Did any of you know that 20 years before Star Wars was released, Guinness won an Academy Award for his role in the 1957 World War II epic The Bridge on the River Kwai? Or that he once played Hitler in the movie Hitler: The Last 10 Days? I had no idea.
Who recognized him as Arabian Prince Feisal in Lawrence of Arabia? Who would have guessed that he spent the early years of his career (late 1940s through 1950s) acting in a series of British comedies that later ended up on American television? Not me.
Then there's his personal life. In these times of the ubiquitous paparazzi and tabloid headlines dishing out celebrity dirt, not much is known about Alec Guinness the man. The Associated Press reported on August 6, 2000, that Guinness was born illegitimately in 1914 and didn't even know his last name until 1928. According the the AP story, Guinness did get married in 1938, and he and his wife had one son, although the article did not say whether his wife survived him.
A tribute by Mike Clark in USA Today said Guinness had to take a break from acting during World War II. Apparently he enlisted in 1941 as a seaman. Therefore, his film career didn't get started until 1946. His first director was David Lean, who directed Guinness in several well-known films--Great Expectations, Oliver Twist, The Bridge on the River Kwai, Lawrence of Arabia, Doctor Zhivago, and A Passage to India.
The obituaries and tributes I read referred to Guinness as a chameleon with his amazing ability to transform himself again and again with each new role. Yet he will most likely be best remembered for his small, but pivotal, role in the original Star Wars trilogy.
He exuded strength and power. And, even though it's been reported that he didn't like the dialogue, he seemed wise. Perhaps it was just listening to the sound of his voice, regardless of the words.
Now that voice has been silenced forever.
Sir Alec, you will certainly be missed. May the Force be with you, wherever you may be.
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