Emlyn Williams facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Emlyn Williams CBE
Williams in 1974, portrait by Allan Warren
Born	George Emlyn Williams (1905-11-26)26 November 1905 Mostyn, Flintshire, Wales, UK
Died	25 September 1987(1987-09-25) (aged 81) London, England, UK
Occupation	Writer, dramatist, actor
Years active	1927–1985

George Emlyn Williams (26 November 1905 – 25 September 1987) was a famous Welsh writer, playwright, and actor. He was known for writing and starring in many successful plays and films. He also created popular one-man shows.

Growing Up

Emlyn Williams was born in Flintshire, Wales. His family spoke only Welsh, and he didn't learn English until he was eight years old. He came from a working-class family.

When he was young, a teacher named Sarah Grace Cooke noticed his talent. She helped him a lot with his studies. She even helped him learn French by arranging for him to stay in France. Thanks to her support, Emlyn won a scholarship to Christ Church, Oxford, a famous university. There, he studied French and Italian.

During his time at university, Emlyn went through a difficult period. His teacher, Miss Cooke, encouraged him to write as a way to feel better. He also joined the Oxford University Dramatic Society (OUDS) because he wanted to act.

Starting His Career

At 22, Emlyn Williams performed in his first full play, Full Moon. This was at the Oxford Playhouse in 1927. Later that year, he joined a theater group in London. This was the start of his acting career.

By the time he was 25, he was writing more plays. These included A Murder Has Been Arranged and The Late Christopher Bean. He also acted in a popular play called On the Spot in London's West End.

Becoming a Star

Emlyn Williams became very famous at age 30 with his play Night Must Fall (1935). He also played the main character, a dangerous killer. This play was special because it explored the killer's mind. It was later made into films in 1937 and 1964.

Another very successful play he wrote was The Corn Is Green (1938). This play was partly based on his own childhood in Wales. He acted as a Welsh schoolboy in the first London show. The play was also a hit on Broadway in New York. It was made into a successful film starring Bette Davis. Later, Katharine Hepburn starred in a TV film version.

Emlyn Williams also wrote a funny play based on his life called The Druid's Rest (1944). This play was special because it was the first time Richard Burton acted on stage. Williams had discovered Burton at an audition.

Working in Films

Besides plays, Emlyn Williams wrote many film scripts. He worked with famous directors like Alfred Hitchcock. He also acted in many films. Some of his roles included:

• Playing the Roman emperor Caligula in an unfinished film called I, Claudius (1937).
• A kind vet in the suspense film Another Man's Poison (1952).
• The character Wamba in Ivanhoe (1952).

He also appeared in Hitchcock's Jamaica Inn and Major Barbara. He was also in a TV movie of Charles Dickens's David Copperfield.

Emlyn Williams directed one film, The Last Days of Dolwyn (1949). He also wrote and starred in it. This film was the first time his fellow Welshman, Richard Burton, appeared on screen.

One-Man Shows and Books

Emlyn Williams was famous for his "one-man shows." In these shows, he would perform all the parts himself. He toured the world playing Charles Dickens, reading parts from Dickens's novels. This type of show became very popular. He also did one-man shows based on the works of Dylan Thomas and Saki.

He wrote several books too. One popular book was Beyond Belief: A Chronicle of Murder and its Detection (1968). This book was a story about a famous crime case. His 1980 novel Headlong was a fictional story about the British royal family. This book later inspired the movie King Ralph.

In 1975, Emlyn Williams was a guest on the BBC Radio show Desert Island Discs. He chose a dictionary as his book and a typewriter, pen, and paper as his luxury items.

Family Life

Emlyn Williams married actress Mary Marjorie O'Shann (Molly Shan) in 1935. She passed away in 1970. They had two sons: Alan, who became a writer, and Brook, who became an actor. Brook was a close friend of Richard Burton. Emlyn Williams was also the godfather to Kate Burton, Richard Burton's daughter.

Awards and Recognition

• In 1949, Emlyn Williams received an honorary degree from the University of Wales.
• In 1962, he was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE). This is a special award from the British Queen or King.

Later Years and Death

Emlyn Williams passed away on 25 September 1987, in London. He was 81 years old. He died from complications related to cancer.

Filmography Highlights

Here are some of the films Emlyn Williams was involved with:

Films Based on His Plays

• Night Must Fall (1937)
• The Corn Is Green (1945)
• Night Must Fall (1964)
• The Corn Is Green (TV film, 1979)
• King Ralph (1991, based on his novel Headlong)

Films He Wrote For

• Friday the Thirteenth (1933)
• Evergreen (1934)
• The Last Days of Dolwyn (1949)

Films He Acted In

• The Frightened Lady (1932)
• Jamaica Inn (1939)
• The Stars Look Down (1940)
• Major Barbara (1941)
• The Last Days of Dolwyn (1949)
• Ivanhoe (1952)
• The L-Shaped Room (1962)
• David Copperfield (TV Movie, 1969)