- Born
- Died
- Birth nameDonald Woolfitt
- Height6′ 2″ (1.88 m)
- One of the great British stage actors of his era Donald Wolfit was noted for his magnificent portrayals of King Lear and Tamburlaine. Yet no actor of his generation was surrounded by more controversy. He was temperamental and difficult to deal with, enraged by criticism and tyrannical with the companies he led.
Although his talent was never in any doubt, critics often condemned his companies' poor supporting players and tasteless costumes. Even in death he had his critics.
Wolfit appeared in numerous theatre seasons at the Old Vic and Stratford-upon-Avon but preferred the life of a touring player and as the star of a vagabond troupe. He also appeared in many films and television plays. One of his most barnstorming performances was in the title role of the film Svengali (1954) in which, with his hypnotic real-life stare, he puts Hildegard Knef into a permanent trance.
The money from his film work helped to finance many of his stage productions. Wolfit is best remembered today as the inspiration for the film The Dresser (1983), in which Albert Finney plays a barnstorming actor-manager.
- IMDb mini biography by: Patrick Newley
- SpousesRosalind Iden(1948 - February 17, 1968) (his death)Susan Katherine Anthony(1934 - ?) (divorced, 2 children)Chris Castor(April 16, 1928 - 1934) (divorced, 1 child)
- ChildrenAdam Wolfit
- He had a particular hatred of Sir John Gielgud, who claimed he always worried whenever Wolfit had a big success in case "he now had the money to hire men to murder me". It was said where Wolfit could never bring himself to utter Gielgud's name, "save with a hiss". The two men nonetheless worked together in the film "Becket" with no injuries on either side.
- Although Sir Donald was a very good actor he was also quite vain and always surrounded himself with inexperienced or inferior actors so that his part always took center stage unchallenged by a better performer.
- Third wife Rosalind co-starred on Broadway with Donald in 1947 playing Cordelia to his Lear, Rosalind to his Touchstone, Portia to his Shylock, and Ophelia to his Hamlet.
- At the time that Laurence Olivier first played Richard III onstage in 1944, Wolfit's Richard had set the standard and was considered definitive, but Olivier's portrayal easily surpassed Wolfit's, and became the new standard by which other performances of the role have been judged.
- Appeared in three films that were nominated for the Best Picture Oscar: Room at the Top (1958), Lawrence of Arabia (1962) and Becket (1964). Of those only Lawrence of Arabia (1962) was a winner in the category.
- Garrick is my yardstick.
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