Acting is half shame, half glory
shame at exhibiting yourself
glory when you can
forget yourself
Sir John Gielgud OM CH
B: 14 April 1904
D: 21 May 2000 aged 96
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Rightly regarded as one of the great British actors of the 20th Century, Sir John Gielgud's
career is a showcase of outstanding performances on stage, both as an actor and director,
together with a series of memorable radio, television and film appearances.
Acting well into his twilight years, his received a new fanbase in 1981 upon his portrayal of
Dudley Moore's opinionated butler in the box-office hit ARTHUR, along the way winning the
Academy® Award for Best Supporting Actor.
Yet in as much as Gielgud was at home with the works of Shakespeare, including what many regard
as THE definitive portrayal of Prospero in THE TEMPEST, RICHARD II in three productions and
HAMLET in six, he was not opposed to undertaking a number of controversial projects,
notably his involvement with the sexually explicit for its day 1979 production of CALIGULA.
Then again, such overt scenes of sexual indiscretion were nothing new to the man himself,
given his infamous 1953 public outing courtesy of being caught 'importuning for
immoral purposes' by the police in Chelsea.
Humiliated by the press interest in his private life, Gielgud thereafter remained more publicly
discreet about his homosexuality, but nevertheless open to those who knew him, having
lived with his lifelong partner Martin Hensler until death did they part.
He final stage performance was in 1991 as museum curator Sydney Cockerell in the Hugh Whitemore
play THE BEST OF FRIENDS. Seven years later, he made his cinematic swan song as Pope Paul IV
in the 1998 production of ELIZABETH with Cate Blanchett.
Gielgud exited stage left in May 2000 aged 96, leaving a remarkable legacy of theatrical
and film work behind him.
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