Charles Laughton
(1899-1962), ActorSitter in 19 portraits
Born in Scarborough on 1st July 1899, Laughton followed his father into the hotel trade before studying at RADA in the mid-1920s. He made his professional début on the West End stage in 1926 and three years later appeared in his first feature film, Piccadilly. In 1932 Laughton and his wife, actress Elsa Lanchester, moved to Hollywood. Showing astonishing versatility, he played tyrants, butlers, peasants and advocates in quick succession. Among his most famous roles are Henry VIII (for which he was the first Briton to receive an Oscar), Rembrandt and Captain Bligh of the Bounty, but he is probably most enduringly remembered as Quasimodo, the Hunchback of Notre Dame.
by Richard Avedon
vintage bromide print, circa 1950
NPG P366
Charles Laughton; Elsa Lanchester
by Sasha (Alexander Stewart)
halftone reproduction tear sheet, published 13 February 1929
NPG x193443
Elsa Lanchester; Charles Laughton
by Yvonne Gregory
bromide print, July 1931
NPG x11868
Charles Laughton as Henry VIII in 'The Private Life of Henry VIII'
by Tunbridge
sepia-toned bromide print from original negative, 1933
NPG x34545
The opening night of 'The Private Life of Henry VIII'
by George Woodbine, for Daily Herald
modern bromide print from original negative, 24 October 1933
NPG x135050
The opening night of 'The Private Life of Henry VIII'
by George Woodbine, for Daily Herald
modern bromide print from original negative, 24 October 1933
NPG x135051
by Howard Coster
bromide print, 1936
NPG Ax136130
by Howard Coster
half-plate film negative, 1936
NPG x12265
Charles Laughton; Alexander Korda; Gertrude Lawrence
by Howard Coster
half-plate film negative, 1936
NPG x12266
Vivien Leigh as Libby and Charles Laughton as Charles Staggers in 'St Martin's Lane'
by Unknown photographer
vintage film still, 1938
NPG x139797
Charles Laughton as Henry VIII and Jean Simmons as Elizabeth I in 'Young Bess'
by Unknown photographer
film publicity still, 1953
NPG x199015
by Raymond J. Hearne
halftone reproduction tear sheet, published 16 December 1953
NPG x193451
John Rothenstein; Charles Laughton
by Desmond O'Neill
bromide press print, 1 October 1958
NPG x184002
by Anthony Wysard
pencil and watercolour, 1936
NPG D278
Diners at Denham Studios Restaurant
by Anthony Wysard
watercolour and pencil, published 1937
NPG D312
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