| David Lean Quick Info | |
|---|---|
| Height | 6 ft 1 in |
| Weight | 74 kg |
| Date of Birth | March 25, 1908 |
| Zodiac Sign | Aries |
| Date of Death | April 16, 1991 |
David Lean was an English film director, producer, screenwriter, and editor who is regarded as one of the most prominent figures in British cinema. He directed films such as Doctor Zhivago, Great Expectations, Oliver Twist, Lawrence of Arabia, A Passage to India, The Bridge on the River Kwai, The Passionate Friends, In Which We Serve, Hobson’s Choice, This Happy Breed, Lost and Found: The Story of Cook’s Anchor, Brief Encounter, Summertime, and Ryan’s Daughter. He was nominated 7 times for the Academy Award for “Best Director” and won twice for The Bridge on the River Kwai and Lawrence of Arabia. David Lean was honored with the AFI Life Achievement Award in 1990. In 2002, he was ranked as the 9th greatest film director of all time in the British Film Institute Sight & Sound “Directors’ Top Directors” poll.
Born Name
David Lean
Nick Name
David
Age
He was born on March 25, 1908.
Died
On April 16, 1991, he died of throat cancer at the age of 83 in Limehouse, London, England, United Kingdom.
Resting Place
Putney Vale Cemetery, London, England, United Kingdom
Sun Sign
Aries
Born Place
38 Blenheim Crescent, South Croydon, Surrey (later part of Greater London), England, United Kingdom
Residence
He resided in Limehouse, East London, England, United Kingdom.
Nationality
Education
David Lean attended Leighton Park School, a Quaker-founded co-educational private school located in Reading in South East England. He was 18 years old when he left school in the Christmas Term of 1926.
Occupation
Film Director, Producer, Screenwriter, Editor
Family
- Father – Francis William le Blount Lean
- Mother – Helena Annie (née Tangye) Lean
- Siblings – Edward Tangye Lean (February 23, 1911 – October 28, 1974) (Younger Brother) (Author, Original founder of the Inklings literary club in Oxford)
Build
Slim
Height
6 ft 1 in or 185.5 cm
Weight
74 kg or 163 lbs
Girlfriend / Spouse
David Lean had dated –
- Isabel Lean (1930-1936) – He married his first wife Isabel Lean on June 28, 1930, and they had a son named Peter Lean. The couple divorced in 1936.
- Kay Walsh (1936-1949) – David Lean first met actor, dancer, and screenwriter Kay Walsh during the filming of Secret of Stamboul in 1936 and they eventually started going out. She broke off her engagement to Pownoll Pellew (later 9th Viscount Exmouth) and married Lean on November 23, 1940. They later divorced in 1949 on grounds of infidelity on Lean’s side owing to his relationship with actor Ann Todd.
- Ann Todd (1949-1957) – On May 21, 1949, he married actor and stage artist Ann Todd and she starred in his films – The Passionate Friends (1949), Madeleine (1950), and The Sound Barrier (1952). The marriage ended in divorce on July 15, 1957.
- Leila Matkar (1960-1978) – David Lean was married to Leila Matkar from July 4, 1960, to 1978. She hailed from Hyderabad, India and this was Lean’s longest-lasting marriage.
- Barbara Cole (1961-1966) – Reportedly, he was romantically involved with Barbara Cole from 1961 to 1966.
- Sandra Hotz (1981-1984) – He married Sandra Hotz on October 28, 1981, and they divorced in 1984.
- Sandra Cooke (1990-1991) – On December 15, 1990, David Lean married his last wife Sandra Cooke and they remained together until his death the following year.
Race / Ethnicity
White
Hair Color
Gray
Eye Color
Dark Brown
Sexual Orientation
Straight
Distinctive Features
- Short-tempered
- Frequently cast Alec Guinness, Ann Todd, and Omar Sharif
Religion
He was raised in a Christian household.
David Lean Favorite Things
- Personal Favorite Of All His Films – Summertime (1955)
- Female Actor – Katharine Hepburn
Source – Wikipedia
David Lean Facts
- His parents were Quakers.
- After quitting school, David Lean worked as an apprentice at his father’s chartered accountancy firm.
- His father deserted the family in 1923.
- For his contributions and services to the arts, David Lean was awarded the CBE in the Coronation Honours List of 1953.
- Filmmakers such as Steven Spielberg and Martin Scorsese have credited David Lean as one of their primary influences. He has also been an influence on many other noted filmmakers like Stanley Kubrick, George Lucas, Spike Lee, Paul Thomas Anderson, and Guillermo del Toro.
- He has 7 films in the British Film Institute’s Top 100 British Films (with 3 of them being in the top 5).
Featured Image by Harry Pot / Anefo / Dutch National Archives / Public Domain
