Donald Wolfit Video | Celebrity Interview and Paparazzi

Sir Donald Wolfit, KBE (20 April 1902  – 17 February 1968) was a well-known English actor-manager. Wolfit, who was born Donald Woolfitt at birth was born at New Balderton, near Newark-on-Trent, Nottinghamshire, and attended the Magnus Grammar School. He made his stage début in 1920. He first appeared in the West End in 1924, playing in The Wandering Jew but had limited success afterwards, though he played some major supporting roles at the Old Vic Theatre in 1930. Wolfit appeared in Richard of Bordeaux, with John Gielgud. Wolfit finally made a name for himself at the Shakespeare... MORE

Sir Donald Wolfit, KBE (20 April 1902  – 17 February 1968) was a well-known English actor-manager. Wolfit, who was born Donald Woolfitt at birth was born at New Balderton, near Newark-on-Trent, Nottinghamshire, and attended the Magnus Grammar School. He made his stage début in 1920. He first appeared in the West End in 1924, playing in The Wandering Jew but had limited success afterwards, though he played some major supporting roles at the Old Vic Theatre in 1930. Wolfit appeared in Richard of Bordeaux, with John Gielgud. Wolfit finally made a name for himself at the Shakespeare Memorial Theatre in 1936 as Hamlet, and he tried to persuade the management to finance him on a tour of the provinces. They declined the invitation, so he withdrew his savings and started his own touring company in 1937, which he would lead for many years, prompting Hermione Gingold's bon mot: "Olivier is a tour-de-force, and Wolfit is forced to tour." Wolfit's speciality was Shakespeare. He was known especially for his performances as King Lear and Richard III as well as Oedipus, Ben Jonson's Volpone and Christopher Marlowe's Tamburlaine. His touring company performed in London during the Battle of LESS