Hugh Griffith Overview:

Actor, Hugh Griffith, was born Hugh Emrys Griffith on May 30, 1912 in Marian Glas, Anglesey. Griffith died at the age of 68 on May 14, 1980 in London, UK and was laid to rest in Golders Green Crematorium Cemetery in Golders Green, Greater London, England.

Hugh Griffith was a fierce-eyed, bushy-browed, Welsh actor noted for his extravagantly scene-stealing character portraits in both British and Hollywood flicks. A former bank clerk, he changed careers to acting in his middle-twenties and quickly proved himself on the stage before moving to the screen in the 1940s. By the 1950s he became a well sought after actor in Hollywood and eventually won the Best Supporting Actor Academy Award in 1959 for his portrayal of the Sheikh in Ben-Hur. He would be nominated again in 1963 for his role as Squire Western in Tom Jones.

(Source: available at Amazon Quinlan's Illustrated Dictionary of Film Character Actors).

HONORS and AWARDS:

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Hugh Griffith was nominated for two Academy Awards, winning one for Best Supporting Actor for Ben-Hur (as Sheik Ilderim) in 1959.

Academy Awards

YearAwardFilm nameRoleResult
1959Best Supporting ActorBen-Hur (1959)Sheik IlderimWon
1963Best Supporting ActorTom Jones (1963)Squire WesternNominated
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Hugh Griffith Quotes:

Sheik Ilderim: Balthasar is a good man. But until all men are like him, we must keep our swords bright!
Judah Ben-Hur: And our intentions true! So I must leave you.
Sheik Ilderim: One last thought: There is no law in the arena; many are killed... I hope to see you again, Judah Ben-Hur.


Charles Bonnet: What have I done? I've given the world a precious opportunity of studying and viewing the Cellini Venus.
Nicole Bonnet: Which is not by Cellini!
Charles Bonnet: Ahh, labels, labels. It's working with the Americans that's given you this obsession with labels and brand names. I wish you'd give up that ridiculous job.


Squire Western: [At the cemetery: shrugging indifferently as Bridget Blifil has just been laid to rest] Well, there's another one gone.


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Best Supporting Actor Oscar 1959






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Hugh Griffith Facts
Joined the British army and served in India and Burma during World War II.

His sister Elen Roger Jones was a well-known actress in her native Wales.

Was nominated for Broadway's 1958 Tony Award as Best Actor (Dramatic) for "Look Homeward, Angel."

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