archytele The Vault

Alec Guinness

Acting Born Apr 2, 1914 Died Aug 5, 2000 Marylebone, London, England, UK 103 credits

Biography

Alec Guinness was an English actor born on April 2, 1914. He is known for his work in various films and television shows. Guinness was featured in several Ealing Comedies, including one in which he played eight different characters. He also appeared in notable films such as The Bridge on the River Kwai and Lawrence of Arabia. In the original Star Wars trilogy, he played a significant role. Additionally, he portrayed George Smiley in a television adaptation of Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy. Guinness passed away on August 5, 2000, at the age of 86.

Advertisement
Career

Career overview

Alec Guinness was an English actor born on April 2, 1914, in Marylebone, London, England, UK. He is known for his work in several films, including the Ealing Comedies. In one of these films, he played eight different characters.

Guinness's career spanned a wide range of roles, with notable performances in films such as The Bridge on the River Kwai and Lawrence of Arabia. He also appeared in the original Star Wars trilogy, playing a significant character. In addition to his film work, Guinness was involved in a television adaptation of Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy, where he played the role of George Smiley.

Guinness's acting credits include numerous films and television shows, with a total of 101 known credits. He passed away on August 5, 2000, at the age of 86.

Ask the Vault

Ask anything about Alec Guinness.

Frequent co-stars

Career timeline

Way of Tomorrow: The Evolution of Science Fiction Movies
A Pee, a Poop, a Plate: Paradise (Heidi in Dreamland)
Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker
Star Wars: The Force AwakensStar Wars: Evolution of the Lightsaber Duel
Talking Pictures
Starring Sigmund Freud
Hitler: The Comedy Years
Grace Kelly: Destiny of a Princess
The Story of Star WarsWhen Star Wars Ruled the World
The Making of 'The Bridge on the River Kwai'
Eskimo Day
Mute Witness
A Foreign FieldAudrey Hepburn: Remembered
Tales from Hollywood
PerformanceKafka
Screen One
A Handful of Dust
Grace Kelly: The American PrincessGrace Kelly: The American Princess · ThanksLittle Dorrit
Monsignor QuixoteDavid Lean: A Life in Film
EdwinA Passage to India
Return of the JediLovesick
American PlayhouseSmiley's People
The Empire Strikes BackLittle Lord FauntleroyRaise the TitanicSP FX: The Empire Strikes Back
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
The South Bank ShowThe Star Wars Holiday SpecialThe Art of Film: The Many Roles of Alec Guinness
Star WarsThe Making of Star Wars
Murder by DeathCaesar and Cleopatra
Apostrophes
The Gift of Friendship
Hitler: The Last Ten Days

