He has one child from his first marriage to actress Jane Wenham. Finney's son, Simon, works in the film business as a technician.
Only person in history to ever call Audrey Hepburn "bitch" (in "Two for the Road"), even if it was just his line.
Allegedly declined an Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) honour in 1980, and 20 years later also a Knighthood.
He was awarded the Laurence Olivier Theatre Award in 1987 (1986 season) for Best Actor in a New Play for Orphans.
He was awarded the 1986 London Evening Standard Theatre Award for Best Actor for his performance in Orphans.
Graduated from RADA.
An Associate Member of RADA.
A member of the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) in Stratford Upon Avon, England, where he performed for three seasons in the early eighties.
Doesn't have an agent nor a manager
Felt the lead role in Tom Jones (1963) wasn't serious enough, and agreed to star only if he got a producing credit; he later traded the credit for profit participation. He later earned an Oscar nomination for this role.
As an aspiring actor in the mid-1950s, he made the rounds with Michael Polley, the father of Sarah Polley. Michael Polley says that Finney compared actors to bricklayers, in terms of craft.
Was the first choice of Laurence Olivier to take over his post as the head of Britain's National Theatre. Finney had played a season shortly after the National Theatre's inaugural season in 1963-64. Finney declined the offer.
Was twice nominated for Broadway's Tony Award as Best Actor (Dramatic): in 1964 for playing the title character of Martin Luther in John Osborne's "Luther," and in 1968 for Peter Nichols' "A Day in the Death of Joe Egg."
Played Michael Medwin's uncle in Scrooge (1970) even though he is actually more than twelve years younger than him.
Albert Finney Detailed Biography
Albert Finney a veteran of stage, screen and television, has been honored with four Academy Award nominations for Best Actor for his highly regarded performances in Tom Jones, Murder on the Orient Express, The Dresser and Under the Volcano.
Born in England, Finney, at age 17, was accepted to the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts, and three years later made his stage debut with the Birmingham Repertory Company. He has since appeared in over 50 plays before audiences in numerous cities including London and New York.
He made his film debut in a small role in the 1960 release, The Entertainer, directed by Tony Richardson. This performance was followed in the same year with the leading role in Karel Reisz's Saturday Night and Sunday Morning.
Finney recently starred in such films as Washington Square, an adaptation of the Henry James novel, starring Jennifer Jason Leigh and Ben Chaplin. He also brought to life the hopes and frustrations of men in their middle years in both The Browning Version and A Man of No Importance.
Finney's many contrasting film roles include: Scrooge, Daddy Warbucks in Annie, the prize-winning novelist going through the break up of his marriage in Shoot the Moon, the gang-boss in Miller's Crossing, the police sergeant who is tortured by his obsession with a young, unmarried mother in The Playboys and the Southern, retired demolition worker in Rich in Love.
He has also starred in many memorable television productions such as Dennis Potter's miniseries Koraoke and Cold Lazarus and Joseph Conrad's Nostromo.
In 1965, Finney formed Memorial Films which, in association with Michael Medwin, produced theatrical features including Charlie Bubbles, If, Gumshoe, Bleak Moments, O Lucky Man and Law and Disorder.
