Laurence Kerr Olivier, Baron Olivier (1907-1989), Actor, producer and director
Sitter associated with 86 portraits
Born in Dorking and educated at St Edward's School Oxford, he made his stage début aged 15. He won a scholarship to the Central School, and in 1927 joined Birmingham Rep. Olivier established his reputation through Shakespearean stage roles and film performances including Heathcliffe in Wuthering Heights (1939) and Maxim de Winter in Rebecca (1940). He directed and starred in Henry V (1943-4), and became actor-manager of the Old Vic. He was knighted in 1947. He later formed his own company, directing and co-starring with his wife Vivien Leigh. In 1963 he became the first director of the National Theatre, building a company from a new generation of actors and directors.
Laurence Kerr Olivier, Baron Olivier
by Carl Van Vechten
vintage gelatin silver print, 17 June 1939
NPG P1126
Laurence Kerr Olivier, Baron Olivier
by Laszlo Willinger
bromide print, 1940
NPG P236
Laurence Kerr Olivier, Baron Olivier
by Peter Lambda
bronze bust, 1950
On display in Room 31 at the National Portrait Gallery
NPG 5481
Laurence Kerr Olivier, Baron Olivier
by Peter Lambda
cold cast bronze bust, 1950
NPG 5481a
Laurence Kerr Olivier, Baron Olivier
by Yousuf Karsh
bromide print, 1954
NPG P253
Laurence Kerr Olivier, Baron Olivier
by Yousuf Karsh
bromide print, 1954
NPG P490(59)
Laurence Kerr Olivier, Baron Olivier; Vivien Leigh
by Yousuf Karsh
bromide print, 1954
NPG P490(60)
Laurence Kerr Olivier, Baron Olivier
by Arnold Newman
bromide print, 1978
NPG P150(29)
Laurence Kerr Olivier, Baron Olivier
by Bernard Lee ('Bern') Schwartz
dye transfer print, 15 June 1978
NPG P1226
Laurence Kerr Olivier, Baron Olivier
by Bernard Lee ('Bern') Schwartz
dye transfer print, 15 June 1978
NPG P1227
Laurence Kerr Olivier, Baron Olivier
by Bernard Lee ('Bern') Schwartz
dye transfer print, 15 June 1978
NPG P1228
Laurence Kerr Olivier, Baron Olivier
by Bernard Lee ('Bern') Schwartz
dye transfer print, 15 June 1978
NPG P1229
Laurence Kerr Olivier, Baron Olivier
by Emma Sergeant
oil on panel, 1982
On display in Room 32 at the National Portrait Gallery
NPG 5502
Laurence Kerr Olivier, Baron Olivier
by Alistair Morrison
bromide print, 1987
NPG P364
Laurence Kerr Olivier, Baron Olivier
by Alexander Stewart ('Sasha')
modern bromide print from original negative, 1929
NPG x45063
Laurence Kerr Olivier, Baron Olivier
by George Hurrell
bromide print, circa 1930
NPG x45059
Laurence Kerr Olivier, Baron Olivier
by Unknown photographer
modern bromide print from original negative, circa 1930
NPG x45132
Laurence Kerr Olivier, Baron Olivier
by Alexander Stewart ('Sasha')
modern bromide print from original negative, 1930
NPG x45062
Laurence Kerr Olivier, Baron Olivier
by Dorothy Wilding
vintage bromide proof print, circa 1930
NPG x46504
Laurence Kerr Olivier, Baron Olivier and Jill Esmond in The Green Bay Tree
by Vandamm Studio
bromide print, 1933
NPG x29991
by Howard Coster
half-plate film negative, 1935
NPG x14523
Laurence Kerr Olivier, Baron Olivier, Elisabeth Bergner and six actors
by Unknown photographer
modern bromide print from original negative, 1936
NPG x45134
John Gielgud as Romeo and Laurence Kerr Olivier, Baron Olivier as Mercutio in 'Romeo and Juliet'
by Howard Coster
bromide print, 1936
NPG x16376
by Howard Coster
half-plate film negative, 1936
NPG x19528
by Howard Coster
half-plate film negative, 1936
NPG x19529
by Howard Coster
half-plate film negative, 1936
NPG x19530
Laurence Kerr Olivier, Baron Olivier as Michael Ingolby in 'Fire Over England'
by Howard Coster
half-plate film negative, 1936
NPG x23962
by Howard Coster
half-plate film negative, 1936
NPG x23963
by Howard Coster
half-plate film negative, 1936
NPG x23964
by Howard Coster
half-plate film negative, 1936
NPG x23965
Laurence Kerr Olivier, Baron Olivier as Michael Ingolby in 'Fire over England'
by Howard Coster
half-plate film negative, 1936
NPG x23972
by Howard Coster
half-plate film negative, 1936
NPG x24290
Laurence Kerr Olivier, Baron Olivier and Vivien Leigh
by Unknown photographer
bromide print, 30 May 1937
NPG x36099
Laurence Kerr Olivier, Baron Olivier as Hamlet
by Angus McBean
vintage bromide print mounted as a Christmas card, 1937
NPG x127118
Joan Fontaine, Laurence Kerr Olivier, Baron Olivier and Dame Judith Anderson
by Unknown photographer
modern bromide print from original negative, 1940
NPG x45137
Joan Fontaine and Laurence Kerr Olivier, Baron Olivier
by Unknown photographer
modern bromide print from original negative, 1940
NPG x45138
Laurence Kerr Olivier, Baron Olivier in '49th Parallel'
by Fred Daniels
modern bromide print from original negative, 1941
On display in Room 44, Bookshop Gallery at the National Portrait Gallery
NPG x88682
Vivien Leigh; Laurence Kerr Olivier, Baron Olivier
by Paul Tanqueray
half-plate glass negative, 1942
NPG x180373
Laurence Kerr Olivier, Baron Olivier as Hamlet
by Cecil Beaton
bromide print, 1944?
NPG x40306
Laurence Kerr Olivier, Baron Olivier
by Cecil Beaton
bromide print on white card mount, February 1947
NPG x14174
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