Who Is Alec Guinness? Age, Biography, and Wiki
Alec Guinness was born on April 2, 1914, in Paddington, London, England, and passed away on August 5, 2000, at the age of 86. An iconic figure in film and theater, he is best known for his roles in classic films such as The Bridge on the River Kwai, Lawrence of Arabia, and Star Wars. With a career spanning over six decades, Guinness garnered a reputation as one of the finest actors of his generation.
| Occupation | Stage Actor |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | April 2, 1914 |
| Age | 86 Years |
| Birth Place | Maida Vale, London, England |
| Horoscope | Aries |
| Country | England |
| Date of death | 5 August, 2000 |
| Died Place | Midhurst, West Sussex, England |
Popularity
Alec Guinness's Popularity over time
Height, Weight & Measurements
Alec Guinness stood at approximately 5 feet 10 inches (178 cm) tall. Throughout his career, he maintained a healthy weight, estimated at around 160 lbs (73 kg). His body statistics, as far as reported during his time, highlighted a trim and agile physique, perfectly suited for the various character roles he embodied.
Family, Dating & Relationship Status
Alec Guinness was married to actress Merula Salaman in 1938 and remained with her until his death in 2000. The couple had one son named Matthew. Guinness was known for his devotion to his family and maintained a relatively private personal life, focusing on his craft rather than public relationships. As such, there are no widely recognized boyfriends or girlfriends post his marriage.
His mother's maiden name was Agnes Cuff, born on 8 December 1890 to Edward Charles Cuff, a sometime lifeguard at Bournemouth who had served in the Royal Navy, and Mary Ann, née Benfield, of a family of stonemasons and publicans.
On Guinness's birth certificate, his mother's name is given as Agnes de Cuffe; the infant's name (where first names only are placed) is given as Alec Guinness, and there are no details for the father.
Net Worth and Salary
At the time of his passing in 2000, Alec Guinness's net worth was estimated to be around $100 million. His income was substantially derived from his successful film career, stage performances, and royalties from films where he played pivotal roles. His salary varied depending on the projects he engaged in, but Guinness was, without a doubt, one of the highest-paid actors of his era.
Guinness first worked writing advertising copy.
His first job in the theatre was on his 20th birthday (2 April 1934), while he was a student at the Fay Compton Studio of Dramatic Art, in the play Libel, which opened at the old King's Theatre, Hammersmith, and then transferred to the West End's Playhouse, where his status was raised from a walk-on to understudying two lines, and his salary increa
sed to £1 a week.
He appeared at the New Theatre in 1936 at the age of 22, playing the role of Osric in John Gielgud's successful production of Hamlet. Also in 1936, Guinness signed on with the Old Vic, where he was cast in a series of classic roles. In the later 1930s, he took classes at the London Theatre Studio.
In 1939, he took over for Michael Redgrave as Charleston in a road-show production of Robert Ardrey's Thunder Rock. At the Old Vic, Guinness worked with many actors and actresses who became his friends and frequent co-stars in the future, including Gielgud, Ralph Richardson, Peggy Ashcroft, Anthony Quayle, and Jack Hawkins.
An early influence was film star Stan Laurel, whom Guinness admired.
Career, Business and Investments
Alec Guinness’s career trajectory includes numerous accolades, from Academy Awards to BAFTA nominations. He not only starred in films but also appeared on stage, showcasing his versatility and range as an actor. Beyond acting, Guinness was an avid writer, publishing autobiographies and plays. In terms of business and investments, he was known to have invested in real estate, which contributed to his substantial net worth.
Guinness began his stage career in 1934. Two years later, at the age of 22, he played the role of Osric in Hamlet in the West End and joined the Old Vic. He continued to play Shakespearean roles throughout his career.
He served in the Royal Naval Reserve during the Second World War and commanded a landing craft during the invasion of Sicily and Elba.
Along with Laurence Olivier, John Gielgud and Ralph Richardson, he was one of the great British theatre actors who made the transition to films after the war, making his name in six Ealing comedies, starting in 1949 with both A Run for Your Money and Kind Hearts and Coronets (in which he played eight different characters).
He went on to lead roles in 1951 with The Man in the White Suit and The Lavender Hill Mob (for which he received his first Academy Award nomination), then in 1955 with The Ladykillers, and culminating in 1957 with Barnacle Bill.
Social Network
While Alec Guinness was a celebrated figure, he was not significantly active in the social media realm, as platforms like Twitter and Instagram gained prominence long after his death. Fans and admirers continue to share his legacy and influence in numerous online forums and social networks, celebrating his timeless contributions to cinema.
Guinness told a story in a media interview and wrote in his memoir that he met James Dean and predicted Dean's death one week before he was killed in a car accident in 1955. In interviews shortly after Dean's death, Guinness recalled that all of Dean's friends had issued similar warnings because he drove too fast.
Education
Alec Guinness attended the Maida Vale Academy of Dramatic Art, which laid the foundation for his illustrious acting career. This education, coupled with his natural talent, helped him develop the skills that would later earn him critical acclaim and adoration from audiences worldwide.
Guinness collaborated six times with director David Lean: as Herbert Pocket in Great Expectations (1946); Fagin in Oliver Twist (1948); Col.
Nicholson in The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957), for which he won both the Academy Award for Best Actor and the BAFTA Award for Best Actor; Prince Faisal in Lawrence of Arabia (1962); General Yevgraf Zhivago in Doctor Zhivago (1965); and Professor Godbole in A Passage to India (1984).
In 1970, Guinness played Jacob Marley's ghost in Ronald Neame's Scrooge. He also portrayed Obi-Wan Kenobi in George Lucas's original Star Wars trilogy, which brought him further recognition; for his performance in the original 1977 film, he was nominated for Best Supporting Actor at the 50th Academy Awards.
Guinness's later life was closely associated with his definitive depiction of the leading role of George Smiley in the BBC television series Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy and Smiley's People by John le Carré.
