David Lean
Directing Born Mar 25, 1908 Died Apr 16, 1991 Croydon, Surrey, England, UK 85 credits
Biography
David Lean works in directing. Born March 25, 1908 in Croydon, Surrey, England, UK. Died April 16, 1991. Archytele tracks 85 screen credits across canonical film and television databases.
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Frequent co-stars
Sharon Taylor
9 shared titles
Ping Wu
9 shared titles
Emily Kinney
5 shared titles
Dohn Norwood
4 shared titles
Bryant Gumbel
3 shared titles
Elizabeth Henstridge
3 shared titles
Melissa McBride
2 shared titles
Christian Serratos
2 shared titles
Josh McDermitt
2 shared titles
Sonequa Martin-Green
2 shared titles
Career timeline
Maverick: The Epic Adventures of David Lean
Omar Sharif: Citizen of the World
Nice Girls Don't Stay for BreakfastE. M. Forster: His Longest Journey
Nostromo: David Lean's Impossible Dream
Talking Pictures
Doctor Zhivago: A Celebration
The Making of Lawrence of Arabia
The Golden Gong: The Story of Rank Films - British Cinema's Legendary StudioDavid Lean: A Life in Film
A Passage to India · DirectorA Passage to India · ScreenplayA Passage to India · Editor
Lost and Found: The Story of Cook's AnchorLost and Found: The Story of Cook's Anchor · DirectorLost and Found: The Story of Cook's Anchor · Writer
The South Bank Show
The American Film Institute Salute to ...
Film '72David Lean: A Self PortraitRyan's Daughter Featurette
Ryan's Daughter · Director
The Dick Cavett Show
Omnibus
Doctor Zhivago · DirectorThe Greatest Story Ever Told · Second Unit DirectorZhivago: Behind the Camera with David LeanMoscow in MadridPasternak
Wind, Sand and Star
Lawrence of ArabiaLawrence of Arabia · Director
The Rise and Fall of a Jungle Giant...On Seeing Film
The Bridge on the River Kwai · Director
Summertime · DirectorSummertime · Screenplay
Reflets de CannesHobson's Choice · DirectorHobson's Choice · ScreenplayHobson's Choice · Producer
The Oscars
The Sound Barrier · DirectorThe Sound Barrier · Producer
Madeleine · Director
The Passionate Friends · DirectorThe Passionate Friends · Adaptation
Oliver Twist · DirectorOliver Twist · Screenplay
Great Expectations · DirectorGreat Expectations · Screenplay
Brief Encounter · DirectorBrief Encounter · Additional WritingBlithe Spirit · DirectorBlithe Spirit · Screenplay
Full Filmography
85 titles- Maverick: The Epic Adventures of David Lean (2026) as Self (archive footage)
- Omar Sharif: Citizen of the World (2020) as Self - Filmmaker (archive footage)
- Nice Girls Don't Stay for Breakfast (2019) as Self - Filmmaker (archive footage)
- E. M. Forster: His Longest Journey (2019) as Self (archive footage)
- Nostromo: David Lean's Impossible Dream (2017) as Self (archive footage)
- Talking Pictures (2013) as Self (archive footage)
- Doctor Zhivago: A Celebration (2010) as Self (Archive Footage)
- The Making of Lawrence of Arabia (2001) as Self (archive footage)
- The Golden Gong: The Story of Rank Films - British Cinema's Legendary Studio (1985) as Self
- David Lean: A Life in Film (1985) as Self
- A Passage to India (1984) Director
- A Passage to India (1984) Screenplay
- A Passage to India (1984) Editor
- Lost and Found: The Story of Cook's Anchor (1979) as himself
- Lost and Found: The Story of Cook's Anchor (1979) Director
- Lost and Found: The Story of Cook's Anchor (1979) Writer
- The South Bank Show (1978) as Self
- The American Film Institute Salute to ... (1973) as Self
- Film '72 (1971) as Self
- David Lean: A Self Portrait (1971) as Self
- Ryan's Daughter Featurette (1971) as Self
- Ryan's Daughter (1970) Director
- The Dick Cavett Show (1968) as Self - Guest
- Omnibus (1967) as Self
- Doctor Zhivago (1965) Director
