What was Laurence Olivier’s Net Worth?
Laurence Olivier was an English actor, director and producer who had a net worth equal to $20 million at the time of his death, after adjusting for inflation. He was considered one of the greatest actors of the 20th century.
Olivier appeared in more than 120 stage roles, nearly 60 films and more than 15 television productions. He was nominated for Academy Awards as either an actor, producer or director twelve times, winning twice, and was also honored with two special Oscars.
The son of a clergyman, Olivier was well educated and introduced to the arts at an early age. He made his acting debut at 15 and joined The Birmingham Repertory company in 1926. By the time Olivier appeared in Fire Over England, he was a hot commodity, made even hotter by his well-publicized affair with his costar, Vivien Leigh.
Olivier’s most productive period came from directing and producing, which he did while also starring in Henry V (1944) and Hamlet (1948). He won Best Film and Best Actor awards for Hamlet from the Academy.
Burdened by ill health issues for more than a decade, Olivier fought cancer and other ailments while still working at a furious pace. He was knighted in 1947 and in 1970 he was made Baron Olivier of Brighton for services to the theater. In America, he was given a special Oscar “for the full body of his work, the unique achievement of his entire career and his lifetime of contribution to the art of film.”
Sir Laurence Olivier passed away in Ashurst, West Sussex, England of renal failure on July 11, 1989, at the age of 82.
Early Life and Education
Laurence Olivier was born in Dorking, UK, on May 22, 1907, to parents Gerard Olivier and Agnes Crookenden. He had two older siblings. His father was an ordained priest in the Church of England but practiced a much-disliked form of Anglicanism, which made it difficult for him to find permanent postings. This resulted in a nomadic existence for Olivier during his early years. However, in 1912, his father secured a permanent post, and the family lived in Pimlico for six years.
At the age of 9, Olivier passed a singing examination for admission to the choir school of All Saints, Margaret Street, in central London. This is where he started acting in school productions of “Julius Caesar,” “The Taming of the Shrew,” and “Twelfth Night.” He then went on to attend St. Edwards School in Oxford, where he continued acting. After completing school in 1924, he enrolled for one year at the Central School of Speech Training and Dramatic Art.
Laurence Olivier’s Career and Awards
Laurence Olivier started his acting career in small touring companies and then joined the Birmingham Repertory Company in 1926. He landed small film roles in 1930 and then moved to Hollywood in 1931 after RKO Pictures offered him a two-film contract at $1000 a week. He became a star after playing in “Romeo and Juliet” in 1935 and also acted in the film “Wuthering Heights” in 1939. Olivier became a co-director of the Old Vic and performed in some of his most highly celebrated roles including “Richard III” and “Oedipus.” He also played the title role in “The Entertainer” and founded Britain’s National Theatre.
Olivier’s film career really took off in the 1960s and 1970s with appearances in “Spartacus,” “The Shoes of the Fisherman,” “Sleuth,” “Marathon Man,” and “The Boys from Brazil.” He also made television appearances in “The Moon and Sixpence,” “Long Day’s Journey into Night,” “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof,” and “King Lear.” He received numerous awards and accolades including knighthood in England, the Order of Merit, and four Academy Awards. The National Theatre in London named their largest auditorium in his honor and his memory is commemorated in the Laurence Olivier Awards.
Olivier was known for transforming completely for different characters, changing his appearance considerably from role to role, and using different voices and accents. He received honorary doctorate degrees from Tufts University, Oxford University, and Edinburgh University and was inducted into the Hollywood Walk of Fame in February of 1960.
Marriages, Illness, and Death of Laurence Olivier
Laurence Olivier married Jill Esmond in 1930, but their marriage was short-lived as Esmond was in love with someone else. They remained married until 1940. Olivier then married Vivien Leigh, but they divorced in 1960 after 20 years of marriage. He later married Joan Plowright in 1961, and they remained married until his death in 1989.
Olivier’s last years were plagued with illness, and he died of kidney failure in July of 1989 at the age of 82. He was cremated three days later, and his ashes were buried in Poets’ Corner of Westminster Abbey during a memorial service that year. He is one of only two actors interred in Poets’ Corner.
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