Frank Finlay

Frank Finlay

Acting
Born 1926-08-06 - Died 2016-01-30Farnworth, Lancashire, England, UK

Biography

Frank received Academy Award, Golden Globe and BAFTA Award nominations for his performance as William Shakespeare’s Iago in Stuart Burge’s 1965 film of Laurence Olivier’s staging of Othello. He also won the Best Actor Award at the San Sebastian International Film Festival. He later essayed the definitive screen portrayal of Alexandre Dumas’ musketeer Porthos in three movies for director Richard Lester: The Three Musketeers (1974), The Four Musketeers (1975) and The Return of the Musketeers (1989). Frank’s many other films include The Longest Day; Tony Richardson’s The Lonliness of the Long Distance Runner; Martin Ritt’s The Molly Maguires; Bob Clark’s Murder by Decree; Alan Bridges’ The Return of the Soldier (for which he recieved a BAFTA Award nomination); Franco Zeffrelli’s Sparrow; and Eric Styles’ Dreaming of Joseph Lees; and most recently Roman Polanski’s multi-award winning The Pianist and Norma Jewison’s The Statement. His similarly extensive television projects have earned him two BAFTA Awards, for his performances in The Death of Adolf Hitler (starring as Hitler, with Rex Firkin directing); The Adventures of Don Quixote (as Sancho Panza, opposite Rex Harrison, for director Alvin Rakoff); the ground breaking Bouquet of Barbed Wire and Another Bouquet; 84 Charing Cross Road; and recently the critically acclaimed series The Sins. Born in Farnworth, Lancashire, Finlay had already begun performing on stage when he earned the Sir James Knott Scholarship at London’s Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA). Since then he has led theatre companies in London and on Broadway. He was made a Commander of the British Empire (CBE) in the 1984 New Year’s Honours List, and was presented with his CBE by the Queen in February1984.

Movies (92)

