The Biography

Donald Wolfit (born Donald Woolfitt; 20 April 1902 – 17 February 1968) was an English actor-manager, best known for touring productions of Shakespeare and his performances as King Lear. Born in New Balderton, Nottinghamshire, he made his London stage debut in 1924 and later joined the companies at the Old Vic and the Shakespeare Memorial Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon. After playing Hamlet at Stratford, he formed his own touring company in 1937, taking Shakespeare and other plays to audiences across Britain and abroad. His company continued performing during the Second World War, including lunchtime productions in London. Among the actors who worked with him were Harold Pinter and Brian Rix. Wolfit also appeared in films, including Svengali (1954), Lawrence of Arabia (1962) and Becket (1964). He was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1950 and knighted in 1957 for his services to the theatre.