John Edward "Jack" Hawkins, CBE was an English-American actor who worked on stage and in film from
the 1930s until the 1970s.
Career He was born at Lyndhurst Road, Wood Green,
now in Haringey, London, the son of a builder.
Hawkins made his London stage debut aged 12 in Where the Rainbow Ends, and was appearing
on Broadway in Journey's End by the age of 18.
Although he appeared in several films during the 1930s, it was only after service in World
War II, during which he had become a colonel in ENSA for India and Southeast Asia, that
he began to build a successful career in the cinema.
Hawkins became a star with the release of three successful films in which he played
stern but sympathetic authority figures: Angels One Five, The Planter's Wife, and Mandy.
In 1952 British exhibitors voted him the fourth most popular local star at the box office.
He consolidated this status with The Cruel Sea, which was the most successful film of
the year and saw Hawkins voted the most popular star in Britain regardless of nationality.
Hawkins' popularity declined with a series of less successful movies, but his authoritative
presence meant he was always in demand.
From the late 1950s, he mostly appeared in character roles, often in epic films like
The Bridge on the River Kwai, Lawrence of Arabia, Lord Jim, and Oh!
What a Lovely War.
For The Bridge on the River Kwai, he had to persuade good friend Alec Guinness to take
the lead role, which would ultimately win Guinness an Oscar.
Some of Hawkins' more unusual roles included an Egyptian Pharaoh in Land of the Pharaohs,
Ben Hur's adoptive Roman father Quintus Arrius in Ben-Hur, and Zulu, where he played against
type as the fanatical pacifist, Reverend Otto Witt.
He appeared as one of The Four Just Men in the Sapphire Films TV series for ITV.
In reality Hawkins was politically liberal, and an emotional man, in sharp contrast to
his conservative screen image.
One of his favourite films, The League of Gentlemen, was considered quite groundbreaking
for its time in its references to sex.
However, though initially sought for the role of a gay barrister in Victim, he turned it
down fearing that it might conflict with his masculine image.
The role was eventually played by Dirk Bogarde.
Hawkins also produced the film adaptation of Peter Barnes's The Ruling Class, with Peter
O'Toole and Alastair Sim.
Personal life He was married to Jessica Tandy from 1932
to 1942 and later to Doreen Lawrence from 1947 until his death in 1973.
Military service During WWII Hawkins served as an officer with
the Royal Welch Fusiliers.
Illness and death A three-pack-a-day smoker, Hawkins began experiencing
voice problems in the late 1950s; unknown to the public he had undergone cobalt treatment
in 1959 for what was then described as a secondary condition of the larynx, but which was probably
cancer.
In private, he used a mechanical larynx to aid his speech.
In December 1965, he was diagnosed with throat cancer.
His entire larynx was removed in January of the following year; thereafter his performances
were dubbed, often by Robert Rietti or Charles Gray.
Hawkins continued to smoke after losing his voice.
He died at St Stephen's Hospital, Fulham Road, London, on 18 July 1973, following an operation
to insert an artificial voicebox.
He was 62.
His final appearance was in the television miniseries QB VII.
His autobiography, Anything For a Quiet Life, was published after his death.
He was cremated and interred at the Golders Green Crematorium.
Filmography
British box office ranking During the 1950s, British exhibitors consistently
voted Hawkins one of the most popular local stars in the country in the annual poll conducted
by the Motion Picture Herald: 1952 - 4th most popular British star
1953 - most popular international star 1954 - 5th most popular international star,
most popular British star 1955 - 6th most popular British star
1956 - 2nd most popular British star 1957 - 9th most popular British star
1958 - 9th most popular British star References
External links Jack Hawkins at the Internet Movie Database
Jack Hawkins at the Internet Broadway Database Jack Hawkins at the British Film Institute's
Screenonline British Cinema Greats Page
Jack Hawkins at Find a Grave