London SE1 > News & Features > June 2000

Sir John Gielgud 1904-2000

Sir John Gielgud, who has died at the age of 96, made his first stage appearance in 1921 at the Old Vic playing the English herald in Shakespeare's Henry V. In 1929, when The Cut was still a late night market area, he returned to join Lilian Baylis's company and after three years in Waterloo had made his lasting reputation. No actor has since taken on so many leading Shakespeare roles. In 1940 he was back at the Old Vic playing Lear to an audience which included soldiers on leave. In 1974, when Peter Hall caused controversy with a production of The Tempest, Gielgud played Prospero.

Leigh Hatts