Sir John Gielgud ( ; 1904–2000) was an English actor and theatre director. He appeared on stage, television and radio and in film in a career that spanned eight decades. Film historian Brian McFarlane, writing for the British Film Institute, wrote of Gielgud that "in terms of the performing arts, it is no exaggeration to say that he towered over the century".

Gielgud, a member of the theatrical dynasty the Terry family, began working on stage in 1921 before attending the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art. After completing his studies he worked in repertory theatre and in the West End before establishing himself at the Old Vic in the 1930s. He continued working on the stage until 1990 both as a director and actor. Although he made some films early in his career, he did not start working regularly in the medium until he was in his sixties; in the course of just over thirty years between 1964 and 1998 he appeared in over sixty films. He was active on television and radio, appearing in numerous plays and interviews, and was also in demand as a narrator.

Gielgud is one of the few people who have received all four major annual American entertainment awards, these being an Oscar (for Arthur, 1981); an Emmy, (for Summer's Lease, 1991); a Grammy (for Ages of Man, 1979); and Tony Awards (for The Importance of Being Earnest, 1948; Ages of Man, 1959; Big Fish, Little Fish, 1961). He also won BAFTA Awards, (for Julius Caesar, 1953; Murder on the Orient Express, 1975) and Golden Globe Awards, (for Arthur and War and Remembrance, 1988). He was awarded with a BAFTA Fellowship in 1992 and a Laurence Olivier Special Award in 1985. Gielgud died on 21 May 2000, at the age of 96.

Stage credits

As actor This table contains Gielgud's known professional theatrical roles. It also contains the occasions when he both acted and directed. It does not contain those productions where Gielgud was a director but did not appear on stage.

