Laurence Kerr Olivier, Baron Olivier, an English actor and director, reigned over British theatre and cinema from the 1930s to the 1980s, leaving an indelible mark with his versatile performances and visionary directorship. Born in 1907, he rose to prominence in the West End and onscreen, starring in classics like "Wuthering Heights" and "Rebecca," and directing iconic Shakespeare adaptations. As co-director of the Old Vic and founding director of the National Theatre, he nurtured new talent and delivered legendary stage roles, from Richard III to Othello. His film and television accolades underscore a career defined by both artistry and influence, cementing his legacy as one of the greatest performers of his era.
The roles that explain the career.
80 credits across 2 departments.
| Year | Title | Role | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | The Bannfoot Ferry | Self (archive footage) | Film |
| 2024 | Dame Maggie Smith - A Celebration | Self (archive footage) | Film |
| 2021 | Vivien Leigh, autant en emporte le vent | Self (archive footage) | Film |
| 2018 | Nothing Like a Dame | Self (archive footage) | Film |
| 2018 | Scotty and the Secret History of Hollywood | Self (archive footage) | Film |
| 2012 | Marilyn despite herself | Film | |
| 2012 | Marilyn Monroe: In The Movies | Film | |
| 2008 | The Making of 'Rebecca' | Self (archive footage) | Film |
| 2004 | The Prince, The Showgirl and Me | Film | |
| 2004 | The Body of Marilyn Monroe | archive footage | Film |
| 2004 | Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow | Dr. Totenkopf (archive footage) | Film |
| 2001 | Beyond Tara: The Extraordinary Life of Hattie McDaniel | Self (archive footage) | Film |
| 2000 | The Filth and the Fury | Richard III (archive footage) | Film |
| 2000 | Sir John Mills' Moving Memories | Self (archive footage) | Film |
| 1999 | Hitchcock, Selznick and the End of Hollywood | Self (archive footage) | Film |
| 1995 | Legends in Light: The Photography of George Hurrell | Self (archive footage) | Film |
| 1990 | Vivien Leigh: Scarlett and Beyond | Self (archive footage) | Film |
| 1989 | War Requiem | The Old Soldier | Film |
| 1986 | Directed by William Wyler | Self | Film |
| 1986 | Lost Empires | Harry Burrard | TV |
| 1985 | Wild Geese II | Rudolf Hess | Film |
| 1984 | A Voyage Round My Father | Clifford Mortimer | Film |
| 1984 | The Bounty | Admiral Hood | Film |
| 1983 | The Jigsaw Man | Adm. Sir Gerald Scaith | Film |
| 1983 | King Lear | King Lear | Film |
| 1982 | Laurence Olivier: a life | Self | Film |
| 1981 | Inchon | Gen. Douglas MacArthur | Film |
| 1981 | Clash of the Titans | Zeus | Film |
| 1980 | The Jazz Singer | Cantor Rabinovitch | Film |
| 1979 | A Little Romance | Julius | Film |
| 1979 | Dracula | Prof. Abraham Van Helsing | Film |
| 1978 | The Betsy | Loren Hardeman | Film |
| 1978 | The Boys from Brazil | Ezra Lieberman | Film |
| 1977 | A Bridge Too Far | Dr. Jan Spaander | Film |
| 1977 | Jesus of Nazareth | Nicodemus | TV |
| 1976 | Love Among the Ruins | Sir Arthur Glanville-Jones | Film |
| 1976 | The Seven-Per-Cent Solution | Professor James Moriarty | Film |
| 1976 | The Gentleman Tramp | Narrator | Film |
| 1976 | The Collection | Harry | Film |
| 1976 | Marathon Man | Dr. Christian Szell | Film |
| 1973 | The Merchant of Venice | Shylock | Film |
| 1973 | The World at War | Narrator | TV |
| 1972 | Sleuth | Andrew Wyke | Film |
| 1971 | Nicholas and Alexandra | Count Witte | Film |
| 1970 | Three Sisters | Dr. Ivan Chebutikin | Film |
| 1969 | David Copperfield | Mr. Creakle | Film |
| 1969 | Battle of Britain | Air Chief Marshal Sir Hugh Dowding | Film |
| 1969 | Oh! What a Lovely War | Field Marshal Sir John French | Film |
| 1969 | The Dance of Death | Edgar | Film |
| 1968 | The Shoes of the Fisherman | Piotr Ilyich Kamenev | Film |
| 1968 | Romeo and Juliet | Narrator (voice) (uncredited) | Film |
| 1966 | Khartoum | Mahdi | Film |
| 1965 | Othello | Othello | Film |
| 1965 | Bunny Lake Is Missing | Newhouse | Film |
| 1963 | The Power and the Glory | Priest | Film |
| 1962 | Term of Trial | Graham Weir | Film |
| 1961 | Hollywood: The Selznick Years | Self - Maxim de Winter (archive footage) (uncredited) | Film |
| 1960 | Spartacus | Marcus Licinius Crassus | Film |
| 1960 | The Entertainer | Archie Rice | Film |
| 1959 | The Devil's Disciple | Gen. Burgoyne | Film |
| 1957 | The Prince and the Showgirl | The Regent | Film |
| 1955 | Richard III | Richard III | Film |
| 1953 | A Queen Is Crowned | Narrator | Film |
| 1953 | The Beggar's Opera | MacHeath | Film |
| 1952 | Carrie | George Hurstwood | Film |
| 1950 | Rebecca | Maxim de winter | Film |
| 1948 | Hamlet | Hamlet - Prince of Denmark / Voice of Ghost | Film |
| 1944 | This Happy Breed | Narrator (voice) | Film |
| 1944 | Henry V | King Henry | Film |
| 1943 | The Demi-Paradise | Ivan Kouznetsoff | Film |
| 1941 | That Hamilton Woman | Lord Horatio Nelson | Film |
| 1941 | Words for Battle | Narrator (voice) | Film |
| 1941 | 49th Parallel | Johnnie, the Trapper | Film |
| 1940 | Rebecca | Maxim de Winter | Film |
| 1940 | Pride and Prejudice | Mr. Darcy | Film |
| 1940 | Hollywood: Style Center of the World | Self | Film |
| 1940 | Private Lives | Elyot Chase | Film |
| 1940 | 21 Days | Larry Durrant | Film |
| 1939 | Q Planes | Tony McVane | Film |
| 1939 | Wuthering Heights | Heathcliff | Film |
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