Statue

Laurence Olivier statue

Erection date: 23/9/2007

Inscription

{On a brass plaque at the front of the plinth:}
Lawrence Olivier as Hamlet by Conner

{On a large brass plaque near the ground at the front:}
Laurence Olivier O.M., Actor, 1907 - 1989
Baron Olivier of Brighton, Founding Director of the National Theatre, 1963 - 1973.
More than two hundred, mainly theatre and film people and institutions, contributed to the Laurence Olivier Centenary Statue Appeal made by his son Tarquin, who said -
"Larry was true. He was exciting, gloriously funny, and is still part of what make life worth living, as is his creation the National Theatre."
The principal contributors were {see the Creators list.}

{The main plaque which can be seen near the ground in our photo was, by 2013, moved and attached flat directly to the front of the plinth.}

Unveiled by Sir Richard Attenborough, Larry‘s son, Tarquin and widow, Joan Plowright. The list of "principal contributors" has some surprising entries and some we cannot identify at all. We've tried to establish a link with Olivier for each of them but have not always succeeded. Any help gratefully received.

Site: Laurence Olivier statue (1 memorial)

SE1, South Bank, National Theatre waterfront

Olivier founded the National Theatre so this is a very appropriate site for the statue.

Comments are provided by Facebook, please ensure you are signed in here to see them

This section lists the subjects commemorated on the memorial on this page:
Laurence Olivier statue

Subjects commemorated i

Laurence Olivier, Baron Olivier

Born Dorking, Surrey, as Laurence Kerr Olivier. With his wife Vivien Leigh, h...

Read More

This section lists the subjects who helped to create/erect the memorial on this page:
Laurence Olivier statue

Created by i

British Film Institute

In 1996 the BFI erected 126 plaques across Britain to commemorate the centena...

Read More

Noel Coward Estate

The estate of Sir Noel Coward.

Read More

people of Dorking

The town where Laurence Olivier was born.

Read More

Show all 45

Nearby Memorials

Burghers of Calais

Burghers of Calais

SW1, Abingdon Street, Victoria Tower Gardens

Created for the town square in Calais following France's devastating defeat in the Prussian War. Erected there in 1895. There are twelve...

1 subject commemorated, 4 creators
Shackleton statue

Shackleton statue

SW7, Kensington Gore, Royal Geographic Society

In Exhibition Road façade, on left of picture. This bronze statue stands in a niche although it was intended to be on a plinth.

1 subject commemorated, 1 creator
Imperial Hotel - statue 17

Imperial Hotel - statue 17

WC1, Russell Square

On this site there used to be a sister hotel to Hotel Russell, also designed by Charles Fitzroy Doll and erected in 1898. It was demolish...

1 creator
Catherine Booth statue - Mile End

Catherine Booth statue - Mile End

E1, Mile End Road

When we first visited in 2014 William's statue was looking very pale - showing its fibreglass material. In 2017 it had been re-bronzed an...

3 subjects commemorated, 3 creators
Kindertransport - Meisler

Kindertransport - Meisler

EC2, Liverpool Street , Hope Square, Liverpool Street Station

Such a sad and touching subject, these children can't fail but bring to mind the many thousands of children who did not survive. The scul...

3 subjects commemorated, 4 creators