Full filmography

  • Way of Tomorrow: The Evolution of Science Fiction Movies (2022) as Self - (archive footage)
  • A Pee, a Poop, a Plate: Paradise (Heidi in Dreamland) (2021) as Self (archive footage)
  • Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker (2019) as Obi-Wan Kenobi (archive voice)
  • Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015) as Obi-Wan Kenobi (archive sound) (uncredited)
  • Star Wars: Evolution of the Lightsaber Duel (2015) as Self
  • Talking Pictures (2013) as Self (archive footage)
  • Starring Sigmund Freud (2012) as (archive footage)
  • Hitler: The Comedy Years (2007) as Adolf Hitler (archive footage) (uncredited)
  • Grace Kelly: Destiny of a Princess (2006) as Self - Actor (archive footage)
  • The Story of Star Wars (2004) as Obi-Wan Kenobi (archive footage)
  • When Star Wars Ruled the World (2004) as Obi-Wan Kenobi (archive footage)
  • The Making of 'The Bridge on the River Kwai' (2000) as Self (archive footage)
  • Eskimo Day (1996) as James
  • Mute Witness (1995) as The Reaper
  • A Foreign Field (1993) as Amos
  • Audrey Hepburn: Remembered (1993) as Self (archive footage)
  • Tales from Hollywood (1992) as Heinrich Mann
  • Performance (1991) as Heinrich Mann
  • Kafka (1991) as The Chief Clerk
  • Screen One (1989) as Amos
  • A Handful of Dust (1988) as Mr. Todd
  • Grace Kelly: The American Princess (1987) as Self (archive footage)
  • Grace Kelly: The American Princess (1987) Thanks
  • Little Dorrit (1987) as William Dorrit
  • Monsignor Quixote (1985) as Father Quixote
  • David Lean: A Life in Film (1985) as Self
  • Edwin (1984) as Sir Fennimore Truscott
  • A Passage to India (1984) as Professor Godbole
  • Return of the Jedi (1983) as Ben 'Obi-Wan' Kenobi
  • Lovesick (1983) as Sigmund Freud
  • American Playhouse (1982) as Heinrich Mann
  • Smiley's People (1982) as George Smiley
  • The Empire Strikes Back (1980) as Obi-Wan Kenobi
  • Little Lord Fauntleroy (1980) as Earl of Dorincourt
  • Raise the Titanic (1980) as John Bigalow
  • SP FX: The Empire Strikes Back (1980) as Obi Wan Kenobi (archive footage)
  • Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (1979) as George Smiley
  • The South Bank Show (1978) as Self
  • The Star Wars Holiday Special (1978) as Ben (Obi-Wan) Kenobi (archive footage) (uncredited)
  • The Art of Film: The Many Roles of Alec Guinness (1978)
  • Star Wars (1977) as Obi-Wan "Ben" Kenobi
  • The Making of Star Wars (1977) as Self
  • Murder by Death (1976) as Butler Jamesir Bensonmum
  • Caesar and Cleopatra (1976) as Caesar
  • Apostrophes (1975) as Self
  • The Gift of Friendship (1974) as Jocelyn Broome
  • Hitler: The Last Ten Days (1973) as Adolf Hitler
  • Brother Sun, Sister Moon (1972) as Papst Innozenz III.
  • Great Performances (1971) as Father Quixote
  • Film '72 (1971) as Self
  • Twelfth Night (1970) as Malvolio
  • Cromwell (1970) as King Charles I
  • Scrooge (1970) as Jacob Marley's Ghost
  • The Ealing Comedies (1970) as Self
  • Omnibus (1967) as Self
  • ITV Playhouse (1967) as Jocelyn Broome
  • Lionpower from MGM (1967) as Self - Major H. O. Jones (archive footage) (uncredited)
  • The Comedians (1967) as Major H. O. Jones
  • The Comedians in Africa (1967) as Self (uncredited)
  • The Quiller Memorandum (1966) as Pol
  • Hotel Paradiso (1966) as Benedict Boniface
  • Thirty-Minute Theatre (1965) as The Executioner
  • Doctor Zhivago (1965) as Gen. Yevgraf Zhivago
  • Situation Hopeless — But Not Serious (1965) as Wilhelm Frick
  • Pasternak (1965) as Self (archive footage)
  • The Fall of the Roman Empire (1964) as Marcus Aurelius
  • Lawrence of Arabia (1962) as Prince Feisal
  • H.M.S. Defiant (1962) as Captain Crawford
  • A Majority of One (1961) as Koichi Asano
  • Our Man in Havana (1960) as Jim Wormold
  • Tunes of Glory (1960) as Maj. Jock Sinclair, D.S.O., M.M.
  • Startime (1959) as Jebal Deeks
  • The Scapegoat (1959) as John Barratt / Jacques De Gue
  • ...On Seeing Film (1958) as Self
  • The Horse's Mouth (1958) as Gulley Jimson
  • The Horse's Mouth (1958) Writer
  • The Rise and Fall of a Jungle Giant (1958) as Self
  • The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957) as Col. Nicholson
  • Barnacle Bill (1957) as Captain William Horatio Ambrose
  • The Steve Allen Show (1956) as Self - Set of "The Bridge on the River Kwai"
  • The Swan (1956) as Prince Albert
  • MGM Parade (1955) as self
  • The Ladykillers (1955) as Professor Marcus
  • To Paris with Love (1955) as Sir Edgar Fraser
  • Rowlandson's England (1955) as Narrator
  • The Prisoner (1955) as The Cardinal
  • Father Brown (1954) as Father Brown
  • The Stratford Adventure (1954) as Self
  • The Oscars (1953) as Self
  • Malta Story (1953) as Flight Lt. Peter Ross
  • The Captain's Paradise (1953) as Captain Henry St. James
  • The Card (1952) as Edward Henry 'Denry' Machin
  • Hallmark Hall of Fame (1951) as Julius Caesar
  • The Lavender Hill Mob (1951) as Henry 'Dutch' Holland
  • The Man in the White Suit (1951) as Sidney Stratton
  • The Mudlark (1950) as Benjamin Disraeli
  • Last Holiday (1950) as George Bird
  • Kind Hearts and Coronets (1949) as The D'Ascoyne Family: The Duke / The Banker / The Parson / The General / The Admiral / Young Ascoyne / Young Henry / Lady Agatha
  • A Run for Your Money (1949) as Whimple
  • The Ed Sullivan Show (1948) as Self
  • Oliver Twist (1948) as Fagin
  • Great Expectations (1946) as Herbert Pocket
  • Evensong (1934) as W.W.I. soldier in concert audience (uncredited)