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:

Charles Bonnet: Don't you know that in his lifetime Van Gogh only sold one painting? While I, in loving memory of his tragic genius, have already sold two.


Squire Allworthy: [Mr. Allworthy, in his sickbed after his carriage accident has brought him to death's door, prepares to tell his will to assorted members of the household. Tom Jones weeps at his bedside] Do not grieve, my dear nephew. Do not grieve.
Tom Jones: Sir, you cannot die!
Squire Allworthy: Death comes to us all, Tom. I've asked you here to tell you my will. Nephew Blifil, I leave you heir to my whole estate, with three exceptions. To you my dear Tom, I have given an estate of 800 pounds a year, together with a thousand pounds in ready money. I am convinced, my boy, that you have much goodness, generosity and honor in your nature. If you will add prudence, and religion, to these, you must be happy. One thousand pounds I leave to you, Mr. Thwackum, and a like sum to you, Mr. Square, which I am convinced exceeds your desires as well as your wants.


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
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."

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

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