R.I.P. Albert Finney (1936-2019)

Albert Finney in Tom Jones

On February 7, 2019, actor Albert Finney passed away at the age of 82 in London, England. Over the course of his illustrious career, he has done acclaimed work on stage in Shakespeare productions as well as headlining Oscar-winning films including Tom Jones. Over a career spanning 60 years, he has continually proven himself to be a charismatic performer, complimenting his co-stars and elevating productions ranging from romance (Two for the Road), mystery (Murder on the Orient Express), and legal dramas (Erin Brockovich). His career knew no bounds and saw him willing to try anything in favor of enhancing the cinematic experience. There's few who could claim to have a career full of as many highs as he did. His work will continue to live on as new audiences discover the magic that he brings to every role he every did.

Finney was born on May 9, 1936 in Pendleton, England. During his youth he became involved with the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art. This lead to a career that saw him take on many of Shakespeare productions with the Royal Shakespeare Company. One of his most famous productions saw him appear in Jane Arden's The Party, directed by Charles Laughton and starring Elsa Lanchester. He also replaced an ill Laurience Olivier in a production of Coriolanus. While he would shift to a career in film, he never gave up his love for stage and would return to it frequently. This would lead to two Tony nominations over the course of his lengthy career.

He would make his cinematic debut in Tony Richardson's The Entertainer in 1960 opposite Olivier. His big breakout came in 1963 with Tom Jones (also directed by Richardson). The film would help raise his profile for a potential gig in the T.E. Lawrence biopic Lawrence of Arabia. He even created an elaborate screen test. He would turn down the role when he disagreed with producer Sam Spiegel's requests. He would later go on to do musicals that included Scrooge, Annie, and Corpse Bride. Over his career he would receive five Oscar nominations, four for Best Actor, with his last being the legal drama Erin Brockovich where he received a Best Supporting Actor nomination. When co-star Julia Roberts won, she stated in her speech that she shared the win with Finney.

Over the course of his career, he has turned down both CBE (in 1980) and knighthood (in 2000). He claimed that the honors system perpetuated snobbery. His last film saw him play a small role in the 2012 James Bond film Skyfall. Even late into his career he continued to find roles that made new generations interested in him as a performer. Whether it was action films that included the Jason Bourne series, esoteric dramas like Big Fish, and Miller's Crossing. He enjoyed the art of collaboration and created a career full of memorable roles made better by how he enhanced the profession. While he never won an Oscar, he left behind enough work to be considered one of the best unsung heroes in the acting world. With a hefty resume, he leaves behind plenty of entertaining work that also reflects how to age gracefully. He was always memorable and knew how to make everyone around him better. He will be missed.