Contents
Charles Laughton
The Private Life of Henry VIII and directing The Night of the Hunter
The Private Life of Henry VIII · The Night of the Hunter
- Born
- 1 July 1899
- Birthplace
- Scarborough
- Died
- 15 December 1962
More people
Charles Laughton
Charles Laughton was a British actor whose screen roles ranged from monarchs to outsiders. He also directed the influential thriller The Night of the Hunter.
Early life
Scarborough and drama school
Worked in his family’s hotel before training at RADA in 1925.
Career
- 1926
Professional stage debut
Appeared in The Government Inspector.
- 1934
Academy Award
Won best actor for The Private Life of Henry VIII.
- 1955
Film directing
Released his only feature as director.
Selected work
The Private Life of Henry VIII
Played the Tudor king.
The Night of the Hunter
Directed a thriller starring Robert Mitchum.
Witness for the Prosecution
Played a barrister in Billy Wilder’s courtroom film.
Beyond work
Marriage
Married actor Elsa Lanchester in 1929; they became US citizens in 1950.
Sources & photo credit
Biography and career ↗Biographical references ↗Original photograph. Cropped and displayed in monochrome.
Photo: Clarence Sinclair Bull. Public domain · Original image. Cropped and displayed in monochrome.