Alec Guinness's Real Name: Alec Guinness de Cuffe

Quick answer: The actor was known professionally as Alec Guinness, and later as Sir Alec Guinness. Encyclopedia.com says a birth certificate registers Alec Guinness de Cuffe as born on April 2, 1914. Britannica independently lists Alec Guinness de Cuffe among the names he was also known as, and both date the birth to April 2, 1914, in London, and the death to August 5, 2000, in Midhurst. Encyclopedia.com gives Midhurst, England; Britannica gives Midhurst, West Sussex.

Real name and early life

Independent publishers identify him under the professional name Alec Guinness. Encyclopedia.com says the birth certificate registers Alec Guinness de Cuffe as born on April 2, 1914, in London, England, and records study at the Fay Compton Studio of Dramatic Art in London and Royal Navy service from 1941 to 1946. Britannica independently lists Alec Guinness de Cuffe and Sir Alec Guinness among the names he was also known as, dates the birth to April 2, 1914, in London, England, and says that at 18 he began working for an advertising agency before studying acting and making a 1934 stage debut as an extra at the King's Theatre in Hammersmith, London.

Career highlights

Encyclopedia.com records a 1934 stage debut in Libel in Hammersmith, a film debut in Evensong, a 1946 featured film role in Great Expectations, later films including Oliver Twist and Kind Hearts and Coronets, a best actor Academy Award for The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957), a special Academy Award in 1979, appointment as a Commander of the British Empire in 1955, and a knighthood in 1959. Britannica independently records the 1934 Hammersmith stage debut, a 1946 initial screen role in Great Expectations, Kind Hearts and Coronets (1949), The Lavender Hill Mob (1951), The Man in the White Suit (1951), The Ladykillers (1955), an Academy Award for The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957), later work including The Horse's Mouth (1958) and Lawrence of Arabia (1962), and the role of Obi-Wan Kenobi in Star Wars (1977), The Empire Strikes Back (1980), and Return of the Jedi (1983). Britannica says he was knighted in 1960. Encyclopedia.com dates the knighthood to 1959.

Death

Encyclopedia.com says he died in Midhurst, England, on August 5, 2000. Britannica independently dates the death to August 5, 2000, in Midhurst, West Sussex.

Name notes for searchers

People looking up Alec Guinness, Sir Alec Guinness, or Alec Guinness de Cuffe are looking for the same actor, including The Bridge on the River Kwai and later Star Wars work most often associated with his name.