Tom Courtenay

Tom Courtenay studies at London’s Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts making his professional debut in 1960 in The Segull at the Old Vic to much critical acclaim. He followed this up with apperances in Henry IV and Twelfth Night at the Old Vic before assuming the role of Billy in Billy Liar at the Cambridge Theatre in 1961.

Tom enjoyed huge sucess as the libidinous Norman in The Norman Conquests in London, which led to his Broadway debut with Otherwise Engaged in 1977 which earned him a Tony nomination and Drama League Award in the process. He recieved a further Tony nomination with The Dresser.

It was the The Lonliness of the Long Distance Runner that really launched his film career, winning him the award for the Most Promising Newcomer at the BAFTAs. Throughout his career, Tom has received five British Film Academy nominations and earned his first Oscar nomination for Doctor Zhivago in 1965. Theatre ranges from Uncle Vanya to King Lear. 

Since the 1980’s Tom has appeared in various film and TV roles including Billy Liar, King and Country (best actor Venice film festival, One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich, Dustin Hoffman’s Quartet, Let Him Have It, Nicholas Nickleby, Little Dorrit and the TV show A Rather English Marriage for which he won a British Television Award. 

In 2000 Tom published his memoir Dear Tom: Letters From Home and a year later he was awarded with a knighthood.