Laurence Harvey was a Lithuanian-born South African actor best known for his role in ‘Room at the Top.’ This biography of Laurence Harvey provides detailed information about his childhood, life, achievements, works & timeline.
Laurence Harvey
@Actors, Facts and Family
Oct 1, 1928
Biography
Personal Details
- Birthday: October 1, 1928
- Died on: November 25, 1973
- Nationality: Lithuanian
- Famous: Jewish Actors, Royal Academy Of Dramatic Art, Film & Theater Personalities, Actors
- Spouses: Hermione Baddeley, Joan Perry, Margaret Leighton, Paulene Stone
- Known as: Laruschka Mischa Skikne
- Childrens: Domino Harvey
Laurence Harvey born at
Joniškis
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Birth Place
He was thrice married. In the early 1950s he began an affair with the married actress Margaret Leighton. Following her divorce, Harvey married her in 1957. This marriage did not last long and ended in 1961.
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Personal Life
His second marriage was to Joan Perry, a woman 17 years his senior. This marriage too ended in a divorce in 1972.
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Personal Life
He tied the knot for the third time with British fashion model Paulene Stone, who was the mother of his daughter, Domino.
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Personal Life
He was born as Laruschka Mischa Skikne on 1 October 1928, in Joniškis, Lithuania, as the youngest of three sons of Jewish parents Ella and Ber Skikne. The family travelled to South Africa when he was a young boy.
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Childhood & Early Life
He loved acting from a young age. As a teenager, he served with the entertainment unit of the South African Army during the World War II and performed across Egypt and Italy.
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Childhood & Early Life
Following his discharge he relocated to London as he had earned a scholarship to the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA). However he did not stay there for long and left after just three months to pursue an acting career.
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Childhood & Early Life
Good looking and talented, he landed his first film role in the British film ‘House of Darkness’ (1948). While embarking on an acting career he adopted the screen name Laurence Harvey.
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Career
He appeared in a string of low budget films in the early 1950s including ‘Cairo Road’ (1950), ‘Women of Twilight’ (1952), ‘Knights of the Round Table’ (1953), and ‘King Richard and the Crusaders’ (1954).
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Career
By the mid 1950s he had managed to establish himself as an emerging star and was cast as the writer Christopher Isherwood in ‘I Am A Camera’ (1955), with Julie Harris. The same year he made his Broadway debut in the play ‘Island of Goats.’
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Career
In 1959, he was cast as Joe Lampton in the film ‘Room at the Top’ which paved the way for his international fame. His performance received critical praise and was nominated for an Academy Award and a BAFTA Award.
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Career
He starred in the American historical-western epic film ‘The Alamo’ in 1960. He played the role of Col. William Barrett Travis, who shares command of the Alamo garrison with Col. Bowie. The same year, he also acted with Elizabeth Taylor in ‘BUtterfield 8.’
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Career
His role of Joe Lampton, a young man who falls in love with an older married woman, in the film ‘Room at the Top’ is one of his most memorable ones. His poignant performance was much lauded and he was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role.
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Major Works