Anthony Quayle
A distinguished British stage actor and wartime operative who brought gravitas and intelligence to classic Hollywood epics.
1913–1989 (age 76)·British actor·Birthday: September 7·The Greatest Generation
Biography
Anthony Quayle's authority on screen felt earned, because it was. Before he became a familiar face in 1960s historical spectacles, he had a formidable career in the theatre, both as an actor and as the director of the Shakespeare Memorial Theatre. More remarkably, during World War II, he served as an officer in British military intelligence, organizing resistance operations in Nazi-occupied Albania. This real-life experience of command and danger informed his later performances. In films like 'The Guns of Navarone' and 'Lawrence of Arabia,' he played military men and advisors with a palpable, weary competence. He never sought the romantic lead; instead, he excelled as the steady, often brilliant, supporting pillar—a quality recognized with an Oscar nomination for his Cardinal Wolsey in 'Anne of the Thousand Days.' Knighted in 1985, Quayle represented a breed of actor whose depth extended far beyond the footlights.
The Greatest Generation
1901–1927
Grew up during the Depression, fought World War II, and built the postwar economic boom. Defined by shared sacrifice, institutional trust, and a belief that hard work and loyalty would be rewarded.
Anthony was born in 1913, placing them squarely in The Greatest 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 Anthony Was Born
The biggest hits of 1913
Anthony's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1913Born
The Federal Reserve is established
President: Woodrow Wilson
1918Started school
World War I ends; Spanish flu pandemic kills millions
President: Woodrow Wilson
1926Became a teenager
Robert Goddard launches the first liquid-fueled rocket
President: Calvin Coolidge"Baby Face" — Jan Garber
1929Could drive
Wall Street crashes, triggering the Great Depression
Gas: $0.21/galPresident: Herbert Hoover"Singin' in the Rain" — Cliff EdwardsBest Picture: The Broadway Melody
1931Could vote
The Empire State Building opens as the world's tallest
Gas: $0.17/galPresident: Herbert Hoover"Minnie the Moocher" — Cab CallowayBest Picture: Cimarron
1934Turned 21
Gas: $0.19/galPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Stars Fell on Alabama" — Jack TeagardenBest Picture: It Happened One Night
1943Turned 30
Allies invade Sicily; Battle of Stalingrad ends
Gas: $0.21/galHome: $3,290Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"I've Heard That Song Before" — Harry JamesBest Picture: Casablanca
1953Turned 40
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
1963Turned 50
JFK assassinated in Dallas; Martin Luther King's 'I Have a Dream' speech
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $13,100Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"Sugar Shack" — Jimmy Gilmer & The FireballsBest Picture: Tom Jones
1973Turned 60
US withdraws from Vietnam; Roe v. Wade decided
Gas: $0.39/galHome: $22,100Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree" — Tony Orlando & DawnBest Picture: The Sting
1983Turned 70
Internet adopts TCP/IP, creating the modern internet
Gas: $1.16/galHome: $57,700Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Every Breath You Take" — The PoliceBest Picture: Terms of Endearment
1989Died at 76
Berlin Wall falls; Tiananmen Square protests
Gas: $1.00/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Look Away" — ChicagoBest Picture: Driving Miss Daisy
Key Achievements
- Received an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor for his role as Cardinal Wolsey in 'Anne of the Thousand Days.'
- Served as the director of the Shakespeare Memorial Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon from 1948 to 1956.
- Played key supporting roles in several major 1960s epics, including 'The Guns of Navarone' and 'Lawrence of Arabia.'
- Was knighted in 1985 for his services to drama.
Did You Know?
He wrote two novels based on his wartime experiences in the Special Operations Executive (SOE).
He was the first actor to play 'Inspector Morse' on television, in a 1965 adaptation.
He founded the touring company Compass Theatre in 1972.
“An actor must be able to stand still and command the stage.”
