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Quaker actors and entertainers.
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Paul Eddington (1927-1995) was one of Britain's best loved comedy actors. He appeared in very successful shows such as The Good Life and Yes Prime Minister.
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Gerard Hoffnung (1925-1959) was born in Berlin and went to London in 1939 as a schoolboy refugee. Although he died at the early age of 34 years, he achieved in his short life enough to fill a whole series of lifetimes. Artist, teacher, cartoonist, caricaturist, musician and tuba player, broadcaster and raconteur, a much sought after speaker at the Oxford and Cambridge Unions and prison visitor, a Quaker - these were all facets of a creative personality. This text was quoted from the official Hoffnung website: |
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James Dean (1931-1955) was brought up by his Quaker relatives in Fairmount, Indiana, following the death of his mother when he was a child. After having a successful career as an actor and showing great potential, he died in a car crash. He was given a Quaker funeral at Friends Church in Fairmount. |
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Judi Dench (born 1934) was educated at The Mount, a Friends School in York where several other famous Quaker women were educated (such as Margaret Drabble and her sister, A.S. Byatt). She is one of our most accomplished living actresses and is well known for winning the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress for her role as Queen Elizabeth I in 'Shakespeare in Love'. Other Oscar nominations were for 'Mrs Brown', 'Chocolat' and 'Iris'. |
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Sheila Hancock (born 1933), who joined Friends recently, has had a distinguished career in the theatre and television. Sheila took the part of narrator for the World Premiere performance of 'The Gates of Greenham', performed by the Quaker Festival Orchestra and Chorus at the Royal Festival Hall in 1985, and also narrated on the recording of this successful choral work. |
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Ben Kingsley (born 1943) was a well established Shakespearian actor before his spectacular debut in film, winning the Best Actor Oscar for Gandhi. Since then he has had many successful screen roles. |
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Jim Broadbent (born 1949) came from a Quaker family and was educated at Friends School Leighton Park near Reading. Jim is well known for recent roles in films such as 'Bridget Jones' Diary' and 'Moulin Rouge'. He also appeared in 'Iris' with Judi Dench. |
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Victoria Wood (born 1953) is an accomplished comedy writer, a pioneer of women's stand-up comedy, and her successful TV show has led to single dramas and a sitcom, Dinnerladies. |