Job Actor, screenwriter, producer, director
Years active 1926-1962
Top Roles A Nightclub Diner, Rembrandt van Rijn, Rear Admiral Stephen Thomas, Fred K. Begley, Judge Lord Thomas Horfield
Top GenresDrama, Comedy, Crime, Romance, Film Adaptation, Historical
Top TopicsBook-Based, World War II, Based on Play
Top Collaborators , (Director), (Producer), (Director)
Shares birthday with Olivia de Havilland, William Wyler, Farley Granger  see more..

Charles Laughton Overview:

Legendary actor, Charles Laughton, was born on Jul 1, 1899 in Scarborough, Yorkshire. Laughton died at the age of 63 on Dec 15, 1962 in Hollywood, CA and was laid to rest in ashes interred at Forest Lawn Memorial Park (Hollywood Hills) Cemetery in Los Angeles, CA.

MINI BIO:

This light-haired, rubber-faced, thick-lipped English actor ran up such a string of brilliant characterizations in Hollywood (after winning an Oscar for his British-made Henry VIII) that his precise and plummy tones became the most imitated of all. Captain Bligh, Mr. Barrett, Rembrandt, Ruggles of Red Gap, Javert in Les Miserables, Nero and, perhaps best of all, Quasimodo: they were all memorably Laughton. From 1945 till 1953 his overripe performances were the despair of his supporters. But he came good again in his last few films (adding an Oscar nomination for Witness for the Prosecution to the one he had received for Mutiny on the Bounty) before his death from spinal cancer. Married to Elsa Lanchester (1902-1986) from 1929.

(Source: available at Amazon Quinlan's Film Stars).

HONORS and AWARDS:

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Charles Laughton was nominated for three Academy Awards, winning one for Best Actor for The Private Life of Henry VIII (as Henry VIII) in 1932/33.

Academy Awards

YearAwardFilm nameRoleResult
1932/33Best ActorThe Private Life of Henry VIII (1933)Henry VIIIWon
1935Best ActorMutiny on the Bounty (1935)Captain BlighNominated
1957Best ActorWitness for the Prosecution (1957)Sir Wilfrid RobartsNominated
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He was honored with one star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in the category of Motion Pictures. Charles Laughton's handprints and footprints were 'set in stone' at Grauman's Chinese Theater during imprint ceremony #66 on Jul 24, 1942.

BlogHub Articles:

Ray Milland and head the cast in “The Big Clock”

By Stephen Reginald on Jul 8, 2025 From Classic Movie Man

Ray Milland and head the cast in “The Big Clock” The Big Clock (1948) is an American film noir directed by John Farrow and starring Ray Milland and . The supporting cast included Maureen O’Sullivan (Mrs. John Farrow), George Macready, Rita John... Read full article


, John Mills, and Brenda de Banzie star in “Hobson’s Choice”

By Stephen Reginald on Jul 17, 2023 From Classic Movie Man

, John Mills, and Brenda de Banzie star in “Hobson’s Choice” Hobson’s Choice (1954) is a British romantic comedy film directed by David Lean and starring , John Mills, and Benda de Banzie. The film is based on the play of the same name wri... Read full article


The Night of the Hunter (1955), ’s horrifying masterpiece

By Carol Martinheira on Oct 8, 2021 From The Old Hollywood Garden

The Night of the Hunter (1955), ’s horrifying masterpiece On October 8, 2021October 8, 2021 By CarolIn Uncategorized Can you believe it?s October already? I certainly can?t. But you know what that means. Horror Month is here! And we kick off t... Read full article


and Maureen O’Hara check in at “Jamaica Inn”

By Stephen Reginald on Apr 23, 2021 From Classic Movie Man

and Maureen O’Hara check in at “Jamaica Inn” Jamaica Inn (1939) is a British period adventure movie directed by Alfred Hitchcock and starring and Maureen O’Hara. The film is based on the novel of the same name by Daphne du Maurier. The s... Read full article


Recites The Gettysburg Address

By Amanda Garrett on Nov 19, 2014 From Old Hollywood Films

On Nov. 19, 1863, Abraham Lincoln delivered the Gettysburg Address. There are many screen versions of that famous speech, but British actor 's rendition in Ruggles of Red Gap (1935) is my personal favorite. Laughton is playing an English valet who quiets a rowdy saloon in the wild We... Read full article


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Charles Laughton Quotes:

Captain William Bligh: Can you understand this, Mr. Byam? Discipline is the thing. A seaman's a seaman. A captain's a captain. And a midshipman, Sir Joseph or no Sir Joseph, is the lowest form of animal life in the British Navy.


Adam Mercy: May it please your Majesty, I accuse this man of piracy and murder!
Capt. William Kidd: Was ever a gentleman so misfortunate?
King William III: Lock him up in Newgate. He's to be held for the next session of the Court of Oyez and Terminer - there to be tried for his life.
[the palace guards grab Captain Kidd]
Capt. William Kidd: Hands off me, you scum! All I done was for the credit and for the honor and glory of England!


[Jonny is still chasing Anne around his living room]
Jonathan Reynolds Jr.: If you hear something snap, don't turn around - it'll be your neck.


read more quotes from Charles Laughton...



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Best Actor Oscar 1932/33




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Charles Laughton on the
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Charles Laughton Facts
Interred at Forest Lawn, Hollywood Hills, Los Angeles, California, USA, in the Court of Remembrance.

He greatly disliked children. Because of his disdain for them and the fact that he had to work with them in The Night of the Hunter (1955), most of the scenes with the children were directed by star Robert Mitchum, who had three children of his own.

In a memoir written after his death, Laughton's widow, Elsa Lanchester, stated they never had children because he was homosexual. According to Maureen O'Hara, however, Laughton once told her that not having children was his biggest regret, and that it was because Elsa could not bear children as a result of an botched abortion she had early in her career while performing burlesque. It is possible both stories are true. Whether Lanchester ever had an abortion (which would have been illegal at the time) is not known, but it is known that Charles Laughton was gay. That fact, however, would not have precluded parenthood. There is, additionally, Laughton's reputed great dislike of children. It is possible he said what he did to Maureen O'Hara because he knew she was a VERY devout Roman Catholic and, having been schooled by Jesuits himself, he wanted to play a little joke on her sensibilities.

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