+ Gielgud's stage credits Production Date Theatre(London, unless otherwise noted) Role Notes Henry V Herald King Lear Walk on role Peer Gynt  – April 1922 Walk on role As You Like It Walk on role Wat Tyler Walk on role Love is the Best Doctor Walk on role Walk on role New Theatre Oxford, then touring Eton College Younger Brother Regent Theatre Felix, the Poet Butterfly Robert E. Lee Regent Theatre Aide-de-camp Charley's Aunt Comedy Theatre Captain Brassbound's Conversion Oxford Playhouse Johnson Mr Pim Passes By Oxford Playhouse Love for Love Oxford Playhouse Valentine She Stoops to Conquer Oxford Playhouse Young Marlowe Monna Vanna Oxford Playhouse Prinzevalle Romeo and Juliet RADA Theatre Romeo and Juliet Regent Theatre Romeo RADA Theatre Candida Oxford Playhouse Deirdre of the Sorrows Oxford Playhouse Naoise Oxford Playhouse Everybody's Husband Oxford Playhouse Oxford Playhouse Antonio John Gabriel Borkman Oxford Playhouse His Widow's Husband Oxford Playhouse Zurita Madame Pepita Oxford Playhouse Augusto French Leave Charterhouse Oxford Playhouse Smith Oxford Playhouse Oxford Playhouse Royalty Theatre Understudy Comedy Theatre RADA Players Aldwych Theatre Castalio Little Theatre Lyric Theatre, Hammersmith Garden Theatre Royalty Theatre Oxford Playhouse Oxford Playhouse Title role Apollo Theatre Valentine Little Theatre Doctor Faustus New Oxford Theatre Good Angel Gloriana Little Theatre Prince's Theatre Robert Nativity Play Daly's Theatre Second shepherd Savoy Theatre Ferdinand Matinees only Sons and Fathers RADA Theatre Three Sisters Barnes Theatre Katerina Barnes Theatre Hamlet Royal Court Theatre Rosencrantz Romeo and Juliet London Coliseum Romeo Excerpt only Henry VI Lyric Theatre, Hammersmith Richard Dramatised reading Garrick Theatre Confession Royal Court Theatre New Theatre Othello Apollo Theatre Cassio New Theatre Boulter New Theatre Guest Strand Theatre King's Theatre Majestic Theatre, New York TsarevitchBroadway debut Ghosts Wyndham's Theatre Oswald Matinees only Ghosts Arts Theatre Oswald Holding out the Apple Globe Theatre Prejudice Arts Theatre Shaftesbury Theatre Court Theatre Out of the Sea Strand Theatre Arts Theatre Red Rust Little Theatre Fedor Hunter's Moon Prince of Wales Theatre Garrick Theatre Shall We Join the Ladies? Palace Theatre Matinees only Red Sunday Arts Theatre Bronstein Romeo and Juliet Romeo Antonio Cléante Romeo and Juliet Romeo Special performance Richard II Richard II Douaumont Prince of Wales Theatre Oberon Julius Caesar Romeo and Juliet Haymarket Theatre Romeo Matinees only As You Like It Orlando Androcles and the Lion Emperor Macbeth Macbeth Title role Hamlet Hamlet Queen's Theatre Lyric Theatre, Hammersmith Hamlet Smallhythe Scene only Henry IV, Part 1 Hotspur Prospero Richard II Richard II Antony and Cleopatra Twelfth Night Sadler's Wells Theatre Malvolio Sadler's Wells Theatre Prospero Arms and the Man Much Ado About Nothing Benedick King Lear Shakespeare Birthday Festival Scenes only His Majesty's Theatre Much Ado About Nothing Smallhythe Benedick Scenes only Musical Chairs Arts Theatre Schindler Touring Musical Chairs Criterion Theatre Schindler Shakespeare Birthday Festival Richard II Scenes only Richard of Bordeaux New Theatre Richard II Twelfth Night Smallhythe Orsino Scenes only Musical Chairs Golders Green Schindler Richard of Bordeaux New Theatre Richard II Also co-director Richard II New Theatre Richard II Scenes only New Theatre Matinees only Richard of Bordeaux Touring Richard II Wyndham's Theatre Shakespeare Sonnets Smallhythe Speaker Hamlet New Theatre Also director Richard of Bordeaux Touring Richard II Drury Lane Mercury Jubilee performance Noah New Theatre Noah Hamlet Smallhythe Scenes only Romeo and Juliet New Theatre Mercutio/Romeo Also director Romeo and Juliet  – May 1936 Touring Romeo Also director New Theatre Hamlet Royal Alexandra Theatre, Toronto Hamlet Empire Theatre, New York Hamlet St James' Theatre, New York Hamlet Shubert Theatre He was Born Gay Touring Mason Also director He was Born Gay Queen's Theatre Mason Nijinsky Matinee His Majesty's Theatre Speaker Richard II Queen's Theatre Richard II Richard II Golders Green Theatre Richard II Queen's Theatre King George's Pension Fund Matinee Winter Garden Theatre Speaker Three Sisters Queen's Theatre Queen's Theatre Shylock Also director Dear Octopus Manchester Dear Octopus Queen's Theatre Globe Theatre Also director Shakespeare Birthday Festival Hamlet Lyceum Theatre Also director Hamlet Elsinore Also director Globe Theatre Also director Touring Also director Shakespeare in Peace and War Touring Speaker Haymarket Theatre Macheath King Lear Prospero Fumed Oak Globe/ENSA tour Also director Hands Across the Sea Globe/ENSA tour Peter Gilpin Also director Hard Luck Story Globe/ENSA tour Old Actor