Even in an age of theatrical titans such as John Gielgud and Ralph Richardson, Laurence Olivier stood apart for his incredible versatility and the reckless abandon with which he threw himself into every role. Olivier excelled as an actor, director, and theatrical statesman. He was instrumental in the creation of the National Theatre and was instrumental in the revival of the Old Vic, leaving a mark on the theatrical landscape that will never be equaled.<br><br>By the 1940s Olivier had made the transition to Hollywood. His breakthrough came with the 1939 film <i>Wuthering Heights</i>, and his affair and eventual marriage to Vivian Leigh was the toast of the society pages. In 1955, Olivier’s TV production of <i>Richard III</i> drew audiences of nearly 40 million, surpassing at a blow the play’s entire viewership since its first production 358 years previously. Over the years, his countless roles in film and on stage won him admirers across the globe. In 1999, the American Film Institute named Olivier among the Greatest Male Stars of All Time, at number 14 on the list.<br><br>Using more than fifty hours of tape recordings Olivier made about his fellow professionals, as well as other never before released information, this vital biography breaks new ground in its approach, placing his life firmly within the context of his times and fully revealing the immensity of his achievements. Moreover, Ziegler has obtained the full support of Olivier's family and the cooperation of his surviving friends and colleagues for this work.