Scottish-born Finlay Currie, a former church organist and choirmaster, made his stage debut at the age of twenty. It took him a remarkable thirty-four years to transition to the film industry, but he went on to work steadily for another thirty years after that. Despite his large and imposing physical stature, accompanied by a rich, deep voice and somewhat authoritarian demeanor, he was rarely cast in villainous roles.
Currie received widespread acclaim for his portrayal of Magwitch in the 1946 film adaptation of Charles Dickens' classic novel, Great Expectations. One of his most iconic and enduring roles was that of Balthazar in the epic historical drama, Ben-Hur, released in 1959. In another notable performance, he played Shunderson, the devoted servant with a secret past, in the 1951 comedy-drama, People Will Talk, alongside the legendary Cary Grant.
Later in life, Currie became a respected antiques dealer, specializing in coins and precious metals. He passed away in England at the age of ninety. Interestingly, while filming Ben-Hur, his biggest Academy Award-winning film, Currie became a widower after his only wife, Maude Courtney, sadly passed away just months before the film's completion.
