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Biography
Frank Finlay (b. 1926) is a highly respected British actor of international repute. He left school at the age of 14 and did a variety of odd jobs. He became interested in the theatre and played in productions of several local amateur drama and opera companies. After his professional debut in Scotland in 1951, he was awarde the Sir James Knott Scholarship at the London's Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA). He went from there to the Guildford Repertory Company.
He was 31 before he made his London debut, which he did after joining the English Stage Company at the Royal Court. He proved his versatility and acting ability in a succession of the new, ground-breaking plays that the company presented: Donald Howarth’s Sugar in the Morning (1959); John Arden’s Sergeant Musgrave’s Dance (1959); and Arnold Wesker’s Chicken Soup With Barley (1958), Roots (1959), I’m Talking About Jerusalem (1960) and Chips with Everything (1962).
Laurence Olivier then invited him join the National Theatre Company when he played Willie Mossup in Hobson’s Choice (1864) and then a powerful Iago to Olivier’s Othello. This production of Othello (1964) is considered to have been the best of the era and went on an extensive international tour that included Russia. In 1965, when the production was made into a film, it was Finlay’s performance that was showered with critical praise – he was nominated for an Academy, Golden Globe and BAFTA awards and won the Best Actor Award at the San Sebastian International Film Festival.
Othello was Frank Finlay’s eighth film, although he had played minor roles in all but the previous one, A Study in Terror (1965), a Sherlock Holmes film in which he was Inspector Lestrade. He played the same part again in Murder by Decree (1979). In these films and Othello played a strong supporting character actor in a historical situation and tat has been the feature of almost all the films he has made. They include the definitive portrayal of Porthos in The Three Musketeers (1973), The Four Musketeers (1974) and The Return of the Musketeers (1989); Jacob Marley in George C. Scott version of A Christmas Carol (1984); and Sergei Alleluveya in Stalin (1992). His most recent work includes the title role in the excellent short feature, The Ghosthunter (2000), and the Father in Roman Polanski’s The Pianist (2002).
With his bushy eyebrows, heavy eyelids and strong facial features, Finlay has never been, even at the start of his career, a conventional handsome leading actor. It has been his acting that has distinguished him. His relaxed, apparently effortless manner that can erupt suddenly into anger or despair has riveted audiences. It is not surprising then that his best work has most often even been seen, not in films, but in the theatre and on television.
He has won two BAFTA Awards for his television performances in The Death of Adolf Hitler (1973) and as Sancho Panza in The Adventures of Don Quixote (1973). His many other starring roles in television mini-series include 84 Charing Cross Road (1975); the lead role of Peter Manson in the controversial Bouquet of Barbed Wire (1976) and Another Bouquet (1977); and the critically acclaimed The Sins (2000).
He was made a Commander of the British Empire (CBE) in the 1984 New Year's Honours List.
| Items for Sale on Collectors' Post |
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| 012539 |
Theatre: Programs (UK) - post 1939 | THE DUTCH COURTESAN (by John Marston) with FRANK FINLAY & BILLIE WHITELAW |
| 013237 |
Theatre: Programs (UK) - post 1939 | CHIPS WITH EVERYTHING (by Arnold Wesker) with FRANK FINLAY & JOHN HURT |
| 013414 |
Theatre: Programs (UK) - post 1939 | AFTER HAGGERTY by David Mercer |
| 014496 |
Theatre: Programs (UK) - post 1939 | BEYOND REASONABLE DOUBT (by Jeffrey Archer) with Frank Finlay |
| 014715 |
Theatre: Programs (UK) - post 1939 | THE CHERRY ORCHARD (by Anton Chekov) with JOAN PLOWRIGHT & FRANK FINLAY |
| 008664 |
Theatre: Photos - Signed | FRANK FINLAY - signed photo |
| 008665 |
Theatre: Photos - Signed | FRANK FINLAY - signed photo |
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