Albert Finney, the son of a Lancashire bookmaker, embarked on a career in motion pictures through his experiences in the theatre. In 1956, he received a scholarship to RADA, where he was joined by notable alumni Peter O'Toole and Alan Bates. Finney's early success on the stage led him to join the Birmingham Repertory, where he excelled in plays by William Shakespeare. As a member of the Royal Shakespeare Company, he understudied Laurence Olivier at Stratford-upon-Avon, earning the reputation as 'the new Olivier'.
Finney's breakthrough in film came with his title role in Keith Waterhouse's "Billy Liar" on the London stage, followed by his film debut in Tony Richardson's "The Entertainer" (1960). As the 1960s British cinema shifted towards gritty realism and working-class milieus, Finney's typical screen persona evolved into good-looking, often brooding proletarian types and rebellious anti-heroes, exemplified by his portrayal of Arthur Seaton in Karel Reisz's "Saturday Night and Sunday Morning" (1960).
However, Finney's defining role was in the bawdy period romp "Tom Jones" (1963),showcasing his talent for comedy. He also scored a hit opposite Audrey Hepburn in the charming marital comedy "Two for the Road" (1967). By 1965, Finney had ventured into production, establishing Memorial Enterprises with Michael Medwin. He directed himself in "Charlie Bubbles" (1968) and produced "Gumshoe" (1971),in which he starred as Eddie Ginley, a bingo-caller with delusions of becoming a private eye.
Finney served as artistic director of the Royal Court Theatre from 1972 to 1975, and his intermittent forays to the screen solidified his status as a versatile international actor. His roles have ranged from Ebenezer Scrooge in the musical version of "Scrooge" (1970) to Daddy Warbucks in "Annie" (1982) and Hercule Poirot in "Murder on the Orient Express" (1974).
He appeared as Minister of Police Joseph Fouché in Ridley Scott's "The Duellists" (1977) and as a grandiloquent Shakespearean actor in "The Dresser" (1983),earning an Oscar nomination. Finney essayed Pope John Paul II in the small screen production and portrayed a believable Winston Churchill in the acclaimed "The Gathering Storm" (2002). His final movie credit was in the James Bond thriller "Skyfall" (2012).
Throughout his career, Finney received numerous accolades, including five Academy Award nominations in 1964, 1975, 1984, 1985, and 2001. He won two BAFTA Awards in 1961 and 2004. True to his working-class roots, Finney declined a CBE in 1980 and a knighthood in 2000, citing his disapproval of the 'Sir thing' due to its perpetuation of snobbery in England.
Albert Finney was diagnosed with kidney cancer in 2011 and passed away on February 7, 2019, at the age of 82, due to a chest infection. Upon his death, John Cleese described him as "the best" and "our greatest actor".
