O ‧ liv ‧ i ‧ er, Laur ‧ ence /əˈlɪvieɪ, ˈlɒrəns $ ˈlɔː- ˈlɑː-/ BrE AmE
(1907–89) a British actor officially called Lord Olivier, who worked in the theatre and cinema for over 50 years and is regarded as one of the greatest actors of the 20th century. He is famous for directing and acting in three films of plays by Shakespeare, Henry V (1944), Hamlet (1948), and Richard III (1956). Other films include Wuthering Heights (1939), Rebecca (1940), and Marathon Man (1976). He was also the first director of the National Theatre in London.