From ‘Tom Jones’ to ‘Skyfall’: star Albert Finney dies at 82
LONDON — Albert Finney, one of the most respected and versatile actors of his generation and the star of films as diverse as "Tom Jones" and "Skyfall," has died. He was 82.
From his early days as a strikingly handsome and magnetic screen presence to his closing acts as a brilliant character actor, Finney was a British treasure known for charismatic work on both stage and screen.
Finney's family said Friday that he "passed away peacefully after a short illness with those closest to him by his side." He died Thursday from a chest infection at the Royal Marsden Hospital in London, a cancer treatment center.
Finney burst to international fame in 1963 in the title role of "Tom Jones," playing a lusty, humorous rogue who captivated audience with his charming, devil-maycare antics.
He excelled in many other roles, including "Saturday Night and Sunday Morning", a 1960 drama that was part of the "angry young man" film trend.
Finney was a rare star who managed to avoid the Hollywood limelight despite more than five decades of worldwide fame. He was known for skipping awards ceremonies, even when he was nominated for an Oscar.
"Tom Jones" gained him the first of five Oscar nominations. Other nominations followed for "Murder on the Orient Express," ''The Dresser," ''Under the Volcano" and "Erin Brockovich." Each time he fell short.
In later years he brought authority to bidbudget and high-grossing action movies, including the James Bond thriller "Skyfall" and two of the Bourne films. He also won hearts as Daddy Warbucks in "Annie."
He played an array of roles, including Winston Churchill, Pope John Paul II, a southern American lawyer, and an Irish gangster. There was no "Albert Finney"type character that he returned to again and again.
In one of his final roles, as the gruff Scotsman, Kincade, in "Skyfall," he shared significant screen time with Daniel Craig as Bond and Judi Dench as M, turning the film's final scenes into a master class of character acting.
"The world has lost a giant," Craig said.
Although Finney rarely discussed his personal life, he said in 2012 that he had been treated for kidney cancer for five years.
He also explained why he had not attended the Academy Awards in Los Angeles even when he was nominated for the film world's top prize.
"It seems silly to go over there and beg for an award," he said.
The son of a bookmaker, Finney was born May 9, 1936, and grew up in northern England on the outskirts of Manchester. He took to the stage at an early age, doing a number of school plays and — despite his lack of connections and his working-class roots — earning a place at London's prestigious Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts.
He credited the headmaster of his local school, Eric Simms, for recommending that he attend the renowned drama school.
"He's the reason I am an actor," Finney said in 2012.
Finney made his first professional turn at 19 and appeared in several TV movies.
Soon, some critics were hailing him as "the next Laurence Olivier" — a commanding presence who would light up the British stage. In London, Finney excelled both in Shakespeare's plays and in more contemporary offerings.
Still, the young man seemed determined not to pursue conventional Hollywood stardom. After an extensive screen test, he turned down the chance to play the title role in director David Lean's epic "Lawrence of Arabia," clearing the way for fellow RADA graduate Peter O'toole to take what became a career-defining role.
But stardom came to Finney anyway in "Tom Jones".
That was the role that introduced Finney to American audiences, and few would forget the sensual, blue-eyed leading man who helped the film win a Best Picture Oscar. Finney also earned his first Best Actor nomination for his efforts and the smash hit turned him into a Hollywood leading man.
Finney had the good fortune to receive a healthy percentage of the profits from the surprise hit, giving him financial security while he was still in his 20s.