He was awarded an honorary Doctorate of Literature on Junly 4, 1985 by St. Andrews University in Scotland.
He was awarded Knight Bachelor of the Order of the British Empire in the 1992 Queen's New Years Honours List for his services to drama and was officially knighted on February 13, 1992.
He was made a Fellow of the British Film Institute in recognition of his outstanding contribution to film culture.
He was the only cast member of A Bridge Too Far (1977) to have actually served at the actual battles depicted in the film.
His favourite of his films was King & Country (1964), which reflected his strong anti-war views. Bogarde was very disappointed by the film's commercial failure.
His height was measured at five feet eight and a half inches when he was drafted into the British army in September 1939.
In "Dirk Bogarde: The Authorized Biography" (2004), John Coldstream offers four major reasons for Bogarde's failure to become a Hollywood star in 1960. Firstly, the vehicle for his potential breakthrough, Song Without End (1960), was a flop. Secondly, his talents at that time were not seen as being particularly different from those of, in particular, Montgomery Clift, John Cassavetes and Anthony Perkins - nor could he possibly compete as a light comedy lead in the manner of Cary Grant and Rock Hudson. Thirdly, he had had enough of making formulaic films and was determined to prove himself as a serious actor. But fourthly, and perhaps most importantly, his refusal to enter into an arranged marriage to a starlet in the style of Rock Hudson's marriage to Phyllis Gates, did not go down well among producers in Hollywood.
Longtime companion of actor manager Anthony Forwood.
Made only one Hollywood film: Song Without End (1960).
Quit smoking following a minor stroke in November 1987.
Resisted attempts to make him Hollywood's new "Spanish" star, and to be married off to some starlet. Turned down The Egyptian (1954) after Marlon Brando had turned it down.
Scottish director Bill Douglas approached Bogarde to play a small part in his feature Comrades (1986) but Bogarde declined, sending Douglas a postcard saying, "I don't do small parts".
Sir David Lean considered making Doctor Zhivago (1965) with Bogarde, but decided on Omar Sharif instead.
The ancestral town of paternal grandfather Aimé Van Den Bogaerde was Izegem in West Flanders, Belgium, where the illustrious family owned the castle Wolvenhof and produced several mayors. However Aimé left Belgium to pursue a Bohemian lifestyle and travel the world, and would tell his grandson Dirk that he was in fact Dutch.
The day before he died was spent with his friend Lauren Bacall. Apparently they had a wonderful time together.
Turned down Glenn Ford's role in The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse (1962), which turned out to be a critical and financial disaster.
Turned down Jeremy Irons's role in The Mission (1986).
Turned down a co-starring role for $150,000 alongside Rock Hudson and George Peppard in Tobruk (1967).
Turned down an offer of $150,000 from MGM to star with Natalie Wood in Penelope (1966), in order to make Accident (1967) with his friend, director Joseph Losey.
Turned down the role of the British padre in The Longest Day (1962).