LEGEND LOST
Who was Dame Joan Plowright’s husband Laurence Olivier and when did he marry the actress?
See the full statement from Joan's family following her passing
DAME Joan Plowright was married to one of the most renowned actors of all time — Lawrence Olivier.
Joan sadly passed away surrounded by her family on January 16, 2025.
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A family statement said: "It is with great sadness that the family of Dame Joan Plowright, the Lady Olivier, inform you that she passed away peacefully on January 16 2025 surrounded by her family at Denville Hall aged 95.
"She enjoyed a long and illustrious career across theatre, film and TV over seven decades until blindness made her retire.
"She cherished her last 10 years in Sussex with constant visits from friends and family, filled with much laughter and fond memories.
"The family are deeply grateful to Jean Wilson and all those involved in her personal care over many years.
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"Joan is survived by her loving family: Tamsin and Wilf, Julie-Kate and Dan, Richard, Shelley, Troy, Ali, Jeremy, step-granddaughter and great granddaughter Kaya and Sophia, and great grand-daughter soon to arrive.
"The family ask you to please respect their request for privacy at this time.
"We are so proud of all Joan did and who she was as a loving and deeply inclusive human being.
"She survived her many challenges with Plowright grit and courageous determination to make the best of them, and that she certainly did.
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"Rest in peace, Joan..."
Who was Laurence Olivier?
Dame Joan Plowright's husband, Laurence Olivier, was one of the most celebrated actors of the 20th century.
Shirley Anne Field stars in The Entertainer opposite Laurence Olivier
He was born on May 22, 1907, and passed away at the age of 82 on July 11, 1989.
Laurence was a towering figure in British theatre and cinema, known for his exceptional performances in Shakespearean roles and his contributions to the National Theatre.
His most iconic roles include:
- Heathcliff in Wuthering Heights (1939)
- Maxim de Winter in Rebecca (1940)
- Henry V in Henry V (1944)
- Hamlet in Hamlet (1948)
- Richard III in Richard III (1955)
- Crassus in Spartacus (1960)
- Othello in Othello (1965)
- Andrew Wyke in Sleuth (1972)
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As well as film, Laurence also made appearances in a number of TV shows, including Wagner, with Richard Burton, Vanessa Redgrave, and Sir John Gielgud, and Brideshead Revisited, with and Anthony Andrews.
He won three Oscars for his work - an honorary gong for Henry V in 1946, best actor award for Hamlet in 1949, and another honorary award for his full body of work in 1979.
Marriages
Before marrying Joan, Laurence had been married twice before.
His first marriage was to actress Jill Esmond, with whom he had a son, Tarquin.
The couple were wed for ten years from 1930-1940.
His second highly-publicised marriage was to Hollywood star Vivien Leigh.
The couple married in 1940, but divorced 20 years later in 1960
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The relationship between Laurence and Joan started when they co-starred in the play The Entertainer in 1957.
This on-stage collaboration soon blossomed into a romantic relationship.
Lasting love
Laurence married Joan on March 17, 1961, in New York.
Richard Burton was the famous actor's best man.
Their wedding was a sensation of the year, marking the beginning of an enduring marriage that lasted until Laurence's death at the age of 82 on July 11, 1989.
The couple's relationship garnered extensive media coverage, particularly due to the end of his previous marriage to actress Vivien Leigh.
Children
Laurence and Joan shared three children together, all of whom followed in their parents footsteps into the entertainment industry.
Their son Richard, born on December 3, 1961, worked as a theatre director before founding leadership development company, Olivia Mythodrama.
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Daughter Tamsin was born on January 10, 1963, and appeared in A Handful Of Dust (1988) and EastEnders (1993).
Joan and Laurence's youngest, Julie Kate, was born on July 27, 1966.
She is a production manager, and has appeared as an actress in Casualty and Doctors.
Laurence's son Tarquin, from his first marriage, was born on August 21, 1936, and has written a number of books on his family including So Who's Your Mother? and My Father Laurence Olivier.
Knighthood
Laurence, also known as Larry, was knighted on July 8, 1947, at Buckingham Palace.
He was honoured for his services to acting by King George VI, and at the time was the youngest actor - aged 40 - to be given the award.
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He was later given a peerage by Queen Elizabeth II in 1970.
He received the Order Of Merit in 1981.
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