- Born
- Died
- Birth nameSamuel Wattenmacker
- Height6′ (1.83 m)
- Actor and director Sam Wanamaker was born in Chicago, Illinois, to Ukrainian Jewish immigrants, Molly (Babell) and Maurice Wattenmaker, a tailor. He studied at Drake University, IA, then trained at Goodman Theatre, Chicago, worked with summer stock companies in Chicago as an actor and director, and made his London debut in 1952. In 1957, he was appointed director of the New Shakespeare Theatre, Liverpool, and in 1959 joined the Shakespeare Memorial Theatre company at Stratford-upon-Avon. He produced or directed several works at Covent Garden and elsewhere in the 1960s and 1970s, including the Shakespeare Birthday Celebrations in 1974. He worked both as director and actor in films and television, his appearances included The Spiral Staircase (1975), Private Benjamin (1980), Superman IV: The Quest for Peace (1987), and Baby Boom (1987).
Married to Charlotte Holland, his daughter is actress Zoë Wanamaker.
- IMDb mini biography by: Lester A Dinerstein <lester1@earthlink.net>
- SpouseCharlotte Holland(May 25, 1940 - December 18, 1993) (his death, 3 children)
- Children
- ParentsMaurice WattenmackerMolly Bobele
- Deep, commanding baritone voice; easily confused for John Carradine.
- Although he was instrumental in the rebuilding of the Globe Theatre in London, England, he did not get to see the theatre's grand opening in 1997, having died of prostate cancer four years earlier.
- In 1993 he was awarded an honorary CBE (Commander of the Order of the British Empire) in the Queen's New Years Honours List for his services to the Globe Theater.
- Father, with Charlotte Holland, of daughters Abby Wanamaker, Jessica Wanamaker and actress Zoë Wanamaker.
- Served in the US army from 1943-46.
- After learning that he had been blacklisted during the "Red Scare" period of the late 1940s-1950s after filming Mr. Denning Drives North (1951) in the U.K., he stayed and settled in England.
Contribute to this page
Suggest an edit or add missing content
