Jack Hawkins

Jack Hawkins, also credited as John Edwards was an established and recognized English actor who has done an enormous amount of work in both stage and films for more than 40 years. The popular British actor was best known for his strong portrayal of military men in many famous movies like Ben Hur Click to look into! >> Read More... (1959), Angels One Five (1951), The Cruel Sea (1953) and Lawrence of Arabia (1962). An obituary reported that Jack Hawkins exemplified the stiff upper lip tradition which was common in British movies after the conclusion of Second World War. Whatever branch of service he represented in the war films, he made it look relatable with his craggy looks. Born on 14th September 1914, the actor was the son of a builder. He did his education at Wood Green’s Trinity County Grammar School. Within the age of ten, Hawkins made his stage debut after joining the local operatic society.

His first stage act was Patience by Gilbert and Sullivan. After his parents had enrolled his name in the Italia Conti Academy, he made his debut in London stage acts at the age of 11. The stage show was called "Where the Rainbow Ends", and it premiered at the Holborn Empire on 26th December 1923. He played the role of Elf King in the play. With each passing year, Jack Hawkins established a name on stage through his various performances. At the of 18, he appeared on Broadway in the dramatic play called Journey’s End. He served as an officer during the Second World War with the Royal Welch Fusiliers. In the middle of his military service, he made a war film The Next of Kin, which was released in 1942.

After the completion of World War II World War II is a Malayalam information TV show on >> Read More... , Hawkins became a star in British Film industry. His popularity rapidly increased with the success of three of his films where he played the role of stern authority figures. He played the role of RAAF officer in Angels One Five (1951); A rubber planter who fought against the communists in Malayan Emergency and the role of a headmaster in a deaf school in the movie Mandy (1952). These films went on to become among the ten most popular British movies in 1952. His Hollywood aspirations got fulfilled after he received an offer to play the role of a pharaoh in Land of the Pharaohs (1955).

The Howards Hawks movie didn't do much of a business at the box office. He came back to Britain and made Touch and Go (1955) but it didn’t garner much popularity. His career got rejuvenated when he was cast in the 1957 movie The Bridge on the River Kwai where he played the third lead. He received The CBE award in the year 1958. On 18th July 1973, Jack Hawkins died due to a hemorrhage after undertaking an experimental operation.