(1907–89)
an English theatre, film and television actor and director. He first became famous for his Shakespearian roles in the theatre in the 1930s, and was considered the greatest English actor of the time. He performed many Shakespearian roles in films, many of them directed by himself, as well as acting in more modern plays such as The Entertainer (1957) by John Osborne , and films such as Sleuth (1972). He was the first director of the National Theatre (1963–73). He was made a knight in 1947 and a life peer in 1970.