Also director Edinburgh (ENSA) Shakespeare Also director Dear Brutus Globe Theatre Also director Dear Brutus Touring Also director All Star Concert Royal Albert Hall Speaker Macbeth Touring Macbeth Also director Macbeth Piccadilly Theatre Macbeth Also director Phoenix Theatre New Theatre Mirabell Special Matinee ENSA tour revue Gibraltar Various Haymarket Theatre Love for Love Touring Valentine Also director Love for Love Phoenix Theatre Valentine Also director Hamlet Touring Love for Love Touring Valentine Also director Touring Haymarket Theatre Love for Love Haymarket Theatre Valentine Also director Hamlet Haymarket Theatre Also director Haymarket Theatre Oberon Touring Ferdinand Haymarket Theatre Ferdinand Hamlet Touring: Far East (ENSA) Also director Blithe Spirit Touring: Far East (ENSA) Also director Shakespeare in Peace and War Touring: Far East (ENSA) Speaker Crime and Punishment Touring Crime and Punishment New Theatre Macbeth Smallhythe Reader Reading only Crime and Punishment Globe Theatre Touring (USA & Canada) Also director Love for Love Touring (USA) Valentine Also director Medea Royale Theatre, New York Valentine Also director Crime and Punishment Royale Theatre, New York Globe Theatre Globe Theatre Also director Henry IV Smallhythe Hotspur Scene only Gala: Richard of Bordeaux London Coliseum Richard II Measure for Measure Memorial Theatre, Stratford Angelo Julius Caesar Memorial Theatre, Stratford Cassius Much Ado About Nothing Memorial Theatre, Stratford Benedick Also director King Lear Memorial Theatre, Stratford Also co-director Shubert Theatre Also director Royale Theatre, New York Also director Phoenix Theatre Leontes Ellen Terry Anniversary Performance Smallhythe Speaker Touring Leontes Salute to Ivor Novello London Coliseum Speaker Much Ado About Nothing Phoenix Theatre Benedick Also director Richard II Lyric Theatre, Hammersmith Richard II Lyric Theatre, Hammersmith Mirabell Also director Venice Preserv'd Lyric Theatre, Hammersmith Jaffeir Richard II Royal, Bulawayo Richard II Also director Haymarket Theatre Also director King Lear Touring Lear Much Ado About Nothing Palace Theatre Benedick Also director King Lear Palace Theatre Lear Much Ado About Nothing & King Lear Touring (Europe) Benedick & Lear Also director (Much Ado only) King Lear Memorial Theatre, Stratford Lear Much Ado About Nothing Memorial Theatre, Stratford Benedick Also director Much Ado About Nothing Smallhythe Benedick Scene only Nude with Violin Touring Sebastien Also co-director Nude with Violin Globe Theatre Sebastien Also co-director Royal Festival Hall Speaker Memorial Theatre, Stratford Prospero Touring Speaker Drury Lane Prospero Globe Theatre Henry VIII , then touring Touring (America and Europe) Speaker Queen's Theatre Speaker Haymarket Theatre Speaker Phoenix Theatre Memorial Theatre, Stratford Speaker Othello Memorial Theatre, Stratford Othello Memorial Theatre, Stratford Aldwych Theatre Touring Speaker Haymarket Theatre Also director Touring (USA) Also director Majestic Theatre, New York Speaker Lyceum Theatre, New York Speaker Touring Caesar Also co-director Haymarket Theatre Caesar Also co-director Touring (Australia & New Zealand) Speaker Hamlet O'Keefe Centre, Toronto Also director Homage of Shakespeare New York/Princeton Speaker Hamlet Shubert Theatre Also director Touring (UK & Europe) Speaker Hamlet Lunt-Fontanne Theatre, New York Also director Tiny Alice Billy Rose Theatre, New York Julian White House Reader Ivanov Touring Also director Ivanov Phoenix Theatre Also director Ivanov Shubert Theatre Also director Norway Speaker Men, Women and Shakespeare Touring (international) Speaker Oedipus Rex Royal Festival Hall Narrator Ankara, Turkey Speaker Tartuffe , then touring Orgon Oedipus , then touring Oedipus Forty Years On Apollo Theatre Headmaster Phoenix Theatre Speaker Lyric Theatre Home Royal Court Theatre Harry Home Apollo Theatre Harry Home Morosco Theatre Harry Caesar and Cleopatra Chichester Caesar Veterans Royal Court Theatre Prospero Tribute To The Lady Bingo Royal Court Theatre No Man's Land Spooner No Man's Land Wyndham's Theatre Spooner Tribute To The Lady No Man's Land Lyttelton, Royal National Theatre Spooner No Man's Land Longacre Theatre, New York Spooner Julius Caesar Olivier, Royal National Theatre Caesar Volpone Olivier, Royal National Theatre Half-Life Cottesloe, Royal National Theatre Half-Life Duke of York's Theatre Half-Life Touring Gala Performance Duke of York's Theatre Speaker Old Vic Tribute Dinner Marriott Hotel Speaker Apollo Theatre Royalty Theatre Voice only Royal Birthday Gala London Palladium Compère

As director

This table contains Gielgud's stage work as a director. It does not include those productions in which he also appeared, which are shown in the table above.