Alec Guinness de Cuffe was an English actor who portrayed the elderly Obi-Wan Kenobi in the Star Wars Original Trilogy films. Archive footage of his voice was used to portray Obi-Wan's Force Ghost voice in The Force Awakens and The Rise of Skywalker. He also portrayed the Chief Clerk in Kafka.
His performance as Obi-Wan Kenobi in A New Hope earned him a Best Supporting Actor Academy Award nomination and is the only time someone received an Oscar nomination for their performance in a Star Wars film.
He was mentioned in Saving Mr. Banks by P. L. Travers, who described him as "one of the greats".
He never appeared in a Disney film in his life, Star Wars was acquired by Disney long after his death.
Apart from Star Wars, notable roles in his career include Lieutenant Colonel Nicholson in The Bridge on the River Kwai, which earned him a Best Leading Actor Academy Award. and Henry "Dutch" Holland in The Lavender Hill Mob, which earned him a Best Leading Actor Academy Award Nomination.
Disney Role
(Star Wars original trilogy and archive footage voiceover in Star Wars: The Force Awakens and Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker)
Trivia
- While Star Wars is one of his most memorable roles, he reportedly disliked Star Wars.[1].
- He was considered for the role as Bert in Mary Poppins, along with several other actors that were considered, but the role was later given to Dick Van Dyke.