Last updated on the 26 March 2025 by Evandrus

Mini Biography

Born: 2 April 1914, Maida Vale, London, England. 

Growing up in a middle-class family with Scottish and English roots, Alec Guinness discovered his passion for acting at an early age. He attended various local theater productions and developed a keen interest in performing arts. However, despite this passion, he initially pursued a different career path.

After completing his education at the Royal Naval College in Greenwich during World War II where he served as an officer on minesweepers and landing craft tanks; Guinness decided to embark on an acting career instead.

Guinness’s exceptional talent quickly caught the attention of theater directors and casting agents alike. His breakthrough came when he joined the prestigious Old Vic Theatre Company in London in 1936. It was here that he honed his skills as a stage actor while also making notable appearances in Shakespearean plays such as “Hamlet” and “Richard II.”

In addition to his successful stage endeavors, Guinness made significant contributions to British cinema throughout his illustrious career. One of his most iconic roles came in 1949 with the film “Kind Hearts and Coronets,” where he expertly portrayed multiple characters within the same film, an impressive display of versatility that showcased both comedic timing and dramatic range.

However, it was undoubtedly Sir Alec Guinness’s portrayal of Obi-Wan Kenobi, a wise Jedi Knight, in George Lucas’s original “Star Wars” trilogy (1977-1983) that solidified him as an international icon. His dignified presence brought depth to the character beloved by generations of fans worldwide.

Despite these standout performances, it is important not to overlook other remarkable roles throughout Guinness’s filmography, including “The Bridge on the River Kwai” (1957), for which he won an Academy Award for Best Actor.

WINNER | Film: Actor for The Bridge on the River Kwai (1958) |Television: Actor for Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy 1980|Television: Actor for Smiley’s People (1983)

WINNER|Best actor for The Bridge On The River Kwai (1957)

Suggested viewing

Cromwell (1970)

Bftv 8.5 / IMDb 7.0

A devout man clashes with a tyrannical king, leading a rebellion that tears a nation apart. Caught between faith and duty, the reluctant warrior must decide how far he’ll go to forge a new republic, even if it means staining his hands with the blood of a monarch.

Top cast: Richard Harris, Alec Guinness, Robert Morley, Dorothy Tutin, Frank Finlay, Timothy Dalton, Patrick Wymark, Patrick Magee.

The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957)

Bftv 9.0 / IMDb 8.1

“The Bridge on the River Kwai” is an epic war film directed by David Lean. Set during World War II, the story follows British prisoners of war who are forced to build a railway bridge in Burma. It explores themes of honour, duty, and the clash between personal beliefs and military objectives.

Top cast: William Holden, Alec Guinness, Jack Hawkins, Sessue Hayakawa, James Donald, Geoffrey Horne, André Morell, Peter Williams.

Kind Hearts and Coronets (1949)

Bftv 9.0 / IMDb 8.0

“Kind Hearts and Coronets” is a dark comedy. The story revolves around Louis Mazzini, who seeks revenge on his wealthy relatives after being disinherited from the noble D’Ascoyne family. He cleverly plots to eliminate each family member standing in his way of inheriting the dukedom with murderous consequences.

Top cast: Dennis Price, Alec Guinness, Valerie Hobson, Joan Greenwood, Audrey Fildes, Miles Malleson, Clive Morton, John Penrose.

The Lavender Hill Mob (1951)

Bftv 8.5 / IMDb 7.5

“The Lavender Hill Mob” is a classic British comedy. The story follows a bank clerk named Henry Holland who, along with his accomplice Pendlebury, plans to steal gold bullion by melting it into souvenir Eiffel Towers and smuggling them out of the country. Hilarity ensues as their scheme takes unexpected turns.

Top cast: Alec Guinness, Stanley Holloway, Sid James, Alfie Bass, Marjorie Fielding, Edie Martin, John Salew, Ronald Adam.

The Ladykillers (1955)

Bftv 9.0 / IMDb 7.6

“The Ladykillers” is a classic British black comedy. It follows the story of a group of criminals who pose as musicians to rent a room in an elderly woman’s house. Their plan is to carry out a robbery, but things take an unexpected turn when the sweet old lady becomes suspicious.

Top cast: Alec Guinness, Cecil Parker, Herbert Lom, Peter Sellers, Danny Green, Jack Warner, Katie Johnson, Philip Stainton.

