SIR JOHN GIELGUD

Summary

That this House is saddened by the news that Sir John Gielgud has passed away aged 96; recognises that he was one of the greatest classical actors of the twentieth century who made his stage debut at the Old Vic in 1921 in Henry V and went on to play Trofinov in The Cherry Orchard, Richard II and Hamlet, and helped modernise Shakespearean productions to appeal to a wider public; notes that he starred in many cinematic roles including Disraeli in The Prime Minister in 1940, Cassius in Julius Caesar in 1953, was nominated for an Oscar in Becket in 1964 as Henry II, Lord Raglan in The Charge of the Light Brigade in 1968 and in Providence in 1977; further notes he also played many famous cameo roles in films such as Murder on the Orient Express in 1974 and Chariots of Fire in 1981 and he won an Oscar as Best Supporting Actor in Arthur; further notes that he starred in many television roles and was a respected author; also notes that in 1994 he was honoured by the Globe Theatre in Shaftesbury Avenue which was renamed the Gielgud Theatre, he was Knighted in 1953, appointed Companion of Honour in 1977 and received the Order of Merit in 1996; and notes that he will be sorely missed, especially his distinctive voice, once described by Alec Guinness as a silver trumpet muffled in silk.

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Timeline

1. 23 May 2000

   Early Day Motion

   That this House is saddened by the news that Sir John Gielgud has passed away aged 96; recognises that he was one of the greatest classical actors of the twentieth century who made his stage debut at the Old Vic in 1921 in Henry V and went on to play Trofinov in The Cherry Orchard, Richard II and Hamlet, and helped modernise Shakespearean productions to appeal to a wider public; notes that he starred in many cinematic roles including Disraeli in The Prime Minister in 1940, Cassius in Julius Caesar in 1953, was nominated for an Oscar in Becket in 1964 as Henry II, Lord Raglan in The Charge of the Light Brigade in 1968 and in Providence in 1977; further notes he also played many famous cameo roles in films such as Murder on the Orient Express in 1974 and Chariots of Fire in 1981 and he won an Oscar as Best Supporting Actor in Arthur; further notes that he starred in many television roles and was a respected author; also notes that in 1994 he was honoured by the Globe Theatre in Shaftesbury Avenue which was renamed the Gielgud Theatre, he was Knighted in 1953, appointed Companion of Honour in 1977 and received the Order of Merit in 1996; and notes that he will be sorely missed, especially his distinctive voice, once described by Alec Guinness as a silver trumpet muffled in silk.

   Source: Early Day Motion

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Sponsors

• Mr Paul Marsden · Labour · Primary sponsor

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