For a classically trained stage actor he was one of the best in films too. He played many minor or co-star roles very well and I liked that you could always understand every word he spoke. Unlike some of the mumblers that get so much attention nowadays. I would say his forte was the classics like the many Shakespere plays he starred in.

The greatest actor of the english
language in the twentieth century

There is none better when a Shakespearean role on Stage or Screen comes along. 5.0 is where it will stay just because of that alone. Even though he did not make many comedic roles that I can remember. Oh! there is one with Marilyn Monroe called The Prince and The Showgirl. But mostly his was mostly dramatic. Most notable are Wuthering Heights, Pride And Prejudice(loved it), Spartacus as is evil opponent Crassus, Khartoum as the Great Mahdi. Can never forget when he looked up at that pole...the look in his face!! One more memorable role was.....Is It Safe!!! Is It Safe!!! Is It Safe!!!!....repeated I think as I remembered counting one time said 13 times!! Count it next time. That to me will stay with me everytime I visit a Dentist's chair, Dustin Hoffman's fear in Marathon Man. Loooooook...away.........!!! ......................

He was Danny Kaye's true love.

Probably the greatest actor of the 20th century. Olivier will long be remembered long after most of his contemporaries are long gone. Like David Garrick, Laurence Olivier will be fondly remembered and even imitated.

after watching othello and hamlet, i must say that for his time, he was unmatched. It seems that time somehow manisfests pop for greatness. From Twain, to the popcorn beatles of the 60s, to Chopin, to Madonna, it seems that what is so shallow and I MEAN GABLE, STEWART, etc to be popular becomes great in the eyes of the later generations. I suppose Monroe is in the top 10 for actresses? Give me a break. Use your head. Olivier was unsurpassed and he was innovative. In the past era, only Brando came close.

Tied for the best actor ever with Spencer Tracy and Fredric March.

Very. very good in the classic roles, due to his authoritative bearing and awesome voice, but just so-so when he tackled contemporary roles. Perhaps the extensive stage training choked off a bit of his natural ease on the screen.

Loved Olivier because of "Rebecca", Hitchcock's film. Very dashing.

Probably the greatest of all time. Richard III, The Entertainer, and the 1940 Alfred Hitchcock film, (the name eludes me) were astounding. He could have been greater but his wife, Vivien Leigh, drove him crazy with her sexual antics and constant abuse.

He always struck me as a bit of a sissy.

Like Alec Guiness, was one of the great Shakespearean actors...a truly great British import.

When it came to doing Shakespear, Laurence Olivier was the best. To be perfectly honest he was great in every performance he did, on the big screen and off. He should be at the top of this list. He had a magnificent range and it seemed that he could play any part that was given to him impecably

He has been widely and very appropriately praised as one of the great actors of our time. Without a doubt, I would agree. His Hamlet will probably always remain the high standard for that role. My personal favorite Olivier role was as Heathcliff to Merle Oberon’s Cathy in the 1939 William Wyler directed production of “Wuthering Heights”. Brooding, strange and at the age of 32 at the height of his looks and abilities…an unforgettable performance. Sadly, his later work did not always reflect his great talent - due to apparent financial concerns he even turned to doing Polaroid commercials for a short time. That doesn’t seem too odd for actors these days – but somehow I always felt it was slightly below this great Shakespearean voice.