Personal Info
Known For
Acting
Born
April 2, 1914
Died
August 5, 2000 (age 86)
Place of Birth
Marylebone, London, England, UK
Also Known As
Alec Guinness de Cuffe
Sir Alec Guinness
Alec Guinness
Biography
Sir Alec Guinness, CH, CBE (born Alec Guinness de Cuffe; 2 April 1914 – 5 August 2000) was an English actor. He was featured in several of the Ealing Comedies, including Kind Hearts and Coronets in which he played eight different characters. He later won the Academy Award for Best Actor for his role as Colonel Nicholson in The Bridge on the River Kwai. He is most well known for playing Obi-Wan Kenobi in the original Star Wars trilogy. He also played Prince Feisal in Lawrence of Arabia and George Smiley in the TV adaptation of Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy.
Known For
TV
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert
Obi-Wan Kenobi (archive footage) (uncredited)
2015
TV
Great Performances
Father Quixote
1971
TV
ITV Playhouse
Jocelyn Broome
1967
Film
Star Wars
Obi-Wan "Ben" Kenobi
1977
TV
Apostrophes
Self
1975
TV
The Steve Allen Show
Self - Set of "The Bridge on the River Kwai"
1956
TV
The Ed Sullivan Show
Self
1948
TV
Performance
Heinrich Mann
1991
TV
Omnibus
Self
1967
TV
The Oscars
Self
1953
Film
Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker
Obi-Wan Kenobi (archive voice)
2019
Film
Star Wars: The Force Awakens
Obi-Wan Kenobi (archive sound) (uncredited)
2015
Film
The Empire Strikes Back
Obi-Wan Kenobi
1980
TV
MGM Parade
self
1955
TV
Startime
Jebal Deeks
1959
TV
The South Bank Show
Self
1978
Film
Return of the Jedi
Ben 'Obi-Wan' Kenobi
1983
Film
Lawrence of Arabia
Prince Feisal
1962
TV
Talking Pictures
Self (archive footage)
2013
Film
Doctor Zhivago
Gen. Yevgraf Zhivago
1965
Filmography
2021FilmA Pee, a Poop, a Plate: Paradise (Heidi in Dreamland)as Self (archive footage)2019FilmStar Wars: The Rise of Skywalkeras Obi-Wan Kenobi (archive voice)2015FilmStar Wars: The Force Awakensas Obi-Wan Kenobi (archive sound) (uncredited)2015FilmStar Wars: Evolution of the Lightsaber Duelas Self2015TVThe Late Show with Stephen Colbertas Obi-Wan Kenobi (archive footage) (uncredited)2013TVTalking Picturesas Self (archive footage)2012FilmStarring Sigmund Freudas (archive footage)2007FilmHitler: The Comedy Yearsas Adolf Hitler (archive footage) (uncredited)2006FilmGrace Kelly: Destiny of a Princessas Self - Actor (archive footage)2004FilmWhen Star Wars Ruled the Worldas Obi-Wan Kenobi (archive footage)2004FilmThe Story of Star Warsas Obi-Wan Kenobi (archive footage)2000FilmThe Making of 'The Bridge on the River Kwai'as Self (archive footage)1996FilmEskimo Dayas James1995FilmMute Witnessas The Reaper1993FilmA Foreign Fieldas Amos1993FilmAudrey Hepburn: Rememberedas Self (archive footage)1992FilmTales from Hollywoodas Heinrich Mann1991FilmKafkaas The Chief Clerk1991TVPerformanceas Heinrich Mann1989TVScreen Oneas Amos1988FilmA Handful of Dustas Mr. Todd1987FilmLittle Dorritas William Dorrit1987FilmGrace Kelly: The American Princessas Self (archive footage)1985FilmMonsignor Quixoteas Father Quixote1985FilmDavid Lean: A Life in Filmas Self1984FilmA Passage to Indiaas Professor Godbole1984FilmEdwinas Sir Fennimore