Charles Laughton
Birth Name:
Charles Laughton
Birth Place:
Scarborough, Yorkshire, England
Profession
Actor, Soundtrack, Writer, Producer, Director
Fast Facts
- Read aloud to wounded Allied soldiers during World War II
- Worked in this family's hotel business until they let him study drama at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in 1925
- Showed his fascination with humanity's dark side as well as his flair for the comic in many of his performances
- Started out making contributions to the interpretation of Shakespeare and other classic plays, but turned to a film career after his first stint in Hollywood
- Collected art, and owned pieces by Morris Graves, Nicholas de Stael, Alfred Manessier, Sir Matthew Smith, Siqueiros, Pierre Soulages and Vieira de Silva
- Had an interest in Japanese culture, and in 1960, he travelled to the country to see it firsthand
- Went on many successful one-man tours in which he read aloud from works ranging from the Bible to "The Dharma Bums" by Jack Kerouac
Awards
- 1932Photoplay Award - Best Performances of the Month (October):Winner
- 1932Photoplay Award - Best Performances of the Month (December):Winner
- 1933Photoplay Award - Best Performances of the Month (December):Winner
- 1933Photoplay Award - Best Performances of the Month (February):Winner
- 1934Oscar - Best Actor in a Leading Role:Winner
- 1934Photoplay Award - Best Performances of the Month (October):Winner
- 1935NYFCC Award - Best Actor:Winner
- 1935Photoplay Award - Best Performances of the Month (May):Winner
- 1935Photoplay Award - Best Performances of the Month (March):Winner
- 1936Oscar - Best Actor in a Leading Role:Nominated
- 1936Photoplay Award - Best Performances of the Month (January):Winner
- 1938NBR Award - Best Acting:Winner
- 1939Photoplay Award - Best Performances of the Month (March):Winner
- 1940Photoplay Award - Best Performances of the Month (March):Winner
- 1940Photoplay Award - Best Performances of the Month (March):Winner
- 1941Photoplay Award - Best Performances of the Month (January):Winner
- 1942Photoplay Award - Best Performances of the Month (September):Winner
- 1943Photoplay Award - Best Performances of the Month (June):Winner
- 1946Photoplay Award - Best Performances of the Month (April):Winner
- 1948Photoplay Award - Best Performances of the Month (April):Winner
- 1958Oscar - Best Actor in a Leading Role:Nominated
- 1958David - Best Foreign Actor (Migliore Attore Straniero):Winner
- 1958Golden Globe - Best Actor - Drama:Nominated
- 1959BAFTA Film Award - Best Foreign Actor:Nominated
- 1963BAFTA Film Award - Best Foreign Actor:Nominated