The Pianist
8.4

The Pianist

2002Movie8.4
The Voyeur
6.4

The Voyeur

1994Movie6.4
The Longest Day
7.6

The Longest Day

1962Movie7.6
The Key
6.0

The Key

1983Movie6.0
Lifeforce
6.2

Lifeforce

1985Movie6.2
The Three Musketeers
6.7

The Three Musketeers

1973Movie6.7
The Wild Geese
6.8

The Wild Geese

1978Movie6.8
Shaft in Africa
6.1

Shaft in Africa

1973Movie6.1
Dreaming of Joseph Lees
6.4

Dreaming of Joseph Lees

1999Movie6.4
The Molly Maguires
6.4

The Molly Maguires

1970Movie6.4
Inspector Clouseau
5.0

Inspector Clouseau

1968Movie5.0
The Thief of Baghdad
5.5

The Thief of Baghdad

1978Movie5.5
The Four Musketeers
6.5

The Four Musketeers

1974Movie6.5
A Christmas Carol
7.5

A Christmas Carol

1984Movie7.5
Stalin
5.3

Stalin

1992Movie5.3
The Statement
5.7

The Statement

2003Movie5.7
Murder by Decree
6.4

Murder by Decree

1979Movie6.4
Cromwell
6.6

Cromwell

1970Movie6.6
The Jokers
6.2

The Jokers

1967Movie6.2
The Return of the Musketeers
6.2

The Return of the Musketeers

1989Movie6.2
The Deadly Bees
4.4

The Deadly Bees

1966Movie4.4
Twisted Nerve
6.8

Twisted Nerve

1968Movie6.8
The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner
7.2

The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner

1962Movie7.2
I'll Never Forget What's'isname
5.4

I'll Never Forget What's'isname

1967Movie5.4
Fifty Shades of Erotica
7.0

Fifty Shades of Erotica

2015Movie7.0
The Shoes of the Fisherman
6.8

The Shoes of the Fisherman

1968Movie6.8
Casanova
4.1

Casanova

1987Movie4.1
Count Dracula
7.0

Count Dracula

1977Movie7.0
Robbery
6.6

Robbery

1967Movie6.6
A Study in Terror
6.2

A Study in Terror

1965Movie6.2
The Return of the Soldier
6.2

The Return of the Soldier

1983Movie6.2
Mona

Mona

1982Movie
Danny Jones
6.0

Danny Jones

1972Movie6.0
Sitting Target
6.1

Sitting Target

1972Movie6.1
Dear Brutus

Dear Brutus

1981Movie
The Ploughman's Lunch
4.8

The Ploughman's Lunch

1983Movie4.8
Hot Enough for June
5.7

Hot Enough for June

1964Movie5.7
Doctor in Distress
6.3

Doctor in Distress

1963Movie6.3
Stiff Upper Lips
5.6

Stiff Upper Lips

1998Movie5.6
Nothing Like a Dame
6.8

Nothing Like a Dame

2018Movie6.8
Enigma
5.6

Enigma

1982Movie5.6
Betzi
8.0

Betzi

1978Movie8.0
Sparrow
7.4

Sparrow

1994Movie7.4
Julius Caesar
7.5

Julius Caesar

1969Movie7.5
In the Secret State
7.0

In the Secret State

1985Movie7.0
The Martins
5.3

The Martins

2001Movie5.3
Arch of Triumph
5.2

Arch of Triumph

1984Movie5.2
Eroica
7.5

Eroica

2003Movie7.5
Othello
6.4

Othello

1965Movie6.4
The Comedy Man
7.1

The Comedy Man

1964Movie7.1
Limited Edition
7.0

Limited Edition

1997Movie7.0
Mountain of Diamonds
6.2

Mountain of Diamonds

1991Movie6.2
The Lie
6.5

The Lie

1970Movie6.5
Lighthouse Hill
8.0

Lighthouse Hill

2004Movie8.0
Private Potter
5.5

Private Potter

1962Movie5.5
Neither the Sea Nor the Sand
5.5

Neither the Sea Nor the Sand

1972Movie5.5
Station Jim
7.5

Station Jim

2001Movie7.5
Ring of Darkness
4.8

Ring of Darkness

1979Movie4.8
Assault
5.5

Assault

1971Movie5.5
The Sandwich Man
6.5

The Sandwich Man

1966Movie6.5
Sakharov
7.5

Sakharov

1984Movie7.5
The Waiting Room
5.4

The Waiting Room

2007Movie5.4
The Making Of Lifeforce

The Making Of Lifeforce

1985Movie
Much Ado About Nothing
6.3

Much Ado About Nothing

1967Movie6.3
The Informers
6.8

The Informers

1963Movie6.8
Gumshoe
6.2

Gumshoe

1971Movie6.2
A Mind to Murder
6.3

A Mind to Murder

1995Movie6.3
Cthulhu Mansion
4.6

Cthulhu Mansion

1992Movie4.6
The Death of Adolf Hitler
6.6

The Death of Adolf Hitler

1973Movie6.6
The Hard Knock

The Hard Knock

1962Movie
The Merchant of Venice
8.5

The Merchant of Venice

1972Movie8.5
Romance and Rejection (So This Is Romance?)
6.0

Romance and Rejection (So This Is Romance?)

