Dirk Bogarde
Dirk Bogarde was a prominent British actor and writer, born in 1921 in Hempstead, London, into a family deeply embedded in the arts. His mother was an actress, and his father was the art editor of The Times, exposing him to a creative milieu from a young age. Initially studying art, he transitioned to acting in 1939 and found success on stage and screen, eventually becoming a leading matinee idol in the 1950s through roles like Dr. Simon Sparrow in the "Doctor in the House" film series. During World War II, Bogarde served in the Queen's Royal Regiment and participated in significant military operations, experiences later chronicled in his novel "A Gentle Occupation."
In the 1960s, he shifted towards more serious roles, notably in the groundbreaking film "Victim," which addressed the persecution of homosexuals, and worked with acclaimed directors such as Luchino Visconti. He spent the later part of his life in France, where he continued to write, producing several well-received autobiographies and novels. Bogarde received numerous accolades for his contributions to film and literature, including a knighthood in 1992. He passed away in 1999, leaving behind a legacy as one of Britain's most distinguished cultural figures.
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Dirk Bogarde
Actor
- Born: March 28, 1921
- Birthplace: Hampstead, London, England
- Died: 1999
Biography
Dirk Bogarde was born in Hempstead, London, England, in 1921, the first son of Ulric van den Bogarde and Margaret Niven. His mother was an actress and his father was the art editor of The Times, and Bogarde grew up in a world of artists, writers, and theater people. He attended the Allen Glen’s School in Glasgow, Scotland, and University College School in London. To please his father, he also studied at The Chelsea College of Art.
In 1939, Bogarde abandoned art for the stage. He met theatrical manager Anthony Forwood, who eventually became his lifelong partner. In 1940, he joined the Queen’s Royal Regiment, serving in the Air Photographic Intelligence Unit during the remainder of World War II; his novel, A Gentle Occupation, published in 1980, is an account of his experiences in the Far East at that time. He also was involved in the Normandy invasion and took part in the liberation of the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp. He was awarded seven medals, attaining the rank of major.
In 1947, Bogarde appeared in a play in London’s West End, which led to a movie contract with the powerful J. Arthur Rank Organization. His name was changed from Derek to Dirk as part of a successful campaign to establish the handsome young actor as a matinee idol. Starring as Dr. Simon Sparrow in the Doctor in the House film series of the 1950’s and in other light comic roles, Bogarde became England’s top moneymaking actor. Bogarde also spent a short time in Hollywood, an experience which eventually resulted in his satiric novel, West of Sunset, published in 1984. Among the romances and flirtations Bogarde enjoyed during his time as an actor in Hollywood and elsewhere, his most important relationship was with the French actress, Capucine.
In the 1960’s, Bogarde turned his back on his previous career as a commercial actor. In 1961, he appeared in Victim, a controversial depiction of the persecution of homosexuals. He went on to deliver a memorable performance in director Joseph Losey’s The Servant in 1963, and he demonstrated depth and maturity in films by such major European directors as Luchino Visconti, Liliana Cavani, and Rainer Werner Fassbinder. Partially because his work took him increasingly to the Continent, Bogarde moved to France in the late 1960’s. In the early 1970’s, he bought a fifteenth century farmhouse in Provence, where he lived with Forwood until Forwood’s illness required their relocation to London in 1983.
In between films, Bogarde turned to writing, producing a body of work that included several impressive autobiographies and novels. After Forwood died in 1988, Bogarde continued to live quietly in London, writing for the Daily Telegraph and becoming involved in the Voluntary Euthanasia Society. He recovered from a stroke in the 1980’s but died of a heart attack in 1999.
Bogarde was made a Chevalier de l’Ordre des lettres in 1982 and was awarded an honorary doctor of letters by St. Andrews University in 1985. He twice won a Best Actor Award from the British Motion Picture Academy of Arts and Sciences, and in 1990 he received an award from the British Academy of Film and Television Arts for his outstanding contributions to world cinema. He was knighted in 1992. One of the most famous and most distinguished actors in the history of British films, Bogarde’s novels and memoirs also have garnered both critical and popular recognition.