John Gielgud

Born

April 14, 1904

Died

May 21, 2000 (96 years old)

Known For

Acting

Place of Birth

London, England

IMDb

Sir Arthur John Gielgud, OM, CH, was an English actor, director, and producer. A descendant of the renowned Terry acting family, he achieved early international acclaim for his youthful, emotionally expressive Hamlet which broke box office records on Broadway in 1937. He was known for his beautiful speaking of verse and particularly for his warm and expressive voice, which his colleague Sir Alec Guinness likened to a silver trumpet muffled in silk. Gielgud is one of the few entertainers who have won an Oscar, Emmy, Grammy, and Tony Award.

Known For

The Elephant Man
8.1

The Elephant Man

Gandhi
7.6

Gandhi

DragonHeart
6.5

DragonHeart

Murder on the Orient Express
7.1

Murder on the Orient Express

Elizabeth
7.2

Elizabeth

Nothing Like a Dame

Nothing Like a Dame

Self (archive footage)

6.8

2018

Play On! Shakespeare in Silent Film

Play On! Shakespeare in Silent Film

Self

5.8

2016

Discovering Hamlet

Discovering Hamlet

King Hamlet's Ghost (archive footage)

7.0

2011

Behind The Scenes of Caligula

Behind The Scenes of Caligula

0.0

2009

Revisiting Brideshead

Revisiting Brideshead

Self (archive footage)

0.0

2005

Catastrophe

Catastrophe

The Protagonist

6.0

2001

Elizabeth

Elizabeth

The Pope

7.2

1998

The Tichborne Claimant

The Tichborne Claimant

Cockburn

8.0

1998

Quest for Camelot

Quest for Camelot

Merlin (voice)

6.8

1998

Merlin

Merlin

King Constant · (2 episodes)

6.9

1998

Rachmaninoff: The Harvest of Sorrow

Rachmaninoff: The Harvest of Sorrow

0.0

1998

A Dance to the Music of Time

A Dance to the Music of Time

St. John Clarke · (4 episodes)

5.3

1997

David

David

Stimme Gottes

6.5

1997

Hamlet

Hamlet

Priam

7.3

1996

The Portrait of a Lady

The Portrait of a Lady

Mr. Touchett

6.0

1996

Looking for Richard

Looking for Richard

Self - Interviewee

6.8

1996

The Leopard Son

The Leopard Son

Narrator

0.0

1996

Shine

Shine

Cecil Parkes

7.4

1996

DragonHeart

DragonHeart

King Arthur (voice) (uncredited)

6.5

1996

Gulliver's Travels

Gulliver's Travels

Professor of Light · (2 episodes)

7.1

1996

Haunted

Haunted

Doctor Doyle

6.1

1995

Stick with Me, Kid

Grandpa · (13 episodes)

0.0

1995

First Knight

First Knight

Oswald

6.1

1995

The Thomas The Tank Engine Man

The Thomas The Tank Engine Man

Self (Voice)

0.5

1995

A Summer Day's Dream

0.0

1994

Scarlett

Scarlett

(4 episodes)

6.6

1994

Hollywood U.K.: British Cinema in the Sixties

Hollywood U.K.: British Cinema in the Sixties

Self · (1 episode)

0.0

1993

The Power of One

The Power of One

St. John

7.5

1992

The South Bank Show: Noël Coward

Self

0.0

1992

Shining Through

Shining Through

Sunflower

6.5

1992

Swan Song

Svetlovidov

6.8

1992

A Walk Through Prospero's Library

Prospero

0.0

1992

The Strauss Dynasty

The Strauss Dynasty

Drechsler · (6 episodes)

0.0

1991

Preminger: Anatomy of a Filmmaker

Preminger: Anatomy of a Filmmaker

Self (archive footage)

7.7

1991

Performance

Performance

Stephen Dawlish · (1 episode)

6.0

1991

Prospero's Books

Prospero's Books

Prospero

6.8

1991

A TV Dante (Cantos 9 to 14)

A TV Dante (Cantos 9 to 14)

Virgil (voice)

5.5

1991

The Best of Friends

The Best of Friends

Sydney Cockerell

1.0

1991

The Strauss Dynasty

The Strauss Dynasty

Drechsler

8.2

1991

Vivien Leigh: Scarlett and Beyond

Vivien Leigh: Scarlett and Beyond

Self

10.0

1990

Rabbit Ears - The Emperor's New Clothes

Narrator (voice)