- The Greatest Story Ever Told (1965) Second Unit Director
- Zhivago: Behind the Camera with David Lean (1965) as Self
- Moscow in Madrid (1965) as Self
- Pasternak (1965) as Self (archive footage)
- David Lean's Film of Doctor Zhivago (1965) as Self
- Wind, Sand and Star (1963)
- Lawrence of Arabia (1962) as Motorcyclist by Suez Canal (uncredited)
- Lawrence of Arabia (1962) Director
- The Rise and Fall of a Jungle Giant (1958) as Self
- ...On Seeing Film (1958) as Self
- The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957) Director
- Summertime (1955) Director
- Summertime (1955) Screenplay
- Reflets de Cannes (1954) as Self
- Hobson's Choice (1954) Director
- Hobson's Choice (1954) Screenplay
- Hobson's Choice (1954) Producer
- The Oscars (1953) as Self
- The Sound Barrier (1952) Director
- The Sound Barrier (1952) Producer
- Madeleine (1950) Director
- The Passionate Friends (1949) Director
- The Passionate Friends (1949) Adaptation
- Oliver Twist (1948) Director
- Oliver Twist (1948) Screenplay
- Great Expectations (1946) Director
- Great Expectations (1946) Screenplay
- Brief Encounter (1945) Director
- Brief Encounter (1945) Additional Writing
- Blithe Spirit (1945) Director
- Blithe Spirit (1945) Screenplay
- This Happy Breed (1944) Director
- This Happy Breed (1944) Screenplay
- In Which We Serve (1942) Director
- One of Our Aircraft Is Missing (1942) Editor
- 49th Parallel (1941) Editor
- Major Barbara (1941) Assistant Director
- Spy for a Day (1940) Editor
- French Without Tears (1940) Editor
- Spies of the Air (1939) Editor
- Pygmalion (1938) Editor
- The Wife of General Ling (1937) Editor
- Dreaming Lips (1937) Editor
- As You Like It (1936) Editor
- Ball at Savoy (1936) Editor
- Escape Me Never (1935) Editor
- The Crouching Beast (1935) Editor
- Dangerous Ground (1934) Editor
- The Secret of the Loch (1934) Editor
- The King of Paris (1934) Editor
- Tiger Bay (1934) Editor
- Song of the Plough (1933) Editor
- The Fortunate Fool (1933) Editor
- The Ghost Camera (1933) Editor
- Money for Speed (1933) Editor
- Insult (1932) Editor
- These Charming People (1931) Editor
- The Night Porter (1930) Editor
- Sailors Don't Care (1928) Assistant Camera
- Quinneys (1927) Production Runner
Frequently Asked Questions
What movies or TV shows is David Lean best known for?
David Lean is widely recognized for notable roles and projects including A Passage to India (1984), A Passage to India (1984), A Passage to India (1984), The South Bank Show (1978).
When and where was David Lean born?
David Lean was born on March 25, 1908 in Croydon, Surrey, England, UK. They passed away on April 16, 1991.
How many credits does David Lean have?
David Lean has accumulated over 85 film and television credits across a career spanning from 1927 to 2026.
What is David Lean's background in cinema and television?
Sir David Lean CBE (25 March 1908 – 16 April 1991) was an English film director, producer, screenwriter and editor. Widely considered one of the most important figures in British cinema, he is best remembered for adapting the works of Charles Dickens and Noël Coward, and for his large scale period epics such as The Bri...
David Lean by the numbers
85credits
77films
8TV series
1927–2026active years
Age in their best-rated roles
- Lawrence of Arabia (1962) as Motorcyclist by Suez Canal (uncredited) — aged about 54
- Omnibus (1967) as Self — aged about 59
- The Oscars (1953) as Self — aged about 45
- The Dick Cavett Show (1968) as Self - Guest — aged about 60
- The American Film Institute Salute to ... (1973) as Self — aged about 65
- The South Bank Show (1978) as Self — aged about 70
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