Peter Finch facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Peter Finch
Finch in 1955
Born	Frederick George Peter Ingle Finch (1916-09-28)28 September 1916 South Kensington, London, England
Died	14 January 1977(1977-01-14) (aged 60) Beverly Hills, California, U.S.
Resting place	Hollywood Forever Cemetery
Occupation	Actor
Years active	1934–1977
Spouse(s)	Tamara Tchinarova ​ ​ (m. 1943; div. 1959)​ Yolande Turner ​ ​ (m. 1959; div. 1965)​ Eletha Barrett ​ ​ (m. 1973)​
Children	4; including Charles Finch
Awards	See below
Military career
Allegiance	Australia
Service/branch	Australian Army
Years of service	1941–1945
Rank	Sergeant
Unit	2/1st Field Regiment (Australia)
Battles/wars	World War II Bombing of Darwin

Frederick George Peter Ingle Finch (born 28 September 1916 – died 14 January 1977) was a famous English-Australian actor. He worked in theatre, films, and radio.

Born in London, Peter Finch moved to Australia when he was a teenager. He grew up in Sydney and started his career in shows like vaudeville and on the radio. Soon, he became a big star in Australian films. After World War II, he joined the Old Vic Company in Britain. He became very successful there for his acting on stage and in movies.

Peter Finch was one of the most celebrated leading actors in British cinema. He won the BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role five times. After he passed away, he also won an Academy Award for Best Actor. This was for his role as a TV news anchor named Howard Beale in the 1976 film Network.

The British Film Institute said that no other actor had such a great career in British films. Peter Finch died just two months before the 49th Academy Awards. This made him the first person to win an Oscar for acting after their death. As of 2023, only one other Australian actor, Heath Ledger, has also won a posthumous Oscar.

Early Life and Family Background

Peter Finch was born in London. His mother was Alicia Gladys Fisher. At the time, Alicia was married to George Finch. George Finch was a research chemist from Australia. He served in the First World War.

Peter later found out in his 40s that his biological father was actually Wentworth Edward Dallas "Jock" Campbell. He was an officer in the British Indian Army. George Finch and Alicia divorced in 1920. Alicia then married Jock Campbell in 1922.

Growing Up and Education

George Finch got custody of Peter. Peter was raised by his adoptive grandmother, Laura Finch, in France. In 1925, Laura took Peter to India for several months. Young Peter even lived in a Buddhist monastery for a while. Because of this early experience, Finch always said he was a Buddhist. He once said that a man becoming enlightened under a bo tree was a beautiful symbol for a religion.

In 1926, Peter was sent to Australia to live with his great-uncle. He lived in Greenwich Point in Sydney. He went to the local school and then North Sydney Intermediate High School until 1929.

Starting His Acting Career in Australia

After finishing school, Peter Finch worked as a copy boy for the Sydney Sun newspaper. He also started writing. But he was more interested in acting. In late 1933, he appeared in a play called Caprice.

In 1934 and 1935, he acted in many plays for Doris Fitton at the Savoy Theatre. He also worked at the Sydney Royal Easter Show, calling out to people for sideshows. He performed in vaudeville shows too. When he was 19, Finch toured Australia with George Sorlie's traveling theatre group.

Radio Acting Work

Peter Finch also acted on the radio for Hugh Denison's BSA Players. He caught the attention of Lawrence H. Cecil, a radio drama producer for the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Cecil became his coach and mentor. Finch was "Chris" in the Children's Session and the first voice of The Muddle-Headed Wombat.

He later starred with Neva Carr Glyn in a very popular radio series. They played husband-and-wife detectives, Jeffery and Elizabeth Blackburn.

First Films in Australia

Finch's first time on screen was in a short film called The Magic Shoes (1935). It was based on the Cinderella fairy tale, and Finch played Prince Charming.

His first full-length movie was Dad and Dave Come to Town (1938). He had a small funny role. People liked his acting, so he got a bigger part in Mr. Chedworth Steps Out (1939). Finch also appeared in a war propaganda film, The Power and the Glory (1941).

Serving in the War

Peter Finch joined the Australian Army on 2 June 1941. He served in the Middle East. He was an anti-aircraft gunner during the Bombing of Darwin.

During his time in the army, Finch was allowed to act in radio, theatre, and films. He appeared in several short propaganda films. These included Another Threshold (1942) and South West Pacific (1943). He also acted in two Australian feature films made during the war: The Rats of Tobruk (1944) and Red Sky at Morning (1944).

Finch also put on shows for the Army Concert Party. In 1945, he toured military bases and hospitals. He directed two plays by Terence Rattigan for these tours. He also narrated documentaries like Jungle Patrol (1944) and Sons of the Anzacs (1945).

Finch left the army on 31 October 1945, with the rank of sergeant.

Career After the War in Australia

After the war, Finch continued to work a lot in radio. He became Australia's top radio actor. He won Macquarie Awards for best actor in 1946 and 1947. He also worked as a show host, producer, and writer.

In 1946, Finch helped start the Mercury Theatre Company. They put on many plays in Sydney and ran a theatre school.

Finch also appeared in Australian feature films made around this time. These included A Son is Born (1946) and Eureka Stockade (1949). He also narrated documentaries like Indonesia Calling (1946).

Moving to Britain

In 1948, Laurence Olivier and Vivien Leigh visited Australia with the Old Vic Company. They saw Peter Finch act in a play. Olivier was very impressed and told Finch to move to London. Finch left Australia for good in 1948.

Success in British Films

When Peter Finch arrived in Britain, he quickly found success. He got a screen test at Ealing Studios. This led to him being cast in the movie Train of Events (1949). While making that film, Olivier cast him in a stage play at The Old Vic. This play, Daphne Laureola (1949), was a big hit and made Finch well-known in London. Olivier signed Finch to a five-year contract.