Truscott1983FilmReturn of the Jedias Ben 'Obi-Wan' Kenobi1983FilmLovesickas Sigmund Freud1982TVSmiley's Peopleas George Smiley1980FilmLittle Lord Fauntleroyas Earl of Dorincourt1980FilmSP FX: The Empire Strikes Backas Obi Wan Kenobi1980FilmRaise the Titanicas John Bigalow1980FilmThe Empire Strikes Backas Obi-Wan Kenobi1979TVTinker Tailor Soldier Spyas George Smiley1978FilmThe Art of Film: The Many Roles of Alec Guinness1978FilmThe Star Wars Holiday Specialas Ben (Obi-Wan) Kenobi (archive footage) (uncredited)1978TVThe South Bank Showas Self1977FilmThe Making of Star Warsas Self1977FilmStar Warsas Obi-Wan "Ben" Kenobi1976FilmMurder by Deathas Butler Jamesir Bensonmum1976FilmCaesar and Cleopatraas Caesar1975TVApostrophesas Self1974FilmThe Gift of Friendshipas Jocelyn Broome1973FilmHitler: The Last Ten Daysas Adolf Hitler1972FilmBrother Sun, Sister Moonas Papst Innozenz III.1971TVGreat Performancesas Father Quixote1970FilmScroogeas Jacob Marley's Ghost1970FilmThe Ealing Comediesas Self1970FilmCromwellas King Charles I1970FilmTwelfth Nightas Malvolio1967FilmThe Comediansas Major H. O. Jones1967TVOmnibusas Self1967TVITV Playhouseas Jocelyn Broome1967FilmThe Comedians in Africaas Self (uncredited)1967FilmLionpower from MGMas Self - Major H. O. Jones (archive footage) (uncredited)1966FilmThe Quiller Memorandumas Pol1966FilmHotel Paradisoas Benedict Boniface1965FilmPasternakas Self (archive footage)1965FilmDoctor Zhivagoas Gen. Yevgraf Zhivago1965FilmSituation Hopeless — But Not Seriousas Wilhelm Frick1964FilmThe Fall of the Roman Empireas Marcus Aurelius1962FilmLawrence of Arabiaas Prince Feisal1962FilmH.M.S. Defiantas Captain Crawford1961FilmA Majority of Oneas Koichi Asano1960FilmTunes of Gloryas Maj. Jock Sinclair, D.S.O., M.M.1960FilmOur Man in Havanaas Jim Wormold1959TVStartimeas Jebal Deeks1959FilmThe Scapegoatas John Barratt / Jacques De Gue1958FilmThe Horse's Mouthas Gulley Jimson1958FilmThe Rise and Fall of a Jungle Giantas Self1957FilmBarnacle Billas Captain William Horatio Ambrose1957FilmThe Bridge on the River Kwaias Col. Nicholson1956TVThe Steve Allen Showas Self - Set of "The Bridge on the River Kwai"1956FilmThe Swanas Prince Albert1955FilmThe Ladykillersas Professor Marcus1955TVMGM Paradeas self1955FilmThe Prisoneras The Cardinal1955FilmTo Paris with Loveas Sir Edgar Fraser1955FilmRowlandson's Englandas Narrator1954FilmThe Stratford Adventureas Self1954FilmFather Brownas Father Brown1953FilmThe Captain's Paradiseas Captain Henry St. James1953FilmMalta Storyas Flight Lt. Peter Ross1953TVThe Oscarsas Self1952FilmThe Cardas Edward Henry 'Denry' Machin1951TVHallmark Hall of Fameas Julius Caesar1951FilmThe Man in the White Suitas Sidney Stratton1951FilmThe Lavender Hill Mobas Henry 'Dutch' Holland1950FilmThe Mudlarkas Benjamin Disraeli1950FilmLast Holidayas George Bird1949FilmA Run for Your Moneyas Whimple1949FilmKind Hearts and Coronetsas The D'Ascoyne Family: The Duke / The Banker / The Parson / The General / The Admiral / Young Ascoyne / Young Henry / Lady Agatha1948FilmOliver Twistas Fagin1948TVThe Ed Sullivan Showas Self1946FilmGreat Expectationsas Herbert Pocket1934FilmEvensongas W.W.I. soldier in concert audience (uncredited)