Simon Callow
Simon Callow (Simon Phillip Hugh Callow) was born on June 13th, 1949 and is currently 76 years old. Simon Callow was born in Streatham, London, England. Callow attended The Queen's University of Belfast.
Simon Callow is an English actor. He is known as a character actor on screen and stage, he’s received numerous accolades including a Screen Actors Guild Award and Olivier Award, along with nominations for 2 BAFTA Awards.
Simon gave up his degree course at the Queen’s University Belfast in Northern Ireland after just one year in order to take a 3 year long acting course at the Drama Centre London.
Simon’s immersion in theater started after he wrote a fan letter to Sir Laurence Olivier (artistic director at the National Theatre), and got a response that suggested he join their box office staff.
In 1973, he made his stage debut, appearing in
The Three Estates at the Assembly Rooms Theatre, Edinburgh. During the early 70s, he joined Martin Sherman’s critically acclaimed
Passing By.
He rose to prominence originating the title role of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart in Peter Shaffer’s play
Amadeus, for which he received a Laurence Olivier Award nomination for Best Actor in a Supporting Role. He joined the film version, this time around he played the part of Emanuel Schikaneder.
Simon received BAFTA Award nominations for Best Actor in a Supporting Role for
A Room With a View and
Four Weddings and a Funeral.
He won the Laurence Olivier Award for Best Director of a Musical in 1992 for his work on
Carmen Jones.
Being an Actor is a classic book for actors beginning their career. Few actors have ever been more eloquent, more entertaining, or more honest about their profession and life than Simon Callow, one of the best actors of his time and increasingly one of the most admired writers about theater.
Starting with his letter to Laurence Olivier that produced his first theatrical job to his triumph as Mozart in the original run of the play version of
Amadeus, he takes us with him on his progress through England’s demanding and rich theater. His training at London’s famed Drama Centre, his glorious and grim apprenticeship in the provincial theater, his breakthrough at the Joint Stock Company, and success at Olivier’s National Theatre are among the way stations.
He provides a guide not just to the actor’s profession but to the intricacies of his art, from unemployment to the final night of a long run.
My Life in Pieces takes readers behind the camera and behind the curtain to introduce us to the performances and performers that have helped shape him as an actor and public persona, and draws upon his lifetime of writing about film and theater. They include giants such as Charles Dickens, Laurence Olivier, Orson Welles, Tommy Cooper, and Charles Laughton.
The book reconstructs the highlights of his career, including his breakthrough roles as the foul-mouthed Mozart in
Amadeus, and as Reverend Beebe in
A Room With a View, at the personal insistence of Ismail Merchant, producer.
The pieces are all interspersed with commentaries on nudity, pantomime, homosexuality, and the numerous other aspects of a rich and varied life, both off and on the stage.
Related Authors
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- Stephen King, author of The Dark Tower Series.
- Linwood Barclay, author of the novel: Elevator Pitch.
- Michael Connelly, author of the Harry Bosch Series.
- Charles Dickens, author of the novel: A Christmas Carol.
- C.J. Box, author of the Joe Pickett Series.
Simon Callow: F.A.Q
When was Simon Callow Born? How old is Simon Callow?
Simon Callow was born on June 13th, 1949. Simon Callow is currently 76 years old.
Where was Simon Callow Born?
Simon Callow was born in Streatham, London, England and is English.
What was the first book Simon Callow wrote?
The first book written by Simon Callow was Being an Actor, Revised and Expanded Edition, published in 1984.
What was the most recent book Simon Callow wrote?
His most recently released work was Being Wagner on February 6th, 2018.
Will there be any more books by Simon Callow?
Simon Callow does not have any upcoming books with a set publication date within the next few months at this time.
How many books has Simon Callow written?
Simon Callow has written 20 books excluding contributions to anthologies. 3 books in the Orson Welles Series, 2 Standalone Novels, 15 books in the Non-Fiction Books.