Date of Birth : Jul 1st 1899
The heavyset, wry?faced Englishman first appeared in America in two thrillers, Payment Deferred (1931) and The Fatal Alibi (1932). He did not return to the stage until after a long, distinguished film career, appearing in his own adaptation of Galileo (1947) then playing the Devil in Don Juan in Hell (1951), also directing the production. He next adapted and directed John Brown’s Body (1953) and staged The Caine Mutiny Court?Martial (1954). Laughton’s last appearance was as Undershaft in a 1956 revival of Major Barbara, which he staged. Biographies: Charles Laughton and I, Elsa Lanchester (his wife), 1939; Charles Laughton: A Difficult Actor, Simon Callow, 1987.
CAREER
Dead Men Don’t Wear Plaid ( 1982 )
Spartacus ( 1960 )
Hobson’s Choice ( 1954 )
Jamaica Inn ( 1939 )
Mutiny on the Bounty ( 1935 )