0.0

1990

A TV Dante

A TV Dante

Virgil

6.4

1990

Strike It Rich

Strike It Rich

Herbert Dreuther

5.0

1990

Barbablù, Barbablù

Barbablù, Barbablù

Barbablù

0.0

1989

Summer's Lease

Summer's Lease

Haverford Downs · (4 episodes)

7.5

1989

Getting It Right

Getting It Right

Sir Gordon Munday

7.0

1989

A Man for All Seasons

A Man for All Seasons

Cardinal Wolsey

6.8

1988

War and Remembrance

War and Remembrance

Aaron Jastrow · (12 episodes)

8.0

1988

In from the Cold? A Portrait of Richard Burton

In from the Cold? A Portrait of Richard Burton

Self

6.0

1988

Arthur 2: On the Rocks

Arthur 2: On the Rocks

Hobson

5.5

1988

Appointment with Death

Appointment with Death

Colonel Carbury

6.1

1988

Funny, You Don't Look 200: A Constitutional Vaudeville

Funny, You Don't Look 200: A Constitutional Vaudeville

British Lord

0.0

1987

Quartermaine's Terms

Quartermaine's Terms

Eddie Loomis

0.0

1987

Inspector Morse

Inspector Morse

Lord Hinksey · (1 episode)

7.8

1987

The Canterville Ghost

The Canterville Ghost

Sir Simon de Canterville

6.6

1986

The Whistle Blower

The Whistle Blower

Sir Adrian Chappie

5.8

1986

Theban Plays: Antigone

Theban Plays: Antigone

Tiresias

0.0

1986

Theban Plays: Oedipus the King

Theban Plays: Oedipus the King

Tieresias

2.0

1986

Time After Time

Time After Time

Jasper Swift

0.0

1986

Lovejoy

Lovejoy

Lord Wakering · (1 episode)

7.3

1986

Plenty

Plenty

Sir Leonard Darwin

5.7

1985

Leave All Fair

Leave All Fair

John Middleton Murry

7.0

1985

Romance on the Orient Express

Romance on the Orient Express

Theodore Woodward

5.5

1985

The Shooting Party

The Shooting Party

Cornelius Cardew

6.6

1985

To Be Hamlet

To Be Hamlet

Self

0.0

1985

Screen Two

Screen Two

(1 episode)

6.8

1985

Camille

Camille

Duke de Charles

5.6

1984

Frankenstein

Frankenstein

De Lacey

5.8

1984

Six Centuries of Verse

Six Centuries of Verse

Self - Presenter · (16 episodes)

6.0

1984

The Far Pavilions

The Far Pavilions

Cavagnari · (2 episodes)

7.5

1984

The Master of Ballantrae

The Master of Ballantrae

Lord Durrisdeer

6.0

1984

Scandalous

Scandalous

Uncle Willie

2.5

1984

James Mason: The Star They Loved to Hate

James Mason: The Star They Loved to Hate

Self - on the set of 'The Shooting Party' (uncredited)

0.0

1984

Wagner

Wagner

Pfistermeister · (10 episodes)

6.3

1983

The Wicked Lady

The Wicked Lady

Hogarth

4.9

1983

The Scarlet and the Black

The Scarlet and the Black

Pope Pius XII

7.0

1983

Invitation to the Wedding

Invitation to the Wedding

0.0

1983

Marco Polo

Marco Polo

Doge di Venezia · (1 episode)

6.8

1982

Gandhi

Gandhi

Lord Irwin

7.6

1982

Laurence Olivier: a life

Laurence Olivier: a life

Self

10.0

1982

The Critic

Lord Burleigh

0.0

1982

Inside the Third Reich

Inside the Third Reich

Albert Speer Sr.