The Man in the White Suit (1951)

Bftv 8.5 / IMDb 7.3

“The Man in the White Suit” is a British science fiction comedy. The story revolves around Sidney Stratton, a brilliant but eccentric scientist who invents an indestructible and self-cleaning white fabric. However, his invention threatens the economic interests of textile manufacturers and unions, leading to chaotic consequences for Sidney.

Top cast: Alec Guinness, Joan Greenwood, Cecil Parker, Michael Gough, Ernest Thesiger, Howard Marion-Crawford, Henry Mollison, Vida Hope.

Our Man In Havana (1959)

Bftv 8.5 / IMDb 7.2

“Our Man in Havana” is based on the satirical novel by Graham Greene. It follows the life of James Wormold, a British vacuum cleaner salesman turned reluctant spy in Cuba. As Wormold concocts fake intelligence reports, he becomes entangled in a web of espionage, deceit and political intrigue with hilarious consequences.

Top cast: Alec Guinness, Burl Ives, Maureen O’Hara, Ernie Kovacs, Noël Coward, Ralph Richardson, Jo Morrow, Grégoire Aslan.

Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (1979)

Bftv 9.0 / IMDb 8.5

“Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy” is based on a spy novel by John le Carré. Set during the Cold War, it follows George Smiley, a retired intelligence officer who is brought back to uncover a Soviet mole within British Intelligence. The intricate plot delves into betrayal, loyalty and the complexities of espionage in a gripping narrative.

Top cast: Alec Guinness, Michael Jayston, Anthony Bate, George Sewell, Bernard Hepton, Ian Richardson, Hywel Bennett.

Tunes of Glory (1960)

Bftv 8.5 / IMDb 7.5

“Tunes of Glory” is a British drama film directed by Ronald Neame. Set in post-World War II Scotland, it follows the power struggle between two military officers: an outgoing and charismatic colonel and his strict successor. The clash of personalities leads to conflict within their regiment, testing loyalty and tradition.

Top cast: Alec Guinness, John Mills, Susannah York, Dennis Price, Kay Walsh, John Fraser, Gordon Jackson, Duncan Macrae.

The Mudlark (1950)

Bftv 8.0 / IMDb 6.9

In Victorian London, a young boy named Wheeler makes his living scavenging in the Thames’ mud. He finds a cameo depicting the Queen and becomes determined to see her, despite her seclusion following her husband’s death. Wheeler sneaks into Windsor Castle and meets the Queen, who is touched by his genuine admiration and begins to rediscover her connection to her people.

Top cast: Irene Dunne, Alec Guinness, Andrew Ray, Beatrice Campbell, Finlay Currie, Constance Smith, Anthony Steel.

The Scapegoat (1959)

Bftv 8.5 / IMDb 6.8

John Barratt, a British teacher on vacation in France, encounters his doppelganger, Jacques De Gué, a French nobleman. After a night of drunken partying, John wakes up to find his clothes gone and a mysterious note instructing him to take De Gué’s identity and escape. Unwittingly thrust into De Gué’s life, John finds himself entangled in a web of deceit and murder, desperately trying to clear his name and unravel the truth behind his counterpart’s disappearance.

Top cast: Alec Guinness, Bette Davis, Nicole Maurey, Irene Worth, Pamela Brown, Annabel Bartlett, Geoffrey Keen, Noel Howlett.

Oliver Twist (1948)

Bftv 9.0 / IMDb 7.8

“Oliver Twist” is a film adaptation of the classic novel by Charles Dickens. It follows the story of young Oliver, an orphan who faces hardships and mistreatment in the workhouse and on the streets of Victorian London. From his encounters with criminals to his search for a loving family, Oliver’s journey explores themes of poverty, injustice and the power of kindness.

Top cast: John Howard Davies, Robert Newton, Alec Guinness, Kay Walsh, Francis L. Sullivan, Henry Stephenson, Mary Clare, Ralph Truman.

Smiley’s People (1982)

Bftv 9.0 / IMDb 8.5

“Smiley’s People”: A gripping tale of espionage and betrayal. George Smiley, a retired intelligence officer, is drawn back into the world of espionage when a former agent is found dead. Smiley uncovers a web of deception, leading him to an elusive Soviet spymaster known as “Karla.” Loyalties are tested as the pursuit intensifies.

Top cast: Alec Guinness, Eileen Atkins, Vladek Sheybal, Curd Jürgens, Michael Lonsdale, Anthony Bate, Bernard Hepton, Beryl Reid.

Alec Guinness full filmography @ Wikipedia