David Lean
(1908-1991), Film directorSir David Lean
Sitter in 23 portraits
Film director. Born in Croydon, London, he began in the film industry as a clapperboard boy working his way up to become an editor of news programmes and fictional features. His early directorial successes came about through collaboration with Noel Coward and the pair worked together on four films: In Which We Serve (1942), This Happy Breed (1944), Blithe Spirit (1945) and Brief Encounter (1945). Other early successes came with Great Expectations (1946) and Oliver Twist (1948). Later in his career he became identified particularly with big budget, strong narrative epics such as Bridge on the River Kwai (1957), Lawrence of Arabia (1962), Dr Zhivago (1965), Ryan's Daughter (1970) and A Passage to India (1984).
Watch a film clip on the sitter from the BBC Archive in the Media section below
by Baron (Sterling Henry Nahum), for Camera Press
bromide press print, circa 1946
NPG x194383
by George Courtney Ward
vintage print, 1949
NPG x135638
by Unknown photographer
bromide press print, circa 1949
NPG x184153
by Leslie H. Baker
gelatin silver print, 1949?
NPG x198429
Peter O'Toole, David Lean, Jack Hedley and Jack Hawkins on the set of 'Lawrence of Arabia'
by P.A. Reuter Photos Ltd
vintage print, 13 September 1959
NPG x194156
David Lean; Leila Lean (née Matkar)
by Unknown photographer
gelatin silver print, July 1960
NPG x198430
David Lean, Peter O'Toole and Zia Mohyeddin on the set of 'Lawrence of Arabia'
by Associated Press
bromide press print, July 1961
NPG x184047
David Lean and Sarah Miles on the set of 'Ryan's Daughter'
by Unknown photographer
bromide press print, June 1970
NPG x184045
David Lean and Sarah Miles on the set of 'Ryan's Daughter'
by Unknown photographer
bromide press print, June 1970
NPG x184046
David Lean and Sir John Mills on the set of 'Ryan's Daughter'
by Unknown photographer
bromide press print, June 1970
NPG x184048
Related People
- Leila Lean (née Matkar) (wife)
- (Edward) Tangye Lean (brother)
- Dorothy Annie ('Ann') Todd (wife)
Tell us more back to top
Can you tell us more about this person? Spotted an error, information that is missing (a sitter’s life dates, occupation or family relationships, or a date of portrait for example) or do you know anything that we don't know? If you have information to share please complete the form below.
If you require information from us, please use our Archive enquiry service. You can buy a print of most illustrated portraits. Select the portrait of interest to you, then look out for a Buy a Print button. Prices start at £6 for unframed prints, £25 for framed prints. If you wish to license an image, please use our Rights and Images service.
Please note that we cannot provide valuations.
We digitise over 8,000 portraits a year and we cannot guarantee being able to digitise images that are not already scheduled.