From Wikipedia the free encyclopedia Charles Laughton 1 July 1899 15 December 1962 was an EnglishAmerican stage and film actor director producer and screenwriter Laughton was trained in London at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art and first appeared professionally on the stage in 1926 In 1927 he was cast in a play with his future wife Elsa Lanchester with whom he lived and worked until his death He played a wide range of classical and modern parts making an impact in Shakespeare at the Old Vic His film career took him to Broadway and then Hollywood but he also collaborated with Alexander Korda on notable British films of the era including The Private Life of Henry VIII for which he won the Academy Award for Best Actor for his portrayal of the title character He portrayed everything from monsters and misfits to kings Among Laughtons biggest film hits were The Barretts of Wimpole Street Mutiny on the Bounty Ruggles of Red Gap Jamaica Inn The Hunchback of Notre Dame and The Big Clock In his later career he took up stage directing notably in The Caine Mutiny CourtMartial and George Bernard Shaws Don Juan in Hell in which he also starred He directed one film the thriller The Night of the Hunter Daniel DayLewis cited Laughton as one of his inspirations saying He was probably the greatest film actor who came from that period of time He had something quite remarkable His generosity as an actor he fed himself into that work As an actor you cannot take your eyes off him
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