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Peter FinchAustralian film actor, winner of the 1977 Oscar for Best Actor.
Date of Birth: 28.09.1916
Country:  Great Britain |
Content:
Biography of Peter Finch
Peter Finch was an Australian actor and the recipient of the 1977 Best Actor award. He was the only posthumous winner of an Oscar among actors, receiving it for his role in the film "Network". Finch was born in London and moved to Sydney at the age of ten. After finishing school, he held several jobs before eventually becoming an actor. In 1935, he started acting in theatre and working on the radio.
His first film was the mediocre comedy "Dad and Dave Come to Town" in 1938. Finch caught the attention of Laurence Olivier, who offered him a spot in his troupe, prompting Finch to move to London. In 1948, he began a romance with Vivien Leigh (Olivier's wife at the time), which lasted on and off for several years. Soon after, Finch started appearing in films. His first Hollywood film was "The Miniver Story" in 1950. His role in the film "A Town Like Alice" earned him his first British Academy Film Award.
In 1960, Finch portrayed Oscar Wilde in the film "The Trials of Oscar Wilde", winning the Best Actor prize at the Moscow International Film Festival. In 1971, he played Daniel Hirsh, a Jewish homosexual, in the controversial film "Sunday Bloody Sunday". The film explored the theme of homosexual love, and although it received several Oscar nominations, including one for Finch as Best Actor, it did not win any. The film's explicit portrayal of homosexuality in positive characters was believed to be the reason behind this.
However, Finch's greatest success came with his role in the film "Network" in 1976. He portrayed the unhinged television anchor Howard Beale, whose network continues to give him airtime to boost ratings. On January 14, 1977, Finch passed away from a heart attack. He was posthumously awarded the Oscar for his performance, which was accepted by his widow, Eletha Finch. Finch is one of four actors to be nominated for an Oscar posthumously, and the only one to win. He also became the first Australian actor to receive an Oscar. He was also honored with a Golden Globe for the same film.
Personal Life
Finch was married three times. His first wife was Russian ballet dancer Tamara Tchinarova, and they were married from 1943 to 1959. After their divorce, he married Yolande Turner from 1959 to 1965. His second marriage also ended in divorce. In 1973, Finch married for the third time. He had four children from his three marriages.
In 1980, journalist Elaine Dundy published the biography "Finch, Bloody Finch: A Biography of Peter Finch".
