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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.

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x40307

Louise Lévêque de Vilmorin; Vivien Leigh; Cecil Beaton; Laurence Kerr Olivier, Baron Olivier

by Cecil Beaton
vintage bromide print, February 1947
NPG x40307

x21956

Laurence Kerr Olivier, Baron Olivier

by Walter Stoneman
bromide print on card mount, March 1950
NPG x21956

x87129

Laurence Kerr Olivier, Baron Olivier

by Walter Stoneman
half-plate glass negative, March 1950
NPG x87129

x87132

Laurence Kerr Olivier, Baron Olivier

by Walter Stoneman
half-plate glass negative, March 1950
NPG x87132

x136461

Laurence Kerr Olivier, Baron Olivier; Vivien Leigh; Sir Terence Rattigan

by D.H. White, for Daily Herald
vintage press print, 27 September 1953
NPG x136461

x45058

Joan Plowright and Laurence Kerr Olivier, Baron Olivier in 'The Entertainer'

by Bert Cann
bromide print, 1960
NPG x45058

x125257

Franco Zeffirelli; Laurence Kerr Olivier, Baron Olivier

by Lewis Morley
resin print, 1960s
NPG x125257

x76239

Joan Plowright; Laurence Kerr Olivier, Baron Olivier; Hon. Richard Olivier

by Anthony Buckley
modern bromide print from original negative, 1961
NPG x76239

x15451

Laurence Kerr Olivier, Baron Olivier

by Angus McBean
semi-matte bromide print, 1962
NPG x15451

x26069

Laurence Kerr Olivier, Baron Olivier

by Angus McBean
semi-matte bromide print, 1962
NPG x26069

x29993

Laurence Kerr Olivier, Baron Olivier as King Lear in 'King Lear'

by Lord Snowdon
cibachrome print, 1983
NPG x29993

x135723

'Lost Empires'

for Granada Television
bromide print, 1986
NPG x135723

x30427

Laurence Kerr Olivier, Baron Olivier

by Alistair Morrison
C-type colour print, 1987
NPG x30427

D312

Diners at Denham Studios Restaurant

by Anthony Wysard
watercolour and pencil, published 1937
NPG D312

D291

Laurence Kerr Olivier, Baron Olivier as Hamlet; Vivien Leigh

by Anthony Wysard
pencil and watercolour, 1949
NPG D291

P596

Laurence Kerr Olivier, Baron Olivier

by Irving Penn
platinum palladium print, 1962
NPG P596

x14499

John Gielgud; Laurence Kerr Olivier, Baron Olivier

by Howard Coster
half-plate film negative, 1935
NPG x14499

x14510

John Gielgud; Glencairn Alexander ('Glen') Byam Shaw; Laurence Kerr Olivier, Baron Olivier

by Howard Coster
half-plate film negative, 1935
NPG x14510

x14511

John Gielgud; Glencairn Alexander ('Glen') Byam Shaw; Laurence Kerr Olivier, Baron Olivier

by Howard Coster
half-plate film negative, 1935
NPG x14511

x23960

Laurence Kerr Olivier, Baron Olivier as Romeo in 'Romeo and Juliet'

by Howard Coster
half-plate film negative, 1935
NPG x23960

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