Person Biography:
Emlyn Williams was born George Emlyn Williams in Pen-y-Ffordd, Mostyn, Flintshire, northeast Wales, on November 1905. He spent his early years in a rural village where Welsh was the primary language spoken until he was 12 years old. At that age, his family moved to an English-speaking town, Connah's Quay, which had a profound impact on his life.
It was in Connah's Quay that he discovered his literary talent and was encouraged by his teacher, Sarah Grace Cooke, who helped him win a scholarship to Oxford University, where he attended Christ Church College. This education enabled him to escape the life of hard labor that was common among his people.
Williams made his acting debut in London in 1927 and eventually became a renowned stage and screen actor. However, it was as a playwright that he achieved his greatest success, writing a score of plays.
His first theatrical success as a writer came with "A Murder Has Been Arranged," followed by "Night Must Fall" in 1935, which opened at London's Duchess Theatre and was later transferred to New York. Williams made his Broadway debut in 1927 and appeared again on Broadway in Edgar Wallace's "Criminal at Large" in 1932.
Williams was known for his versatility as an actor and playwright. He acted in and wrote additional dialog for both the original "The Man Who Knew Too Much" (1934) and "Jamaica Inn" (1939). He also collaborated with the great director Alfred Hitchcock on several projects.
Throughout his career, Williams was recognized with numerous awards and nominations, including a Tony Award nomination for Best Actor in a Play for "A Boy Growing Up" (1958) and an Emmy Award nomination for his performance in the 1979 TV movie "The Corn Is Green."
In addition to his work in the entertainment industry, Williams was also a devoted family man. He was the godfather to his close friend Richard Burton's daughter, Kate Burton, who is also an actress. Williams passed away in 1987, leaving behind a legacy of work that continues to be celebrated and admired today.
