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Derek Jacobi Biography

Birth Name:Derek George Jacobi

Birth Place:London, England, United Kingdom

Profession Actor, Soundtrack, Producer

Fast Facts

  • Holds two knighthoods, one Danish and one English
  • Early in his career, Laurence Olivier inviting him to become one of the founding members of the new National Theatre
  • Highlights the flaws, eccentricities and internal conflicts of his characters
  • Is known as a Shakespearian actor, but has branched out to play a number of historical figures, as well as more modern roles
  • Actor Ian McKellen claims to have had a crush on him during their time at the University of Cambridge
  • Supports the Oxfordian theory of Shakespeare authorship, which holds that Edward de Vere, 17th Earl of Oxford, actually wrote the works of Shakespeare, and has encouraged further academic research into the subject

Awards

  • 1977BAFTA TV Award-Best Actor: winner
  • 1978BAFTA TV Award-Best Actor: nominated
  • 1979TP de Oro-Best Foreign Actor (Mejor Actor Extranjero): nominated
  • 1982Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or a Special: nominated
  • 1988Evening Standard British Film Award-Best Actor: winner
  • 1989Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Series, Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television: nominated
  • 1989Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or a Special: winner
  • 1992BAFTA Film Award-Best Actor in a Supporting Role: nominated
  • 1998BAFTA TV Award-Best Actor: nominated
  • 1998Best British Performance-: winner
  • 1999Evening Standard British Film Award-Best Actor: winner
  • 1999Golden Satellite Award-Best Actor in a Motion Picture, Drama: nominated
  • 2001Actor-Outstanding Performance by the Cast of a Theatrical Motion Picture: nominated
  • 2001ACCA-Best Cast Ensemble: nominated
  • 2001Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series: winner
  • 2002Actor-Outstanding Performance by the Cast of a Theatrical Motion Picture: winner
  • 2002Critics Choice Award-Best Acting Ensemble: winner
  • 2002FFCC Award-Best Ensemble Cast: winner
  • 2002OFCS Award-Best Ensemble: winner
  • 2002PFCS Award-Best Acting Ensemble: nominated
  • 2002Special Achievement Award-Outstanding Motion Picture Ensemble: winner
  • 2010PFCS Award-Best Ensemble Acting: nominated
  • 2011Actor-Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture: winner
  • 2011Irina Palm-Worst British Supporting Actor: nominated
  • 2011Jury Award-Best Motion Picture Ensemble of the Year: winner
  • 2012Golden Nymph-Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series: nominated
  • 2013BAFTA TV Award-Best Leading Actor: nominated
  • 2014Satellite Award-Best Actor in a Series, Drama: nominated
  • 2024Festival Award-Best Ensemble Cast: winner
  • 2024Best Supporting Actor-Best Supporting Actor in a Feature Film: winner
  • 2024Best Ensemble-Best Ensemble in a Feature Film: winner
  • 2024Festival Award-Best Supporting Actor: winner
  • 2024Festival Award-Best Ensemble in a Feature Film: winner
  • 2024Festival Award-Best Ensemble Cast: winner
  • 2024Festival Award-Best Supporting Actor in a Feature Film: winner
  • 2024Major's Award-Best Supporting Actor: winner
  • 2024Reel East Texas Film Festival Reel Award-Best Supporting Actor - Feature: winner