7.2

1982

The Hunchback of Notre Dame

The Hunchback of Notre Dame

Charmolue

5.8

1982

Brideshead Revisited

Brideshead Revisited

Edward 'Ned' Ryder · (11 episodes)

7.9

1981

Priest of Love

Priest of Love

Herbert G. Muskett

5.0

1981

Arthur

Arthur

Hobson

6.5

1981

Chariots of Fire

Chariots of Fire

Master of Trinity

6.8

1981

Lion of the Desert

Lion of the Desert

Sharif El Gariani

7.3

1981

Agatha Christie's Seven Dials Mystery

Agatha Christie's Seven Dials Mystery

Marquis of Caterhan

6.8

1981

Sphinx

Sphinx

Abdu-Hamdi

5.6

1981

The Formula

The Formula

Dr. Abraham Esau

5.5

1980

The Elephant Man

The Elephant Man

Carr Gomm

8.1

1980

Why Didn't They Ask Evans?

Why Didn't They Ask Evans?

Reverend Jones

6.6

1980

The Conductor

The Conductor

John Lasocki

6.3

1980

The Human Factor

The Human Factor

Brigadier Tomlinson

5.9

1979

Caligula

Caligula

Nerva

6.0

1979

Tales of the Unexpected

Tales of the Unexpected

Jelks · (1 episode)

6.7

1979

Tales of the Unexpected

Tales of the Unexpected

Cyril Boggis · (1 episode)

6.7

1979

Murder by Decree

Murder by Decree

Prime Minister

6.4

1979

Les Misérables

Les Misérables

Gillenormand

7.2

1978

Richard II

Richard II

John of Gaunt

7.5

1978

Romeo and Juliet

Romeo and Juliet

Chorus

7.4

1978

The BBC Television Shakespeare

The BBC Television Shakespeare

Chorus · (1 episode)

6.0

1978

The BBC Television Shakespeare

The BBC Television Shakespeare

John of Gaunt · (1 episode)

6.0

1978

No Man's Land

No Man's Land

Spooner

7.0

1978

A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man

A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man

The Preacher

6.0

1977

Heartbreak House

Heartbreak House

Captain Shotover

0.0

1977

The Grand Inquisitor

Inquisitor

0.0

1977

Joseph Andrews

Joseph Andrews

The Doctor

4.7

1977

Providence

Providence

Clive Langham

6.8

1977

Peter Pan

Peter Pan

Narrator

6.0

1976

Second City Television

Second City Television

Self · (1 episode)

7.6

1976

The Picture of Dorian Gray

The Picture of Dorian Gray

Lord Henry Wotton

8.0

1976

Aces High

Aces High

Headmaster

5.9

1976

Galileo

Galileo

The Old Cardinal

5.9

1975

Murder on the Orient Express

Murder on the Orient Express

Mr. Beddoes

7.1

1974

11 Harrowhouse

11 Harrowhouse

Meecham

5.7

1974

Frankenstein: The True Story

Frankenstein: The True Story

Chief Constable

7.5

1974

Gold

Gold

Farrell

5.7

1974

QB VII

QB VII

Clinton-Meek · (2 episodes)

7.7

1974

Frankenstein: The True Story

Frankenstein: The True Story

Chief Constable · (2 episodes)

8.5

1973

Lost Horizon

Lost Horizon

Chang

5.4

1973

William: The Life, Works and Times of William Shakespeare

William: The Life, Works and Times of William Shakespeare

Various

0.0

1973

ABC Afterschool Special

ABC Afterschool Special

Various Roles · (1 episode)

6.4

1972

Probe

Probe

Harold L. Streeter

5.5

1972

Eagle in a Cage

Eagle in a Cage

Lord Sissal

5.0

1972

Home

Home

Harry

7.8

1972

Great Performances

Great Performances

Self · (3 episodes)

5.5

1971

Play for Today

Play for Today

Harry · (1 episode)

6.3

1970

Menace

Menace

(1 episode)

0.0

1970

Julius Caesar

Julius Caesar

Julius Caesar

5.7

1970

Oh! What a Lovely War

Oh! What a Lovely War

Count Leopold Von Berchtold

6.8

1969

The Shoes of the Fisherman

The Shoes of the Fisherman

The Elder Pope

6.7

1968

The Dick Cavett Show

The Dick Cavett Show

Self - Guest · (2 episodes)

6.8

1968

The Love Song of Barney Kempinski

The Love Song of Barney Kempinski

Rich Man

0.0

1968

Assignment to Kill

Assignment to Kill

Curt Valayan

6.0

1968

The Charge of the Light Brigade

The Charge of the Light Brigade

Lord Raglan

6.1

1968

Sebastian

Sebastian

Head of Intelligence

6.0

1968

Omnibus

Omnibus

Self · (3 episodes)

