European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - May 23, 1987, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Magazine Olivier at 80 the greatest actor of our generation by Matt Wolf associated press Harles Laughton once Laid him Larry you Are. England and. When in comes to acting Many would agree. In Moro than 60 bus and 110 plays Laurence Olivier has remained the consummate English actor and become a contemporary healer legend. With his both birthday his week a volume of reminiscence is building to Honor the Man whom the late Noel Coward called the greatest actor o our  from theatrical parties to commemorative books a City that lakes its culture seriously is turning of to pay tribute to the Clergyman s son who has stirred audiences for More than six decades with his Good looks galvanic Energy and prodigious technique. A is the Genius performer said director sir Peter Hall on stage film and television sir Laurence has shown Hal Genius. In new works and the classics he has done definitive work alongside in later years some assignments at dubious Quality undertaken unapologetic ally Lor he Money. Throughout one constant has been Clear Olivier s love Tor a profession mat he wrote in his 1 986 Book on acting. Has Given me the world and great  London is preparing to reciprocal a that happiness. On May 31, the National theater which Olivier inaugurated in 1963, is Felting him Wiki a Champagne supper and entertainment in the largest of the Complex s three auditoriums the Olivier theater of course ii is not certain Ida actor himself will attend because of ailing health Tor years lie has battled kidney ailments pleurisy cancer and a degenerative muscle disease. His agent Laurence Evans says Olivier spends Over Hall the week at his country Home coming in o London to be with his third Wile actress Joan Plowright who is starring on stage in Trig House of Bernards Alba. A devoted swimmer Olivier still tries to swim 66 Pool laps a Day although sometimes he chickens out at 50," said his Secretary. Shirley Luke. Meanwhile London s Tribulo continue the National film to teat is screening 10 of Olivier s most acclaimed performances from but Henna Heights and sister Carrie to his own film of Shakespeare s Henry v. The National portrait gallery will House an exhibition in dose up thai includes Salvador Pali s portrait of Olivier As Man and actor in his 1955 film Richard i on television Channel four is  his celebrated Lytus in performance As King Lear As Well As the movies i7wdemj-Parbdjse l943uncle Vanya 1963 and Bunny Sakols missing 196s. The British broadcasting corp. Is showing the divorce of lady x 1938 and Pride and prejudice 1940. Olivier himself is contributing fresh material to the festivities. On his birthday bbl radio 3 Wilt broadcast him in an original 20-Minule Solo piece no end to dreaming by Peler Barnes. On june 7, Independent television will air a 55-Rntnufe show War will survive of us is love which blends Olivier Reading poetry with footage of a sunday picnic in the country held last August with Maggie Smith Frank Finlay and Jane Lapotaire among the guest in a new Hook Olivier in Celebration. Friends and colleagues offer their Sowri citations. Michael Caine comments on an offer to work in the 1972 film Stout i with Olivier the first reaction is that i m working with one of the greatest actors of All Lima and you accept the part  our professional partnership was Brief but our Friendship lasting. Happy Days indeed remarks oame Peggy Ash Roll who was Olivier s classmate at London s Central school of speech and drama. The two shared the school s Gold medal at their 1925 graduation but they Nevar worked together Afler 1935, when she played Julie to his Romeo in Shakespeare s tragedy directed by Olivier s Lellow actor Knight sir John Gielgud. Bui they May be reunited this summer. Hopes Are keen Hal the two will Star in John Dexter s to production of David Henry Hwang s play the House of set in beauties. Tho two character piece set in Japan would be supplemented by footage of the rehearsal under the title Olivier at 80 Olivier has been around so Long that Many of his contemporaries have died bul Logan Gourlay s 1973 Book Olivier has their reminiscences Tike that of Ralph Richardson he s bold he s very very  Olivier relates in on acting tha Richardson once dangled him 60 feel above a parisian Street in a moment of lunacy the late Terry Malligan Lor whose 1953 play Trie sleeping Prince Olivier was both Star and director said Larry As my Prince was Well  that magic has been evident throughout his career beginning with his 1922 performance As Shakespeare s Kate in Trie taming of the shrew performed by the a saints choir school in sural lord on Avon. A no Sybil Tho Diko the renowned British actress who died in 1976, said of it he was a wonderful Katharine a bad temp rec Little Bitch though a himself is the least effeminate of  the Oliv Lef Light relates to dim. Younger Acton the world Over admit is influence  subsequent career has been a series of highlights both classical Shakespeare s Henry a Richard Iii and Hamlet and contemporary the tailed comedian Archie Rice in of e entertainer Eugene o Neill s haunted James Tyrone in Long Day s journey into night. Honors have come his Way in abundance. In 1947. He was knighted and in 1970 he was made a life peer Baron Olivier of Brighton. Hamlet brought him a Best actor Oscar in 1949, and a special honorary Academy award followed in 1979. His offstage tile has attracted equal interest his tempestuous 21-year marriage to his second Wile actress Vivien Leigh was racked Wilh intrigue and pain. She was mentally unstable and had an adulterous affair. He threatened suicide and Ever guilty eventually took he blame when they divorced in 1961, his greatest achievements of late have been on to As lord Marc main in Bride Simeao Rev Silett. Sir Arthur opposite Katharine Hepburn in love among the ruins and the fallen and foolish Monarch Lear in Shakespeare s mightiest tragedy. Sometimes i wonder if i have not become a Lillis like Lear myself Olivier wrote in Oft acting and some critics complain that his recent projects betray the lapses of the great films like the Nefsy the jazz Singer and Inchon and the current London stage musical time in which his image is projected on to a suspended plaster Model of his head. But Olivier rises to his own defense Vita to me these cameos spiritually and financially he wrote. I be always managed to give them All the animation they  for Hla colleagues the Olivier Light fetuses to dim. There Are hundreds of actors around walking and talking like him and Gielgud said Ian Mckellen. Broadway s Tony winning Star of amadeus younger actors the world Over admit owner s influence Antony Sher and John Hurt in Britain Dustin Hoffman and Jon Voight in the United states. Gerard Depardieu in France. His offspring too feel his influence As Trey All enter careers in the arts. 0 his three children by Joan Plo Wight Richard is a stage director based in los Angeles Tamsin is an actress now on Lour in a stage version of her father s 1940 film Rebecca and Julie Kate is a student at the London Academy of music and dramatic arts. The stars and stripes Page 13