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What Was Legendary Oscar-Winning Actor and Director Laurence Olivier’s Net Worth?

He famously portrayed the anti-hero Heathcliff in the film, "Wuthering Heights" in 1939, receiving an Oscar nomination for Best Actor for his performance.

BY SUNAYNA KANJILAL

PUBLISHED JAN 5, 2024

Name	Laurence Olivier
Net Worth	$20 Million
Sources of Income	Acting, Producing, Screenwriting
Gender	Male
Date of Birth	May 22, 1907
Date of Death	July 11, 1989
Age (at the time of death)	82
Nationality	United Kingdom
Profession	Actor, Film Producer, Film Director, Screenwriter, Television Producer, Voice Actor

Laurence Olivier's net worth

English actor, director, and producer Laurence Olivier is considered one of the greatest actors of the 20th century. He is an Academy Award winner who was honored with two special Oscars. He has appeared in many stage roles and in 60 films. He has also been part of 15 productions. He has bagged the Best Film and Best Actor awards for "Hamlet" in 1948. He was knighted in the year 1947 and received the Order of Merit in 1981. At the time of his death, his net worth was around $20 million, per Celebrity Net Worth.

Sir Laurence Olivier | Getty Images | Picture Post

Laurence Olivier's sources of income

Most of Olivier's net worth is attributed to his films and TV roles over the years. Olivier joined a small touring company right after school and joined the Birmingham Repertory Company in 1926. He later landed two roles in the films "Too Many Crooks" and "The Temporary Widow." He was also cast in the play, "Private Lives" which opened at the Phoenix Theatre in London. He then became part of Hollywood in 1931 and was seen in many films after that.

After a few years, he famously portrayed the anti-hero Heathcliff in the film, "Wuthering Heights" in 1939, receiving an Oscar nomination for Best Actor for his performance. His other notable works include "Marathon Man," "Sleuth," "The Shoes of the Fisherman," and "The Boys from Brazil." He could completely transform into different characters. He was also known for using extravagant makeup. His second (of three) Shakespeare films, "Hamlet," which he both directed and acted in, received multiple Oscars.

Laurence Olivier's personal life

Laurence Olivier was born on May 22, 1907, in Dorking, United Kingdom. He had two older siblings. His father Gerard Olivier was a priest in the Church of England but also practiced ritualistic Anglicanism which was looked down upon in England. Because of this, he moved around often, and grew up living a nomadic life. It was only in 1912 that his father secured a permanent post and the family was able to live in Pimlico for six years.

Olivier was married to Jill Esmond for a short period and was later married to actress Vivien Leigh in 1940. Olivier and Leigh were married for two decades before the marriage ended in 1960. He then married actress Joan Plowright in 1961 and the two remained together till Olivier's death in 1989.

The cause of his death was kidney failure and he passed away at his home near West Sussex.