level of privacy that distinguished him from many contemporaries.
Finney had not played a major role in a feature film in six years, and started to think about resuming work with cinema. The last two successful films he had made were Scrooge and Orient Express in which he was heavily disguised.
"Most Americans probably think I weigh 300 pounds, have black hair and talk with a French accent like Hercule Poirot," said Finney. "So I thought they should have a look at me while I was still almost a juvenile and kind of cute." Finney decided to make six movies in succession "so that I could relax and get back into it again.
In order to feel really assured and comfortable in front of a camera, you've got to do it for a while." The first three were thrillers: Loophole (1981), with Susannah York; Wolfen (1981), directed by Michael Wadleigh; and Looker (1981), written and directed by Michael Crichton.
He received excellent reviews for his performance in the drama Shoot the Moon (1982). Finney said the role "required personal acting; I had to dig into myself. When you have to expose yourself and use your own vulnerability, you can get a little near the edge."
Education
Albert Finney's educational journey began at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA), where he honed his craft and developed his unique style as a performer. He was known for his dedication to method acting and his ability to fully immerse himself in his roles, traits that served him well as he evolved into one of the most respected actors of his time.
Finney's first film appearance was in Tony Richardson's The Entertainer (1960), with Laurence Olivier. Finney and Alan Bates played Olivier's sons.
He made his film breakthrough in the same year with his portrayal of a disillusioned factory worker in Karel Reisz's film version of Alan Sillitoe's Saturday Night and Sunday Morning (1960), produced by Richardson. The film was a success, being the third most popular movie in Britain that year. It earned more than half a million pounds of profit.
Finney then did Billy Liar (1960) on stage and for British television. Finney had been chosen to play T. E. Lawrence in David Lean's production of Lawrence of Arabia after a successful and elaborate screen-test that took four days to shoot.
However, Finney baulked at signing a multi-year contract for producer Sam Spiegel and chose to decline the role.
