Hugh Griffith

Griffith was born in Marian-glas, Anglesey, Wales, the youngest son of Mary and William Griffith.{{cite web |date=12 January 2009 |title=Hugh Griffith |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/arts/sites/hugh-griffith |access-date=16 April 2013 |publisher=BBC Wales Arts}} His sister was actress Elen Roger Jones. He was educated at Llangefni County School and attempted to gain entrance to university, but failed the English examination. He was then urged to make a career in banking, becoming a bank clerk and transferring to London to be closer to acting opportunities.{{cite book |title=The Welsh Academy Encyclopaedia of Wales |publisher=University of Wales Press |year=2008 |isbn=978-0-7083-1953-6 |editor1-last=Davies |editor1-first=John |editor1-link=John Davies (historian) |location=Cardiff |page=335 |editor2-last=Jenkins |editor2-first=Nigel |editor2-link=Nigel Jenkins |editor3-last=Menna |editor3-first=Baines |editor4-last=Lynch |editor4-first=Peredur I.}}

Just as he was making progress and gained admission to the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts, he had to suspend his plans in order to join the British Army, serving for six years with the Royal Welch Fusiliers in India and the Burma Campaign during the Second World War. He resumed his acting career in 1946, joining the Royal Shakespeare Company.{{Cite web |title=Hugh Emrys Griffith {{!}} Welsh Actor, Film Star, Lawrence of Arabia {{!}} Britannica |url=https://www.britannica.com/biography/Hugh-Emrys-Griffith |access-date=2023-12-25 |website=www.britannica.com |language=en}}

Between 1946 and 1976, Griffith won acclaim for many stage roles, in particular for his portrayals of Falstaff, Lear and Prospero. Griffith performed on both sides of the Atlantic, taking leading roles in London, New York City and Stratford. In 1952, he starred in the Broadway adaption of Legend of Lovers, alongside fellow Welsh actor Richard Burton.{{cite web|url=http://www.ibdb.com/production.php?id=2164|title=Legend of Lovers|publisher=IBDb.com|access-date=1 February 2011}}

In 1958, he was back in New York, this time taking a lead role in the opening production of Look Homeward, Angel, alongside Anthony Perkins.{{cite web|url=http://www.ibdb.com/production.php?id=2660|title=Look Homeward, Angel|publisher=IBDb.com|access-date=1 February 2011}} Both he and Perkins were nominated for the Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play.

Griffith began his film career in British films during the late 1940s, and by the 1950s was also working in Hollywood. He won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role in Ben-Hur (1959), and was nominated for his performance in Tom Jones (1963). In 1968, he appeared as the magistrate in Oliver!. His later career was often blighted by his chronic alcoholism.{{cite web|title=Dr. Phibes Rises Again|url=http://hollywoodgothique.com/drphibesrisesagain.html|last=Biodrowski|first=Steve|year=2004| publisher=Hollywood Gothique|access-date=16 April 2013}}{{cite news|title=New book tells of Wales' famous boozers| url=http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/2009/03/29/new-book-tells-of-wales-famous-boozers-91466-23254943|date=29 March 2009|last=Turner|first=Robin|work=Western Mail| publisher=walesonline.co.uk|access-date=16 April 2013}}

He played the funeral director Caradog Lloyd-Evans in the 1978 BBC Wales comedy Grand Slam. While visibly unwell at the time of shooting (years of alcohol abuse had taken their toll), Griffith's portrayal received widespread acclaim and helped the movie attain cult status.{{cn|date=January 2017}}

Griffith was attached to Orson Welles' unproduced 1960s adaptation of Treasure Island.

On television, he had major roles in Quatermass II (1955), a miniseries adaptation of A. J. Cronin's The Citadel (1960) and Clochemerle (1972).{{cn|date=January 2017}} He also appeared in an episode, 'The Talking Head', of Colonel March of Scotland Yard.

He received an honorary degree from the University of Wales, Bangor, in 1965.{{Cite ODNB|id=55467|title=Griffith, Hugh Emrys (1912–1980)}}

Griffith was married to Adelgunde Margaret Beatrice von Dechend in 1947. He was a lifelong friend and drinking companion of poet Dylan Thomas.

Griffith, after being unwell for about a year, died in 1980 at his home in Kensington, London, at age 67."Hugh Griffith, Oscar-Winning Actor In 1959 For His Role in 'Ben Hur,' Dies", The Washington Post, digital archives, 15 May 1980, C4. ProQuest Historical Newspapers. Retrieved 7 August 2019.

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• {{IMDb name|341518}}
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• [https://theatricalia.com/person/23y/hugh-griffith Hugh Griffith at Theatricalia]

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Category:1912 births

Category:1980 deaths

Category:Alumni of the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art

Category:Best Supporting Actor Academy Award winners

Category:British Army personnel of World War II

Category:Royal Welch Fusiliers soldiers

Category:Actors from Anglesey

Category:Welsh male film actors

Category:Welsh male stage actors

Category:Welsh male television actors

Category:People educated at Ysgol Gyfun Llangefni

Category:20th-century Welsh male actors

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Category:Military personnel from Anglesey