Laurence Olivier
(1907-1989), Actor, producer and directorLaurence Kerr Olivier, Baron Olivier
Sitter in 114 portraits
Born in Dorking and educated at St Edward's School Oxford, 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, and found equal success with contemporary theatre, particularly John Osborne's The Entertainer (1957). In 1962 he became the first director of the National Theatre.
Explore the portrait of Laurence Olivier by Peter Lambda (NPG 5481a) from all angles
by Carl Van Vechten
vintage gelatin silver print, 17 June 1939
NPG P1126
by Peter Lambda
bronze bust, 1950
On display in the Weston Wing Café at the National Portrait Gallery
NPG 5481
by Peter Lambda
cold cast bronze bust, 1950
NPG 5481a
Laurence Olivier; Vivien Leigh
by Yousuf Karsh
bromide print, 1954
NPG P490(60)
by Lord Snowdon
gelatin silver print, 12 February 1968
NPG P1905
by Bern Schwartz
dye transfer print, 15 June 1978
NPG P1226
by Bern Schwartz
dye transfer print, 15 June 1978
NPG P1227
by Bern Schwartz
dye transfer print, 15 June 1978
NPG P1228
by Bern Schwartz
dye transfer print, 15 June 1978
NPG P1229
by Emma Sergeant
oil on panel, 1982
NPG 5502
by Sasha (Alexander Stewart)
modern bromide print from original negative, 1929
NPG x45063
by Unknown photographer
modern bromide print from original negative, circa 1930
NPG x45132
by Sasha (Alexander Stewart)
modern bromide print from original negative, 1930
NPG x45062
by Dorothy Wilding
vintage bromide proof print, circa 1930
NPG x46504
Laurence Olivier and Jill Esmond in The Green Bay Tree
by Vandamm Studio
bromide print, 1933
NPG x29991
John Gielgud as Romeo and Laurence Olivier as Mercutio in 'Romeo and Juliet'
by Howard Coster
bromide print, 1935
NPG x16376
John Gielgud; Glen Byam Shaw; Laurence Olivier
by Howard Coster
half-plate film negative, 1935
NPG x14511
John Gielgud as Romeo; Laurence Olivier as Mercutio; Geoffrey Toone as Tybalt in 'Romeo and Juliet'
by Howard Coster
half-plate film negative, 1935
NPG x14523
Laurence Olivier, Elisabeth Bergner and six actors
by Unknown photographer
modern bromide print from original negative, 1936
NPG x45134
Laurence Olivier and Vivien Leigh in 'Fire Over England'
by Tunbridge
vintage film still, 1936
NPG x139795
Laurence Olivier as Michael Ingolby and Vivien Leigh as Cynthia in 'Fire Over England'
by Howard Coster
half-plate film negative, 1936
NPG x19528
Vivien Leigh as Cynthia and Laurence Olivier as Michael Ingolby in 'Fire Over England'
by Howard Coster
half-plate film negative, 1936
NPG x19529
Laurence Olivier as Michael Ingolby and Vivien Leigh as Cynthia in 'Fire Over England'
by Howard Coster
half-plate film negative, 1936
NPG x19530
Laurence Olivier as Michael Ingolby in 'Fire Over England'
by Howard Coster
half-plate film negative, 1936
NPG x23962
Laurence Olivier as Michael Ingolby and Vivien Leigh as Cynthia in 'Fire over England'
by Howard Coster
half-plate film negative, 1936
NPG x23963
Laurence Olivier as Michael Ingolby and Vivien Leigh as Cynthia in 'Fire Over England'
by Howard Coster
half-plate film negative, 1936
NPG x23964
Laurence Olivier as Michael Ingolby and Vivien Leigh as Cynthia in 'Fire over England'
by Howard Coster
half-plate film negative, 1936
NPG x23965
Laurence Olivier as Michael Ingolby in 'Fire over England'
by Howard Coster
half-plate film negative, 1936
NPG x23972
Laurence Olivier; Vivien Leigh as Michael Ingolby and Cynthia in 'Fire Over England'
by Howard Coster
half-plate film negative, 1936
NPG x24290
Laurence Olivier and Vivien Leigh
by Unknown photographer
bromide print, 28 May 1937
NPG x36099
Laurence Olivier as Hamlet and Vivien Leigh as Ophelia in 'Hamlet'
by Unknown photographer
postcard print, 1937
NPG x137983
Laurence Olivier as Hamlet and Vivien Leigh as Ophelia in 'Hamlet'
by Unknown photographer
postcard print, 1937
NPG x137984
by Angus McBean
vintage bromide print mounted as a Christmas card, 1937
NPG x127118
Vivien Leigh; Laurence Olivier
by James Abbe Jr
toned vintage bromide print, 1939
On display in Room 27 on Floor 2 at the National Portrait Gallery
NPG x88923
Joan Fontaine, Laurence Olivier and Dame Judith Anderson
by Unknown photographer
modern bromide print from original negative, 1940
NPG x45137
Joan Fontaine and Laurence Olivier
by Unknown photographer
modern bromide print from original negative, 1940
NPG x45138
Laurence Olivier; Vivien Leigh
by Unknown photographer
bromide press print, 1940
NPG x194360
Laurence Olivier in '49th Parallel'
by Fred Daniels
modern bromide print from original negative, 1941
NPG x88682
Vivien Leigh; Laurence Olivier in 'That Hamilton Woman'
by Robert Coburn
modern bromide print from original negative, 1941
NPG x139689
Vivien Leigh; Laurence Olivier
by Paul Tanqueray
half-plate glass negative, 1942
NPG x180373
Laurence Olivier as Henry V in 'Henry V'
by Hans Wild
vintage print, 1943
NPG x194151
by Unknown photographer
modern bromide print from original negative, 1944
NPG x45133
by Unknown photographer
modern bromide print from original negative, 1944
NPG x45135
by Unknown photographer
modern bromide print from original negative, 1944
NPG x45136
by Unknown photographer
cibachrome print, 1945
NPG x29992
Sir Ralph Richardson; Laurence Olivier
by Unknown photographer
gelatin silver print, 13 June 1945
NPG x198447
by Unknown photographer
postcard print, 1 June 1947
NPG x137986
Vivien Leigh; Laurence Olivier
by Unknown photographer
bromide press print, 1947
NPG x198238
by Cecil Beaton
bromide print on white card mount, February 1947
NPG x14174
Louise Lévêque de Vilmorin; Vivien Leigh; Cecil Beaton; Laurence Olivier
by Cecil Beaton
vintage bromide print, February 1947
NPG x40307
by Unknown photographer
modern bromide print from original negative, 1948
NPG x45139
by Unknown photographer
modern bromide print from original negative, 1948
NPG x45140
Related People
- Jill Esmond (wife)
- Vivien Leigh (wife)
- Sydney Haldane Olivier, 1st Baron Olivier (uncle)
- Hon. Julie Kate Olivier (daughter)
- Hon. Richard Olivier (son)
- Hon. Tamsin Olivier (daughter)
- Dame Joan Ann Plowright (Lady Olivier) (wife)
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