Alec Guinness Biography: Age, Height, Net Worth, Real Name, Parents, Religion, Son, Awards, Real Name, Wife

Alec Guinness de Cuffe also known as Alec Guinness stands as an iconic British actor, revered for his chameleon-like versatility across stage and screen, delivering indelible performances in wartime dramas, Ealing comedies, and epic sagas like Star Wars, where his portrayal of Obi-Wan Kenobi cemented a global legacy.

Profile

• Full Name: Alec Guinness de Cuffe
• Stage Name: Alec Guinness
• Born: April 2, 1914
• Died: August 5, 2000 (Age: 86 years old)
• Birthplace: Paddington, London, England
• Nationality: British
• Occupation: Actor
• Height: 5 feet 10 inches
• Parents: Agnes Cuffe
• Siblings: None
• Spouse: Merula Silvia Salaman
• Children: Matthew Guinness
• Relationship: Married
• Net Worth: $8 million USD

Early Life and Education

Alec Guinness, a distinguished actor, entered the world on April 2, 1914, in Paddington, London, England. Raised by his mother, Agnes Cuffe, a single parent in constrained circumstances, he navigated an uncertain lineage—his father’s identity, possibly Andrew Geddes, remained unconfirmed.

Educated at Pembroke Lodge and Roborough School in Eastbourne on scholarships, he developed an early passion for theater despite financial hurdles. His ethnicity reflected British heritage, and he adhered to Christianity, later converting to Roman Catholicism in 1956.

Career

Alec Guinness debuted on stage in 1934 as an extra in Libel at London’s Playhouse Theatre, mentored by John Gielgud in Hamlet (1934) and Romeo and Juliet (1935). He joined the Old Vic in 1936, excelling in classics like Twelfth Night and Henry V. Post-World War II service as a Royal Navy lieutenant, he rose to cinematic prominence with David Lean’s Great Expectations (1946) as Herbert Pocket and Oliver Twist (1948) as Fagin.

His Ealing Studios comedies, including Kind Hearts and Coronets (1949)—playing eight roles—Lavender Hill Mob (1951), and The Ladykillers (1955), showcased comedic finesse. Lean’s The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957) earned him an Oscar, followed by roles in Lawrence of Arabia (1962) as Prince Faisal and Doctor Zhivago (1965).

His portrayal of Obi-Wan Kenobi in Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope (1977), Episode V (1980), and Episode VI (1983) defined a cultural touchstone, though he famously bristled at its fanfare.

Later works like Scrooge (1970), Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (1979) as George Smiley, and Little Dorrit (1987) affirmed his range until his final role in Mute Witness (1995).

Social Media

Alec Guinness does not have a social media account.

Personal Life

Alec Guinness, a distinguished actor, stood at 5 feet 10 inches and maintained a private life anchored by his 62-year marriage to Merula Silvia Salaman, an artist and playwright, wed on June 20, 1938.

They welcomed their son, Matthew Guinness, in 1940, who later pursued acting. Residing primarily in Petersfield, Hampshire, he cherished quiet routines—gardening, reading, and sailing—while shunning publicity.

His 1956 conversion to Catholicism shaped his reflective demeanor, and he supported charities like the Actors’ Benevolent Fund. Guinness passed on August 5, 2000, from liver cancer, leaving a legacy of understated elegance.

Filmography

Selected Filmography:

• Great Expectations (1946) – Herbert Pocket
• Oliver Twist (1948) – Fagin
• Kind Hearts and Coronets (1949) – Eight D’Ascoyne Roles
• The Lavender Hill Mob (1951) – Henry Holland
• The Man in the White Suit (1951) – Sidney Stratton
• The Ladykillers (1955) – Professor Marcus
• The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957) – Colonel Nicholson
• The Horse’s Mouth (1958) – Gulley Jimson
• Lawrence of Arabia (1962) – Prince Faisal
• Doctor Zhivago (1965) – Yevgraf Zhivago
• Scrooge (1970) – Jacob Marley
• Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope (1977) – Obi-Wan Kenobi
• Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back (1980) – Obi-Wan Kenobi
• Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi (1983) – Obi-Wan Kenobi
• Little Dorrit (1987) – William Dorrit
• Mute Witness (1995) – The Reaper

Selected Television:

• The Wicked Scheme of Jebal Deeks (1959) – Jebal Deeks
• Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (1979) – George Smiley
• Smiley’s People (1982) – George Smiley
• Edwin (1984) – Sir Fennimore Truscott

Net Worth

Alec Guinness, a distinguished actor, held an estimated net worth of $8 million USD at his passing in 2000. Wealth accrued from prolific film roles, notably residuals from Star Wars (where he negotiated a 2.25% gross percentage), stage engagements, and selective television projects, bolstered by endorsements and estate investments.