Finch had a small role in the World War II drama The Wooden Horse (1950). This film was very popular in Britain. He also appeared in The Miniver Story (1950), a sequel to the famous wartime film Mrs. Miniver.

Finch continued to act on stage. He also directed a play in 1950. His close friendship with the Olivier family led to him acting with Vivien Leigh in a play.

Becoming a Film Star

Finch's film career really took off when he played the Sheriff of Nottingham in The Story of Robin Hood (1952) for Walt Disney.

In 1952, Finch performed in plays in London, including Romeo and Juliet at the Old Vic. He played Mercutio and received great reviews. He then made two films for Alexander Korda: The Story of Gilbert and Sullivan (1953) and The Heart of the Matter (1953). In the latter, he played a priest and got good reviews.

Finch then starred in Elephant Walk (1954), filmed in Ceylon and Los Angeles. Vivien Leigh was supposed to be the main actress, but she had a nervous breakdown and was replaced by Elizabeth Taylor. This experience made Finch less interested in working in Hollywood.

Back in England, Finch played the villain Flambeau in Father Brown (1954), opposite Alec Guinness. He also had his first main role in a British comedy, Make Me an Offer (1954). He then played a villain in The Dark Avenger (1955), with Errol Flynn.

With Diane Cilento during filming of Passage Home (1955)

In 1954, Finch signed a seven-year contract with the Rank Organisation. He was to make one film a year for them. His first films for Rank included Passage Home (1955), Josephine and Men (1955), and Simon and Laura (1955).

Finch then played an Australian soldier in A Town Like Alice (1956). This World War II drama became very popular and won Finch a BAFTA for Best Actor. He followed it with another war movie, The Battle of the River Plate (1956). This film was also very popular.

Finch went back to Australia to make The Shiralee (1957). This was one of Finch's favorite roles, and the movie was highly praised. He also filmed another Australian story, Robbery Under Arms (1957).

International Stardom with The Nun's Story

Peter Finch's career got a big boost when Fred Zinnemann cast him with Audrey Hepburn in The Nun's Story (1959). This movie was a huge success and made Finch famous around the world.

He played Alan Breck in Disney's Kidnapped (1960). Then he went to Hollywood for The Sins of Rachel Cade (1961). Finch also co-wrote and directed an award-winning short film, The Day (1960).

For £25,000, he played Oscar Wilde in The Trials of Oscar Wilde (1960), winning another BAFTA. He played a politician in No Love for Johnnie (1961) and won his third BAFTA for Best Actor.

Finch was first chosen to play Julius Caesar in Cleopatra (1963) with Elizabeth Taylor. But when the film was delayed, Finch had to leave the project.

He made two Hollywood films that were not very successful: I Thank a Fool (1962) and In the Cool of the Day (1963). Finch then gained back his good reputation with two British films: The Pumpkin Eater (1964) and Girl with Green Eyes (1964). He also had a good role in the adventure film The Flight of the Phoenix (1965).

Finch then supported famous female stars in his next films. These included Sophia Loren in Judith (1966) and Julie Christie in Far from the Madding Crowd (1967). He also played Umberto Nobile in the international adventure film The Red Tent (1970).

Later Career and Network

Finch's career got another big boost when he took over the lead role in Sunday Bloody Sunday (1971). His performance earned him another BAFTA for Best Actor and an Oscar nomination.

However, some of his next films were not as successful. These included Something to Hide (1972) and the musical Lost Horizon (1973). He played Lord Nelson in Bequest to the Nation (1973).

Starring in Network

Peter Finch was asked to try out for the role of news presenter Howard Beale in Network (1976). This movie, with Finch as the star, became his biggest commercial and critical hit in many years. His famous line from the movie, "I'm as mad as hell, and I'm not going to take this anymore!" has become very well-known.

He then played Yitzhak Rabin in Raid on Entebbe (1977).

Peter Finch as a Poet

Peter Finch also wrote poetry sometimes. He was encouraged by Kenneth Slessor, a famous poet. Slessor even published one of Finch's poems. Finch's biographer said that Finch felt more fulfilled seeing his poem in print than winning any film award.

Personal Life and Family

Peter Finch was married three times.

In 1943, he married Romanian-born French ballerina Tamara Tchinarova. They had a daughter named Anita, born in 1950. They divorced in 1959.

Finch then married South African-born actress Yolande Turner. They had two children together, Samantha and Charles Peter. Finch and Turner divorced in 1965.

On 9 November 1973, in Rome, Finch married Mavis "Eletha" Barrett, known as Eletha Finch. They had a daughter together, Diana.

Death and Posthumous Oscar

Soon after filming Raid on Entebbe, Peter Finch went on a tour to promote Network. On 13 January 1977, he appeared on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson. The next day, Finch had a heart attack in the lobby of the Beverly Hills Hotel. He died at the age of 60. He is buried in the Hollywood Forever Cemetery.

Finch was nominated for an Oscar for his role in Network. He won the award after his death. His widow, Eletha Finch, accepted the award for him. Peter Finch was the first actor to win an Oscar posthumously (after death). He was also the first Australian actor to win a Best Actor award. He was the only posthumous winner in an acting category until fellow Australian Heath Ledger won in 2009. Finch also won five Best Actor awards from the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA), including one for Network.

Filmography

Peter Finch starred in many films and TV shows throughout his career. Here are some of his notable works:

Film Roles

Television Roles

Awards and Recognitions

Peter Finch received many awards and nominations for his acting.

Images for kids

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  Finch in 1955

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  With Diane Cilento during filming of Passage Home (1955)

See also

In Spanish: Peter Finch para niños