Person    | Male  Born 2/4/1914  Died 5/8/2000

Sir Alec Guinness

Actor. Born at 155 Lauderdale Mansions South, Lauderdale Road, Maida Vale, as Alec Guinness de Cuffe. He first came to prominence in the Ealing comedy films, particularly 'The Ladykillers' and 'Kind Hearts and Coronets' in which he played nine characters. In 1957 he starred in 'The Bridge on the River Kwai' for which he won an Oscar. His many stage appearances included two plays by Alan Bennett, 'Habeas Corpus' and 'The Old Country'. On television he played George Smiley in the adaptations of John le Carré's 'Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy' and 'Smiley's People'. In the 1970s, however he achieved international fame after he reluctantly accepted the role of Obi-Wan Kenobi in the first 'Star Wars' film. It was not a role he was proud of and said that he 'shrivelled up' every time Star Wars was mentioned to him. He however went on to appear in the next two films of the trilogy, which kept him financially comfortable for the rest of his life. Died in Midhurst, West Sussex.

Credit for this entry to: Alan Patient of www.plaquesoflondon.co.uk

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

This section lists the memorials where the subject on this page is commemorated:
Sir Alec Guinness

Commemorated ati

Sir Alec Guinness - W9

Sir Alec Guinness C.B.E., 1914 - 2000, actor, was born here. The Heritage Fou...

Read More

Sir Alec Guinness - WC2

Sir Alec Guinness in recognition of his unique contribution to British cinema...

Read More

Other Subjects

John Stears

John Stears

Film special effects expert. Born Michael John Stears in Uxbridge. He produced effects for eight of the James Bond films. He was invited by George Lucas to work on the Star Wars films, where he cre...

Person, Cinema, USA

1 memorial
Stanley Lupino

Stanley Lupino

Actor, dancer and singer. Born as Stanley Richard Lupino Hook, he was the father of actor and director Ida Lupino. He made his first stage appearance at the age of six and subsequently performed in...

Person, Cinema, Dance, Music / songs, Theatre, USA

1 memorial
Charlie Chaplin

Charlie Chaplin

Born Charles Spencer Chaplin in East Street, Walworth (possibly, see Londonist). Comic actor, composer, director and producer.  Born into a music hall family. He joined a troupe of child dancers, '...

Person, Cinema, Seriously Famous, Switzerland, USA

13 memorials
Ealing Studios

Ealing Studios

Television and film production company and facilities provider.  White Lodge on Ealing Green was first used for making films in 1902.   Basil Dean acquired it in 1929 and, under the name Associated...

Group, Cinema, TV & Radio

1 memorial
Simon Callow

Simon Callow

Actor, director, writer. Born Streatham.  

Person, Cinema, Literature, Theatre, TV & Radio

4 memorials

Previously viewed

Joseph Salmon

Joseph Salmon

Parishioner of St James Upper Edmonton killed in WW1.

Person

War dead, WW1
1 memorial
Samuel Gurney Snr

Samuel Gurney Snr

Banker and philanthropist. Born near Norwich. Father of Samuel and of Catherine who married Edward, the son of Sir Thomas Fowell Buxton. Died Paris, returning, ill, from a stay in Nice.

Person, Philanthropy, France

1 memorial