Anthony Andrews
He defined a certain aristocratic, tragic glamour for a generation as the hauntingly beautiful Sebastian Flyte in 'Brideshead Revisited'.
Born 1948 (age 78)·British actor·Birthday: January 12·Baby Boomers
Biography
Anthony Andrews, born in London in 1948, began his career not on the stage but behind the scenes, working as a stage manager before his acting talent pushed him into the spotlight. His early television work in the 1970s, including the bomb-disposal drama 'Danger UXB', showcased a versatile leading man. But it was his 1981 portrayal of the doomed, teddy-bear-clutching aristocrat Sebastian Flyte in the television adaptation of 'Brideshead Revisited' that made him a household name. The role captured a very specific kind of English melancholy and hedonism, earning him a BAFTA and a Golden Globe. This success propelled him into a string of classic literary adaptations, including a swashbuckling turn in 'The Scarlet Pimpernel'. While often associated with period drama, Andrews has shown range in film, playing Prime Minister Stanley Baldwin in 'The King's Speech', and on stage, where he has tackled roles from Shakespeare to David Mamet. His career represents a bridge between classic British television craftsmanship and enduring screen charisma.
Baby Boomers
1946–1964
The largest generation in history at the time. Shaped by postwar prosperity, the Vietnam War, the sexual revolution, and Watergate. They questioned every institution their parents built — then ran them.
Anthony was born in 1948, placing them squarely in the Baby Boomers. The events that shaped this generation — postwar prosperity, civil rights, Vietnam, and the counterculture — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Anthony Was Born
The biggest hits of 1948
#1 Movie
The Red Shoes
Best Picture
Hamlet
#1 TV Show
Texaco Star Theatre
Anthony's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1948Born
Israel declares independence; Berlin Blockade begins
Gas: $0.26/galHome: $7,450Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Twelfth Street Rag" — Pee Wee HuntBest Picture: Hamlet
1953Started school
DNA structure discovered by Watson and Crick
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $8,750Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Song from Moulin Rouge" — Percy FaithBest Picture: From Here to Eternity
1961Became a teenager
Yuri Gagarin becomes the first human in space
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $12,500Min wage: $1.15/hrPresident: John F. Kennedy"Tossin' and Turnin'" — Bobby LewisBest Picture: West Side Story
1964Could drive
Civil Rights Act signed; Beatles arrive in America
Gas: $0.30/galHome: $13,450Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"I Want to Hold Your Hand" — The BeatlesBest Picture: My Fair Lady
1966Could vote
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
1969Turned 21
Apollo 11: humans walk on the Moon; Woodstock festival
Gas: $0.35/galHome: $15,550Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Sugar, Sugar" — The ArchiesBest Picture: Midnight Cowboy
1978Turned 30
First test-tube baby born
Gas: $0.63/galHome: $35,300Min wage: $2.65/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Shadow Dancing" — Andy GibbBest Picture: The Deer Hunter
1988Turned 40
Pan Am Flight 103 bombed over Lockerbie
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $74,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Faith" — George MichaelBest Picture: Rain Man
1998Turned 50
Google founded; Clinton impeachment
Gas: $1.06/galHome: $107,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Too Close" — NextBest Picture: Shakespeare in Love
2008Turned 60
Barack Obama elected first Black US president; financial crisis
Gas: $3.27/galHome: $153,100Min wage: $6.55/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Low" — Flo RidaBest Picture: Slumdog Millionaire
2018Turned 70
Royal wedding of Harry and Meghan; Parkland shooting
Gas: $2.72/galHome: $211,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"God's Plan" — DrakeBest Picture: Green Book
2026Age 78 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- He won a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor for his role in 'Brideshead Revisited' in 1982.
- He received a BAFTA TV Award for Best Actor for his performance in 'Brideshead Revisited'.
- He starred in the title role of the popular 1982 television film 'The Scarlet Pimpernel'.
- He played British Prime Minister Stanley Baldwin in the Oscar-winning film 'The King's Speech'.
Did You Know?
He nearly died from water intoxication after drinking too much fluid while preparing for a role in the 1990s.
He was originally cast as Tristan Farnon in the BBC series 'All Creatures Great and Small' but had to drop out.
He is married to the actress Georgina Simpson, whom he met while performing in a play.
He provided the voice for the character of Colonel Creedy in the video game 'The Order: 1886'.
“An actor must serve the text, not the other way around.”
