born April 14, 1904, London, Eng.
died May 21, 2000, near Aylesbury
British actor and director.
He made his London debut in 1921 and joined the Old Vic company in 1929, becoming widely acclaimed for a series of Shakespearean performances, notably Hamlet and Richard II, and also excelling in plays such as The School for Scandal , The Importance of Being Earnest , The Seagull , and Tiny Alice . He directed several repertory seasons in the 1940s and toured the world with the solo recital Ages of Man (195859). He appeared in many films, including Arthur (1981, Academy Award) and Shine (1996).