Peter Finch
Peter Finch, Peter Ingle - Finch actually Frederick ( born September 28, 1916 in London, United Kingdom, † January 14, 1977 in Los Angeles, USA ) was a British film and stage actor.
Biography
Spent his childhood Peter Finch mostly in France, India and Australia, the homeland of his parents. After leaving school he took numerous low-paying odd jobs in Sydney until he decided early 30s to become an actor.
1935 Finch began to play theater and to work in radio. Three years later he was in Dad and Dave come to Town his screen debut. On one of his stage performances he was discovered by the acting legend Laurence Olivier and brought back to London. Later he had an affair with Olivier's wife, actress Vivien Leigh.
Since Finch had a lot of stage fright, he focused on mid-40s emphasis on his film career. His first British production was Eureka Stockade of 1949. A year later he went to Hollywood, where he had a supporting role in the drama The Miniver Story. At the Berlinale 1961, he was awarded the Silver Bear for Best Actor.
In the following years, he starred in, among others, The Story of Robin Hood, Nun's Story, Beyond the Ruwenzori, John Schlesinger's The Madding Crowd and The Flight of the Phoenix. 1971 Finch worked for Sunday, Bloody Sunday again with Schlesinger together and received an Oscar nomination.
On 14 January 1977 Finch died of a heart attack. A few months later he was awarded for his portrayal of crazed television presenter Howard Beale in the media satire Network with the Oscar; the award was accepted by his widow Eletha Finch. Finch and Heath Ledger are the only actor who received an Oscar posthumously.
Peter Finch was married three times and has four children.