Tony and Olivier-Winning Actor Dame Joan Plowright Dies at 95 | Playbill

Obituaries Tony and Olivier-Winning Actor Dame Joan Plowright Dies at 95

Ms. Plowright's career in theatre, TV, and film spanned a remarkable seven decades.

Tony and Olivier-winning actor Joan Plowright passed away January 16 at the age of 95. She died peacefully surrounded by family, as confirmed by her loved ones to The Guardian.

Ms. Plowright was born October 28, 1929, in England. Her mother, Daisy Margaret Burton, was an amateur actor, opera singer, and dance teacher, and her father, William Ernest Plowright, was a journalist. After training at the Laban Art of Movement Studio in Manchester and the Old Vic Theatre School in London, Ms. Plowright made her professional stage debut in If Four Walls Could Talk at England's Croydon Repertory Theatre in 1948. 

After making her London stage debut in The Duenna, Ms. Plowright became a member of the Royal Court Theatre in 1956, where she performed in productions including The CrucibleMajor BarbaraThe Country Wife, and more. 

In 1957, Ms. Plowright joined the company of the Royal Court's production of John Osborne's The Entertainer for its West End transfer. There, she met Laurence Olivier, who played her father in the work. Ms. Plowright and Olivier also reprised their roles in the play's 1960 film adaptation. 

In 1958, Ms. Plowright made her Broadway debut in a double bill of Eugene Ionesco one-acts, The Chairs and The Lesson. Her Broadway credits also included The EntertainerThe Best House in NaplesFilumena, and A Taste of Honey, the latter of which earned her a Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play in 1961. 

While Ms. Plowright was starring in A Taste of Honey, Olivier was leading Jean Anouilh's Becket. That same year, the pair were married in Connecticut. 

Ms. Plowright also appeared in numerous films and television shows over the years, in titles such as Sara Crewe in 1951, a BBC adaptation of The Comedy of Errors in 1954, and more. Her film career began in an uncredited role in John Huston's 1956 Moby Dick adaptation, and would later include roles in Franco Zeffirelli's 1996 Jane Eyre adaptation, Disney's 1996 live-action 101 Dalmatians (which also featured Glenn Close), and more. 

Along with her Tony Award for A Taste of Honey, Ms. Plowright also received an Olivier Award for Actress of the Year in a New Play for Filumena, two Golden Globe Awards (for Enchanted April and Stalin), and nominations for an Academy Award (also for Enchanted April) and a Primetime Emmy Award (Stalin). She also received BAFTA nominations for her work in The Entertainer and for her portrayal of Dora Strang in the screen version of Equus.

Ms. Plowright's memoir, And That's Not All, was published in 2002, detailing her career and her relationship with Olivier, in particular. In 2018, Ms. Plowright was featured alongside fellow Dames Judi Dench, Maggie Smith, and Eileen Atkins in Roger Michell's documentary Nothing Like a Dame.

"She enjoyed a long and illustrious career across theatre, film and TV over seven decades until blindness made her retire," Ms. Plowright's family said in a statement. "She cherished her last 10 years in Sussex with constant visits from friends and family, filled with much laughter and fond memories. The family are deeply grateful to Jean Wilson and all those involved in her personal care over many years.”

West End theatres will dim their lights for two minutes January 21 at 7 PM in honor of Ms. Plowright. 

Ms. Plowright's death was preceded by Olivier's, who passed away in July 1989. She is survived by her son, actor and director Richard Olivier, two daughters, actors Tamsin Olivier and Julie Kate Olivier, and her grandchildren.

 
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