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 Unknown photographer
modern bromide print from original negative, 1948
NPG x45141
Laurence Olivier as Hamlet and Jean Simmons as Ophelia in 'Hamlet'
by Wilfrid Newton
film publicity still, 1948
NPG x137987
Jean Simmons as Ophelia and Laurence Olivier as Hamlet in 'Hamlet'
by Wilfrid Newton
film publicity still, 1948
NPG x137988
Laurence Olivier as Hamlet in 'Hamlet'
by Unknown photographer
postcard print, 1948
NPG x137989
Laurence Olivier as Hamlet in 'Hamlet'
by Unknown photographer
postcard print, 1948
NPG x137992
Laurence Olivier as Hamlet on the set of 'Hamlet'
by Unknown photographer
postcard print, 1948
NPG x137993
Vivien Leigh and Laurence Olivier in 'School for Scandal'
by Vivienne
vintage print, 1949
NPG x137764
Vivien Leigh; Laurence Olivier
by Larry Burrows
modern bromide print, 31 May 1949
NPG x137998
by Walter Stoneman
bromide print on card mount, March 1950
NPG x21956
by Walter Stoneman
half-plate glass negative, March 1950
NPG x87129
by Walter Stoneman
half-plate glass negative, March 1950
NPG x87132
by Unknown photographer
bromide print, circa 1950
NPG x21682
Laurence Olivier; Vivien Leigh; Terence Rattigan
by D.H. White, for Daily Herald
vintage press print, 27 September 1953
NPG x136461
Claire Bloom; Laurence Olivier
by P.A. Reuter Photos Ltd
bromide press print, 13 December 1955
NPG x184247
Vivien Leigh; Laurence Olivier; Marilyn Monroe; Arthur Asher Miller
by Unknown photographer, for Associated Press
bromide press print, 11 October 1956
NPG x135981
Marilyn Monroe; Laurence Olivier (Press Conference at The Savoy Hotel)
by Larry Burrows
bromide fibre print, 15 July 1956
NPG x137340
possibly by James and Betty Swarbrick
modern digital print, 1956
NPG x137343
The cast and crew of 'The Prince and The Showgirl'
possibly by James and Betty Swarbrick
modern digital print, 1956
NPG x137344
Marilyn Monroe; Laurence Olivier (Press Conference at The Savoy Hotel)
by Larry Burrows
bromide fibre print, 15 July 1956
NPG x199086
Joan Plowright as Jean Rice and Laurence Olivier as Archie Rice in 'The Entertainer'
by Keystone Press Agency Ltd
vintage print, 1957
NPG x194152
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)
Comments back to top
We are currently unable to accept new comments, but any past comments are available to read below.
If you need information from us, please use our Archive enquiry service . Please note that we cannot provide valuations. You can buy a print or greeting card of most illustrated portraits. Select the portrait of interest to you, then look out for a Buy a Print button. Prices start at around £6 for unframed prints, £16 for framed prints. If you wish to license an image, select the portrait of interest to you, then look out for a Use this image button, or contact our Rights and Images service. We digitise over 8,000 portraits a year and we cannot guarantee being able to digitise images that are not already scheduled.