Joined the British army during World War II, but after suffering from vertigo and rheumatic fever (and breaking his leg), he performed magic for an entertainment unit in Singapore
In college, was president of the Oxford Experimental Theatre Company
Worked as an actor in the '50s, touring Australia and New Zealand with writer-director Ngao Marsh's troupe, and appearing in British films and TV shows
First dramatic film was 1962's A Kind of Loving, starring Alan Bates; his breakout film, Billy Liar, came a year later
Made a Commander of the British Empire by Queen Elizabeth in 1970
Appointed associate director of London's National Theatre in 1973
Suffered a stroke in December 2000, from which he never fully recovered
Awards
1980BAFTA Film Awards-Best Direction:nominated
1979National Board of Review-Best Director:winner
1977Golden Globe-Best Director - Motion Picture:nominated
1972BAFTA Film Awards-Best Direction:winner
1971Directors Guild of America Awards-Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Feature Film:nominated
1971Oscar-Best Achievement in Directing:nominated
1970Golden Globe-Best Director - Motion Picture:nominated
1970BAFTA Film Awards-Best Direction:winner
1969Oscar-Best Achievement in Directing:winner
1969Directors Guild of America Awards-Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Feature Film:winner
1966Golden Globe-Best Director - Motion Picture:nominated
1966BAFTA Film Awards-Best British Film:nominated
1965Oscar-Best Achievement in Directing:nominated
1965National Board of Review-Best Director:winner
1965New York Film Critics Circle-Best Director:winner
1965Directors Guild of America Awards-Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Feature Film:nominated