Alec Guinness

Acting

Born April 2, 1914 · Marylebone, London, England, UK

Died August 5, 2000

Also known as Alec Guinness de Cuffe · Sir Alec Guinness

Biography

Sir Alec Guinness, CH, CBE (born Alec Guinness de Cuffe; 2 April 1914 – 5 August 2000) was an English actor. He was featured in several of the Ealing Comedies, including Kind Hearts and Coronets in which he played eight different characters. He later won the Academy Award for Best Actor for his role as Colonel Nicholson in The Bridge on the River Kwai. He is most well known for playing Obi-Wan Kenobi in the original Star Wars trilogy. He also played Prince Feisal in Lawrence of Arabia and George Smiley in the TV adaptation of Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy.

Awards & recognition

European Film Academy Lifetime Achievement Award · 1996
Companion of Honour · 1994
honorary doctorate from the University of Cambridge · 1991
BAFTA Fellowship · 1989
Society of London Theatre Special Award · 1988

Show all 38 awards →

Shakespeare Prize · 1985
British Academy Television Award — Best Actor · 1983
British Academy Television Award — Best Actor · 1980
Academy Honorary Award · 1979
Saturn Award — Best Supporting Actor · 1977
Tony Award — Best Actor in a Play · 1964
Knight Bachelor · 1959
Academy Award — Best Actor · 1958
Golden Globe Award — Best Actor – Motion Picture Drama · 1957
National Board of Review Award — Best Actor · 1957
Commander of the Order of the British Empire · 1955
National Board of Review Award — Best Actor · 1950
Honorary doctor of the University of Oxford
Laurence Olivier Awards
star on Hollywood Walk of Fame
Volpi Cup — Best Actor
Academy Award — Best Supporting Actor · 1989 · nominated
BAFTA Fellowship · 1989 · nominated
Golden Globe Award — Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture · 1988 · nominated
Laurence Olivier Award — Actor of the Year in a New Play · 1988 · nominated
National Society of Film Critics Award — Best Supporting Actor · 1988 · nominated
British Academy Television Award — Best Actor · 1986 · nominated
British Academy Television Award — Best Actor · 1983 · nominated
Primetime Emmy Award — Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie · 1983 · nominated
British Academy Television Award — Best Actor · 1980 · nominated
Academy Award — Best Supporting Actor · 1978 · nominated
Golden Globe Award — Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture · 1977 · nominated
Laurence Olivier Award — Actor of the Year in a New Play · 1977 · nominated
BAFTA Award — Best British Screenplay · 1960 · nominated
Academy Award — Best Writing, Adapted Screenplay · 1959 · nominated
Academy Award — Best Actor · 1958 · nominated
Golden Globe Award — Best Actor – Motion Picture Drama · 1957 · nominated
Academy Award — Best Actor · 1953 · nominated