Sir Donald Wolfit, CBE (born Donald Woolfitt; 20 April 1902 – 17 February 1968) was an English actor-manager, known for his touring productions of Shakespeare. He was especially renowned for his portrayal of King Lear.
Born to a conventional middle-class family in Nottinghamshire, Wolfit was stage-struck from an early age, and after a brief spell as a teacher he joined the touring company of the actor-manager Charles Doran, and later that of Fred Terry. He made his London début in 1924 and simplified the spelling of his surname from Woolfitt to Wolfit.
In 1929 Wolfit joined Lilian Baylis's company at the Old Vic but developed a strong antipathy to the leading man, John Gielgud, and left the company after a single season. He joined the Shakespeare Memorial Theatre companies for the festivals of 1936 and 1937, in thirteen major roles, winning excellent reviews for his performance as Hamlet. He then set up his own touring company, taking the plays of Shakespeare and others all round Britain and from time to time overseas. He continued to appear in the West End and made several films, but his main concern was for his touring company. Its standards were criticised, but several members moved on to greater fame, including Harold Pinter and Brian Rix.
1968
as Dr. Augustus Fagan
1968
as 'Macbeth'
1966
as Car Salesman
1965
as Abe Brown
1965
as Bažant
1964
as Bishop Folliot
1963
as R.D. Muir (as Sir Donald Wolfit)
1962
as General Murray
1961
1961
as Clive
1960
as Professor Volchett
1959
as Inspector Van Der Stoor
1959
as Lord Drewell
1959
as Dr. Stergion
1959
as Mr. Brown
1958
as Doctor Callistratus
1958
as Gen. Mercier
1958
as Halvard Solness
1957
as Colonel Price
1956
as Prof. Merrity
1956
as Judge
1956
as Prof. Cattrell
1955
1955
as Alfie Stratton
1955
as Sergeant Buzfuz
1955
1954
as Willie, the boy's uncle
1954
as Svengali
1952
as Dr. Lomond
1952
as Sergeant Buzfuz
1939
as Hamlet
1938
as Executive
1936
as Dick Finlay
1935
as Inspector Greville
1935
as Jack Barton
1935
as Henry Camberley
1935
as Thomas Doughty
1935
as George Francis Howard
1934
as Sydney Parsons
1931