Anthony Quayle is a theater, television and film actor, theater director from the UK. He began his acting career in 1931 with work in the theater. On television screens and in big movies, he often began to appear in the late 1940s. Tony and Academy Award nominee and Emmy Award winner for the television film Queen's Bench VII.
For Anthony Quayle, despite a successful career in cinema and television, theater remained in the first place all his life. He really liked to go on stage, to feel that special energy that emanated from the audience. Having started working at the Music Hall, he gradually managed to achieve recognition and fame, for some time he shone on Broadway.
The artist performed his first role in a television project in 1938. However, then a rather long break followed, when Quayle did not work either on television or in films. Largely due to the outbreak of World War II.
The actor first appeared in big cinema in 1948. His first film was very successful, he received high ratings and a lot of praise from film critics and viewers.
During the development of his acting career, Anthony managed to work on various projects, among which were both full-length films and chronicles (documentaries), series and television films. He also acted as a voice actor. In total, Quayle's filmography includes 90 works. And this is without taking into account those performances in which the actor played. The last films with the participation of the artist were released after his death.
Biography facts
The future famous artist was born in the small British town of Ainsdale. This settlement is located in the Sefton area, which is part of the western English county of Marsyside. He was born in 1913, and his birthday is September 7. The artist's full name sounds like John Anthony Quayle. As a child, the boy received the nickname "Tony".
Anthony's parents were from the Isle of Man. Unfortunately, there is no specific data on what their names were and whether they had any other children, other than Anthony himself. The boy's father once received a law degree and worked as a lawyer. Nothing is known about the mother's profession.
Quayle has been interested in creativity and art since childhood. He was literally fascinated by the theater, the boy began to dream early about becoming a famous actor. During his school years, he was also fond of sports, attended the rugby section.
The future film and theater artist received his basic education at the Abberley School. By the time he graduated from this educational institution, Anthony was already serious about building a creative career. Therefore, without hesitation, he entered the Royal Academy of Arts and Drama. This prestigious institution, in which many famous actors and actresses studied over the years, is located in London. In the early 1930s, Quayle graduated from the academy and began looking for work.
In 1931, the young artist managed to get into the troupe of the Music Hall. It was in this place that his full-fledged debut on the stage took place. Anthony worked for some time as a comedian, but did not stay for a long time in this theater.
Already in 1932, Quayle began serving at the famous Old Vic Theater. In the fall season of that year, he repeatedly appeared on stage, but played small, often minor roles in classical plays. However, he gradually managed to achieve recognition.
The next step in the development of her acting career was a trip to America. While in the states, Anthony Quayle began working on Broadway. He first appeared on the Broadway stage in 1936, taking part in the play "The Country Wife". Ruth Gordon played with him in this production. Before going to the front during the Second World War, the artist managed to become famous and establish himself as a very talented actor, working mainly in productions based on the works of Shakespeare.
In wartime, the actor served in the Royal Artillery of Great Britain, eventually receiving the rank of major. At one time he was also an officer and served in the Special Operations Directorate, which was based in Albania.
Impressed by the events of the Second World War, Anthony Quayle wrote two novels. The first one came out in 1945 and was called Eight Hours from England. The second was published in 1947 and was called On Such a Night.
He made his debut as a theater director and stage director for Quayle in 1946. He worked on the play "Crime and Punishment", which was a success in London. From 1948 and for the next few years, he directed the Shakespeare Memorial Theater, located in Stratford-upon-Avon. Later he became the founder of the theatrical troupe "Compass", which toured English cities.
Despite the active development of a career in cinema since 1948, the artist continued to engage in theater, performing on Broadway. In 1956, he was nominated for a Tony Award for Best Supporting Drama Actor for his performance in Tamerlane the Great.
The artist was nominated for the Oscar in 1969 for his brilliant performance in the film Anna's Thousand Days. And in 1975 he won an Emmy award.
In 1952, the famous Anthony Quayle was awarded the Order of the British Empire (Commander). And in 1985, at the suggestion of Elizabeth II, the artist received a knighthood.
Selected films
Quayle made his TV debut in the 1938 film Trelawny of the Wells. For the first time in a big movie, the actor appeared in the framework of the "Hamlet" project. This film was presented in 1948.
In subsequent years, the demanded talented artist took part in the filming of many TV series and shows, television films, films. Among them, the most successful and popular are:
- "Battle of La Plata";
- “The wrong person”;
- “The Difficult Way to Alexandria”;
- "Cannons of the Isle of Navaron";
- The Curse One;
- "Saint";
- Lawrence of Arabia;
- The Fall of the Roman Empire;
- Sherlock Holmes: A Study in Nightmare Tones;
- "Incomprehensible";
- McKenna Gold;
- Anna's Thousand Days;
- Henry VIII and His Six Wives;
- “Everything you wanted to know about sex, but were afraid to ask”;
- "Date bone";
- Eagle has landed;
- "Non-Invented Stories";
- Masada;
- "Lace";
- The Last Days of Pompeii;
- "The Secret of Bourne's Personality";
- "The Legend of the Holy Drinker";
- The Thief and the Shoemaker.
Personal life and death
During his life, the artist married twice. His first wife was Hermione Hannen, who was an actress. They got married in 1934, but divorced in 1941. They had no children.
The second time Anthony Quayle married Dorothy Hyson. They became husband and wife in 1947, lived together until the artist's death. In this marriage, 3 children were born. A daughter named Jenny Quayle also chose the acting path in life.
At the age of 76, the actor passed away. He died in his own home located in the Chelsea area of London. Cause of death: liver cancer. Date of death: October 20, 1989.