7.2

1967

October Revolution

October Revolution

Narrator (voice)

0.0

1967

Romeo and Juliet

Romeo and Juliet

Chorus

0.0

1967

Alice in Wonderland

Alice in Wonderland

Mock Turtle

5.8

1966

The Mayfly and the Frog

Gabriel Quantara

0.0

1966

ABC Stage 67

ABC Stage 67

Rich Man · (1 episode)

6.2

1966

Ivanov

Ivanov

Nikolai ivanov

0.0

1966

Ages of Man

Ages of Man

0.0

1966

Chimes at Midnight

Chimes at Midnight

Henry IV

7.2

1965

BBC Play of the Month

BBC Play of the Month

Chorus · (1 episode)

5.0

1965

BBC Play of the Month

BBC Play of the Month

The Inquisitor · (1 episode)

5.0

1965

BBC Play of the Month

BBC Play of the Month

Charles II · (1 episode)

5.0

1965

BBC Play of the Month

BBC Play of the Month

Lord Henry 'Harry' Wotton · (1 episode)

5.0

1965

BBC Play of the Month

BBC Play of the Month

Capt. Shotover · (1 episode)

5.0

1965

BBC Play of the Month

BBC Play of the Month

Lord Burleigh · (1 episode)

5.0

1965

The Loved One

The Loved One

Sir Francis Hinsley

6.3

1965

The Wednesday Play

The Wednesday Play

Gabriel Quantara · (1 episode)

4.5

1964

Hamlet from the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre

Hamlet from the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre

Ghost (voice)

6.5

1964

Becket

Becket

King Louis VII of France

7.2

1964

To Die in Madrid

To Die in Madrid

Narrator (English version) (voice)

7.5

1963

The Cherry Orchard

The Cherry Orchard

Gaev

8.0

1962

The Big Party

Self · (1 episode)

0.0

1959

The Bell Telephone Hour

Self · (1 episode)

7.3

1959

The Immortal Land

0.0

1958

Tonight Starring Jack Paar

Self · (1 episode)

7.0

1957

Saint Joan

Saint Joan

Earl of Warwick

6.5

1957

The Barretts of Wimpole Street

The Barretts of Wimpole Street

Edward Moulton-Barrett

6.2

1957

Around the World in Eighty Days

Around the World in Eighty Days

Foster

6.6

1956

Richard III

Richard III

George, Duke of Clarence

7.1

1955

ITV Opening Night at the Guildhall

John Worthing, JP

0.0

1955

Romeo and Juliet

Romeo and Juliet

Chorus

5.2

1954

Hamlet: The Actor's View

Hamlet: The Actor's View

Self

0.0

1954

Julius Caesar

Julius Caesar

Cassius

7.1

1953

Ariel’s Song / Full Fathom Five

Ariel’s Song / Full Fathom Five

Narrator

0.0

1953

Hallmark Hall of Fame

Hallmark Hall of Fame

The Ghost · (1 episode)

8.6

1951

Hallmark Hall of Fame

Hallmark Hall of Fame

Charmolue · (1 episode)

8.6

1951

Hallmark Hall of Fame

Hallmark Hall of Fame

Lord Durrisdeer · (1 episode)

8.6

1951

Hallmark Hall of Fame

Hallmark Hall of Fame

Duke · (1 episode)

8.6

1951

The Ed Sullivan Show

The Ed Sullivan Show

Self · (2 episodes)

6.8

1948

A Diary for Timothy

A Diary for Timothy

Hamlet

6.6

1945

An Airman's Letter to His Mother

Narrator

6.0

1941

The Prime Minister

The Prime Minister

Disraeli

6.0

1941

Heredity in Man

Heredity in Man

Self

0.0

1937

Secret Agent

Secret Agent

Richard Ashenden / Edgar Brodie

6.1

1936

The Good Companions

The Good Companions

Inigo Jollifant

5.8

1933

Insult

Insult

Henri Dubois

0.0

1932

The Clue of the New Pin

Rex Trasmere

0.0

1929

Who Is the Man?

Daniel

0.0

1924