Today’s Quote 05 22

Sir Laurence Olivier

Today’s quote is from Laurence Kerr Olivier, Baron Olivier, born today in 1907 in Dorking, Surrey. Olivier was an English actor and director who, along with his contemporaries Ralph Richardson and John Gielgud, was one of a trio of male actors who dominated the British stage of the mid-20th century. He also worked in films throughout his career, playing more than fifty cinema roles. Late in his career, he had considerable success in television roles.

Among Olivier’s films are Wuthering Heights (1939), Rebecca (1940), and a trilogy of Shakespeare films as actor/director: Henry V (1944), Hamlet (1948), and Richard III (1955). His later films included Spartacus (1960), The Shoes of the Fisherman (1968), Sleuth (1972), Marathon Man (1976), and The Boys from Brazil (1978). His television appearances included an adaptation of The Moon and Sixpence (1960), Long Day’s Journey into Night (1973), Love Among the Ruins (1975), Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (1976), Brideshead Revisited (1981) and King Lear (1983).

Olivier’s honors included a knighthood (1947), a life peerage (1970) and the Order of Merit (1981). For his on-screen work he received four Academy Awards, two British Academy Film Awards, five Emmy Awards, and three Golden Globe Awards. The National Theatre’s largest auditorium is named in his honor, and he is commemorated in the Laurence Olivier Awards, given annually by the Society of London Theatre. He was married three times, to the actresses Jill Esmond from 1930 to 1940, Vivien Leigh from 1940 to 1960, and Joan Plowright from 1961 until his death.

“Striving for perfection is the greatest stopper there is. You’ll be afraid you can’t achieve it. It’s your excuse to yourself for not doing anything. Instead, strive for excellence, doing your best.”

Quick Take – So often, we put off an effort trying to make something perfect… the best executed plan is better than the perfect plan never executed…

Daily Focus – Wednesday – Personal – Get a Pedi, get a massage, do some retail therapy… today is all about you!

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Other Birthdays Today –

1622 Louis de Buade de Frontenac, French soldier and Governor General of New France, born in Saint-Germain-en-Laye, France (d. 1698)

1813 Richard Wagner, German composer (The Ring of the Nibelung; Flying Dutchman), born in Leipzig, Saxony, Germany (d. 1883)

1859 Arthur Conan Doyle, British author who brought Sherlock Holmes to life twice, born in Edinburgh, Scotland (d. 1930)

1907 Laurence Olivier, English actor (Rebecca, Hamlet, Jazz Singer), born in Dorking, Surrey (d. 1989)

1928 T. Boone Pickens, American business person and oil tycoon (Shamrock, Mesa Petroleum Co) known as the ‘Oracle of Oil’, born in Holdenville, Oklahoma (d. 2019)

1941 Paul Winfield, American actor (Star Trek II, Huckleberry Finn, Mars Attack), born in Los Angeles, California (d. 2004)

1942 Ted Kaczynski, American serial killer and terrorist known as the “Unabomber”, born in Evergreen Park, Illinois

1970 Naomi Campbell, English model and actress (Cool as Ice, Unzipped), born in London, England