Hugh Griffith

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Hugh Griffith

from the trailer for the film Ben-Hur (1959)
Born May 30, 1912(1912-05-30)
Marian Glas, Anglesey, Wales
Died May 14, 1980 (aged 67)
London, England
Years active 1939 - 1980

Hugh Emrys Griffith (May 30, 1912 – May 14, 1980) was a Welsh film, stage and television actor.

Griffith was born in Marian Glas, Anglesey, Wales and educated at local schools. He attempted to gain entrance to university, but failed the English examination. He was then urged to make a career in banking. He became a bank clerk and transferred to London to be closer to acting opportunities. Just as he was making progress and gained admission to the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts, he had to suspend his plans in order to serve in the army in India and Burma during World War II. He resumed his acting career in 1947.

Griffith began his film career in British films during the late 1940s, and by the 1950s was also appearing in Hollywood films. He also had a successful career as a theatre actor, and in 1958 was nominated for Tony award for his performance in Look Homeward, Angel on Broadway. He won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role in Ben-Hur (1959), and received a second nomination for his role in Tom Jones (1963). He appeared as the magistrate in Oliver! in 1968.

On television, he had major roles in Quatermass II (1955) and Clochemerle (1972), but is best remembered for his role as lecherous funeral director Caradog Lloyd-Evans in the 1978 comedy Grand Slam. Griffith received an honorary degree from the University of Wales, Bangor in 1980. He died from a heart attack in London, 16 days before his 68th birthday.

[edit] Filmography

[edit] External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:
Awards
Preceded by
Burl Ives
for The Big Country		 Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor
1959
for Ben-Hur		 Succeeded by
Peter Ustinov
for Spartacus
v • d • e
Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor

Donald Crisp (1941) · Van Heflin (1942) · Charles Coburn (1943) · Barry Fitzgerald (1944) · James Dunn (1945) · Harold Russell (1946) · Edmund Gwenn (1947) · Walter Huston (1948) · Dean Jagger (1949) George Sanders (1950) · Karl Malden (1951) · Anthony Quinn (1952) · Frank Sinatra (1953) · Edmond O'Brien (1954) · Jack Lemmon (1955) · Anthony Quinn (1956) · Red Buttons (1957) · Burl Ives (1958) · Hugh Griffith (1959) · Peter Ustinov (1960)

Complete list · (1936–1940) · (1941–1960) · (1961–1980) · (1981–2000) · (2001-present)