Who was Robert Shaw?
Robert Archibald Shaw (9 August 1927 – 28 August 1978) was an English actor, novelist, playwright and screenwriter.
Beginning his career in theatre, Shaw joined the Shakespeare Memorial Theatre after the Second World War and appeared in productions of Macbeth, Henry VIII, Cymbeline, and other Shakespeare plays.
With the Old Vic company (1951–52), he continued primarily in Shakespearean roles. In 1959 he starred in a West End production of The Long and the Short and the Tall.
Robert Shaw Biography, Wiki
Robert Shaw, in full Robert Archibald Shaw, (born August 9, 1927, Westhoughton, Lancashire, England—died August 28, 1978, Tourmakeady, Ireland), English actor, novelist, and playwright who first garnered attention for his performances in Shakespearean plays before launching a successful film career.
Shaw began his career with the Shakespeare Memorial Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon, where he performed in Macbeth, Cymbeline, Henry VIII, and other Shakespeare plays, touring Australia with the company in 1949–50.
With the Old Vic company (1951–52), he continued primarily in Shakespearean roles. In 1955 Shaw began playing contemporary characters, including one in his own play Off the Mainland (1956) and the role of Sergeant Mitchem in The Long and the Short and the Tall (1959).
He first performed in the United States in 1961 in Harold Pinter’s The Caretaker. During this period Shaw also was cast in the leading role in the British TV series The Buccaneers (1956–57).
| Born | Robert Archibald Shaw 9 August 1927 Westhoughton, Lancashire, England |
|---|---|
| Died | 28 August 1978 (aged 51) Tourmakeady, County Mayo, Ireland |
| Occupation | Actornovelistplaywrightscreenwriter |
| Years active | 1947–1978 |
| Spouse(s) | Jennifer Bourke(m. 1952; div. 1963) Mary Ure(m. 1963; died 1975) Virginia Jansen (m. 1976) |
| Children | 10; including Ian Shaw |
| Relatives | Tanya Landman (niece) Rob Kolar (grandson) |
Robert Shaw Career
Shaw’s first notable film appearance was as a villain in the James Bond film From Russia with Love (1963). His reputation in motion pictures was enhanced by his appearance in The Caretaker (1963; U.S. title The Guest), the screen adaptation of Pinter’s play, and by his portrayal of an Irish immigrant to Canada who has trouble holding a job in The Luck of Ginger Coffey (1964), based on a novel by Brian Moore.
He was later cast as a German officer in Battle of the Bulge (1965). Shaw’s performance as King Henry VIII in Fred Zinnemann’s A Man for All Seasons (1966) earned him an Academy Award nomination. He later appeared in The Birthday Party (1968), another Pinter adaptation.
Shaw played Winston Churchill’s father in Young Winston (1972). His portrayal of Doyle Lonnegan, the mark in the popular movie The Sting (1973), brought him to the attention of American filmgoers. He followed up by playing the ringleader of a gang of hijackers in The Taking of Pelham One Two Three (1974) and a crusty old sailor in the blockbuster Jaws (1975).
After his role as an aging Sheriff of Nottingham in Robin and Marian (1976), he appeared in thrillers that included Black Sunday and The Deep (both 1977). Shaw’s final movie, Avalanche Express (1979), was released more than a year after his sudden death from a heart attack.
Robert Shaw Cause of Death
Shaw died in Ireland at the age of 51 from a heart attack on 28 August 1978, while driving from Castlebar, County Mayo, to his home in Tourmakeady.
He suddenly became ill, stopped the car, stepped out, and then collapsed and died on the roadside. He was accompanied by his wife Virginia and his son Thomas at the time. He was rushed to Castlebar General Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
He had just completed acting in the film Avalanche Express. His body was cremated and his ashes scattered near his home in Tourmakeady. A stone memorial to him was unveiled there in his honour in August 2008.
Robert Shaw FAQ’s
Who was Robert Shaw?
Robert Archibald Shaw (9 August 1927 – 28 August 1978) was an English actor, novelist, playwright, and screenwriter.
How did Robert Shaw die?
Shaw died in Ireland from a heart attack on 28 August 1978, while driving from Castlebar, County Mayo, to his home in Tourmakeady.
How old was Robert Shaw?
Robert Shaw died at 51.
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