Alec Clunes

In the 1940s and 50s, there were few greater classical actors in Britain than Alec Clunes. Born into a show business family, he began his career with Ben Greet's company and, later, he worked at the Old Vic Theatre. He played numerous Shakespearian roles and, in 1942, took over the Arts Theatre in London where he remained until 1950. Among the plays he presented were "The Lady's Not For Burning" by Christopher Fry, and he gave the actor-playwright Peter Ustinov his first break with his production of "The House of Regrets". A matinée idol for much of his life in the theatre, his film career was brief but varied. He played "Hastings" to Laurence Olivier's Richard III (1955), but he was equally at home in stiff upper lip wartime classics such as One of Our Aircraft Is Missing (1942). In 1956, Clunes married Daphne Alcot and their son Martin was born six years later. Clunes's last work in the theatre included taking over from Rex Harrison in the role of "Henry Higgins" in the musical "My Fair Lady" (1959). His last stage appearance was in 1968. Off-stage, Clunes was an intellectual man, widely read with a deep knowledge of theatre tradition. A theatrical great, he was sometimes compared with Laurence Olivier and John Gielgud.