1997Movie6.0
This Happy Breed

This Happy Breed

1969Movie
The Miracle of Medjugorje
4.4

The Miracle of Medjugorje

1995Movie4.4
The Wild Affair
5.3

The Wild Affair

1965Movie5.3
Life for Ruth
7.0

Life for Ruth

1962Movie7.0
Van der Valk: Gun Before Butter
10.0

Van der Valk: Gun Before Butter

1974Movie10.0
The Body
4.6

The Body

1970Movie4.6
Nineteen Nineteen
4.5

Nineteen Nineteen

1985Movie4.5
The Adventures Of Don Quixote
10.0

The Adventures Of Don Quixote

1973Movie10.0
King of the Wind
7.0

King of the Wind

1990Movie7.0
Van der Valk and the Rich
8.0

Van der Valk and the Rich

1973Movie8.0
Van der Valk and the Scapegoat
10.0

Van der Valk and the Scapegoat

1975Movie10.0
For My Baby
3.8

For My Baby

2000Movie3.8
Royal Variety Performance 1984

Royal Variety Performance 1984

1984Movie
Saturday, Sunday, Monday
7.0

Saturday, Sunday, Monday

1978Movie7.0
The Other Side

The Other Side

1992Movie
84 Charing Cross Road
7.0

84 Charing Cross Road

1975Movie7.0
The Piano Tuner

The Piano Tuner

1969Movie
The Spare Tyres
8.0

The Spare Tyres

1967Movie8.0
Tales from the Thousand and One Nights

Tales from the Thousand and One Nights

1981Movie
Blood of the Lamb
7.0

Blood of the Lamb

1969Movie7.0

TV Shows (47)

Play for Today
6.6

Play for Today

1970Series6.6
BBC Play of the Month
5.2

BBC Play of the Month

1965Series5.2
Merlin
7.8

Merlin

2008Series7.8
Screen Two
7.1

Screen Two

1985Series7.1
Wogan
5.3

Wogan

1982Series5.3
Sherlock Holmes
8.2

Sherlock Holmes

1984Series8.2
The Wednesday Play
5.2

The Wednesday Play

1964Series5.2
Heartbeat
7.2

Heartbeat

1992Series7.2
Tales of the Unexpected
6.8

Tales of the Unexpected

1979Series6.8
Z-Cars
7.3

Z-Cars

1962Series7.3
Blackadder
8.0

Blackadder

1983Series8.0
ITV Saturday Night Theatre
7.0

ITV Saturday Night Theatre

1969Series7.0
Thirty-Minute Theatre
4.3

Thirty-Minute Theatre

1965Series4.3
Theatre 625
7.2

Theatre 625

1964Series7.2
Prime Suspect
7.8

Prime Suspect

1991Series7.8
NET Playhouse
7.3

NET Playhouse

1966Series7.3
Sunday Night Theatre
3.5

Sunday Night Theatre

1950Series3.5
Lovejoy
7.4

Lovejoy

1986Series7.4
Drama 61-67

Drama 61-67

1961Series
The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes
8.7

The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes

1994Series8.7
The Grand
5.1

The Grand

1997Series5.1
The Magical Legend of the Leprechauns
7.0

The Magical Legend of the Leprechauns

1999Series7.0
The Burning Shore

The Burning Shore

1991Series
Life Begins
8.0

Life Begins

2004Series8.0
Longitude
7.0

Longitude

2000Series7.0
Studio 4
7.5

Studio 4

1962Series7.5
Charlemagne, le prince à cheval
8.8

Charlemagne, le prince à cheval

1994Series8.8
The Lost Prince
7.2

The Lost Prince

2003Series7.2
Laurence Olivier Presents
7.0

Laurence Olivier Presents

1976Series7.0
All for Love
7.0

All for Love

1982Series7.0
How Do You Want Me?
7.8

How Do You Want Me?

1998Series7.8
Target Luna
7.5

Target Luna

1960Series7.5
The Younger Generation
9.0

The Younger Generation

1961Series9.0
Mountain of Diamonds

Mountain of Diamonds

1991Series
Rosamunde Pilcher's Four Seasons
7.5

Rosamunde Pilcher's Four Seasons

2008Series7.5
The Sins
5.3

The Sins

2000Series5.3
You Can't Win

You Can't Win

1961Series
Bouquet of Barbed Wire
8.3

Bouquet of Barbed Wire

1976Series8.3
Johnny and the Bomb
6.7

Johnny and the Bomb

2006Series6.7
Armchair Theatre
6.0

Armchair Theatre

1956Series6.0
Another Bouquet
6.0

Another Bouquet

1977Series6.0
Count Dracula
9.0

Count Dracula

1977Series9.0
An Exchange of Fire
8.0

An Exchange of Fire

1993Series8.0
The Spanish Civil War

The Spanish Civil War

1983Series
Erebus: The Aftermath
8.0

Erebus: The Aftermath

1987Series8.0
Les Misérables
5.5

Les Misérables

1967Series5.5
Casanova
4.5

Casanova

1971Series4.5