Albert Finney
A powerhouse of British acting who brought a combustible, earthy realism to the stage and screen, refusing to be tamed by tradition.
1936–2019 (age 83)·English actor·Birthday: May 9·The Silent Generation
Biography
Albert Finney erupted onto the scene as part of Britain's new wave of working-class actors, a burly, charismatic force who refused the shackles of stardom. His film debut in 'The Entertainer' and his star-making turn as the hedonistic 'Tom Jones' announced an actor of immense appetite and physicality. Finney, however, consistently subverted expectations. He turned down long-term contracts, dodged the title of 'the next Laurence Olivier', and instead forged a path of astonishing variety. He could be a terrifying gangster in 'Miller's Crossing', a crumbling detective in 'Under the Volcano', or a tender, aging playboy in 'Erin Brockovich'. On stage, he was a monumental presence, from Shakespeare to Peter Nichols. He directed films, sang in musicals, and approached each role not as a star, but as a craftsman, his performances marked by a deep, often roaring humanity.
The Silent Generation
1928–1945
Born between the Depression and the end of WWII. Too young to fight, old enough to remember. They became the conformist middle managers of the 1950s — and the civil rights leaders who quietly dismantled Jim Crow.
Albert was born in 1936, placing them squarely in The Silent Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Albert Was Born
The biggest hits of 1936
#1 Movie
San Francisco
Best Picture
The Great Ziegfeld
Albert's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1936Born
Jesse Owens wins four golds at the Berlin Olympics
Gas: $0.19/galPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"The Way You Look Tonight" — Fred AstaireBest Picture: The Great Ziegfeld
1941Started school
Pearl Harbor attack brings the US into WWII
Gas: $0.19/galHome: $3,060Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Chattanooga Choo Choo" — Glenn MillerBest Picture: How Green Was My Valley
1949Became a teenager
NATO founded; Mao proclaims the People's Republic of China
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $7,450Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Riders in the Sky" — Vaughn MonroeBest Picture: All the King's Men
1952Could drive
Queen Elizabeth II ascends the throne
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $8,350Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Blue Tango" — Leroy AndersonBest Picture: The Greatest Show on Earth
1954Could vote
Brown v. Board of Education desegregates US schools
Gas: $0.29/galHome: $8,925Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Little Things Mean a Lot" — Kitty KallenBest Picture: On the Waterfront
1957Turned 21
Sputnik launches the Space Age
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $10,550Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"All Shook Up" — Elvis PresleyBest Picture: The Bridge on the River Kwai
1966Turned 30
Star Trek premieres on television
Gas: $0.32/galHome: $14,200Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"The Ballad of the Green Berets" — SSgt Barry SadlerBest Picture: A Man for All Seasons
1976Turned 40
Apple Computer founded; US bicentennial
Gas: $0.59/galHome: $29,300Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"Silly Love Songs" — WingsBest Picture: Rocky
1986Turned 50
Challenger disaster; Chernobyl nuclear meltdown
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $66,600Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"That's What Friends Are For" — Dionne & FriendsBest Picture: Platoon
1996Turned 60
Dolly the sheep cloned
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $99,700Min wage: $4.75/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Macarena" — Los del RioBest Picture: The English Patient
2006Turned 70
Twitter launches; Pluto reclassified as dwarf planet
Gas: $2.59/galHome: $174,700Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Bad Day" — Daniel PowterBest Picture: The Departed
2016Turned 80
Donald Trump elected president; Brexit vote
Gas: $2.14/galHome: $181,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Love Yourself" — Justin BieberBest Picture: Moonlight
2019Died at 83
First image of a black hole; Hong Kong protests
Gas: $2.60/galHome: $224,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Old Town Road" — Lil Nas XBest Picture: Parasite
Key Achievements
- He received five Academy Award nominations across four different decades, for films including 'Tom Jones', 'Murder on the Orient Express', and 'Erin Brockovich'.
- He won a BAFTA Award for Best Actor for his performance in 'The Dresser' and an Emmy for the television film 'The Gathering Storm'.
- He originated the title role in John Osborne's play 'Luther' in London and on Broadway.
- He turned down a knighthood in the 1980s and again in 2000.
Did You Know?
He was offered the role of King Arthur in the film 'Camelot' but turned it down, a decision he later said he regretted.
He was a talented singer and performed his own songs in the musical film 'Scrooge', in which he played the title role.
He was one of the first actors to form his own production company, Memorial Enterprises, giving him greater control over his projects.
He studied at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) on a scholarship.
“I don't think of myself as a star. I think of myself as an actor who's been lucky.”
