Person · Director · Active since 1934
David Lean
1908–1991, Croydon
British director, born in Croydon. Won the Golden Bear, the Academy Award for Best Director, the Golden Globe for Best Director and one other major prize. Nominated three times for the Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay. Directed 16 films on this site, including Lawrence of Arabia (1962), The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957) and Doctor Zhivago (1965). Among the 47 actors and directors David Lean shares films with on this site, the most frequent are Alec Guinness (6 films), John Mills (5) and Trevor Howard (3).
Partners by shared films
Who David Lean made films with
- 6Alec GuinnessGreat Expectations, Oliver Twist, The Bridge on the River Kwai and 3 more
- 5John MillsIn Which We Serve, This Happy Breed, Great Expectations and 2 more
- 3Trevor HowardBrief Encounter, The Passionate Friends, Ryan's Daughter
- 3Celia JohnsonIn Which We Serve, This Happy Breed, Brief Encounter
- 2Omar SharifLawrence of Arabia, Doctor Zhivago
- 2Noël CowardIn Which We Serve, Blithe Spirit
- 2José FerrerLawrence of Arabia, The Greatest Story Ever Told
- 2Ralph RichardsonThe Sound Barrier, Doctor Zhivago
- 2Claude RainsThe Passionate Friends, Lawrence of Arabia
- 1Katharine HepburnSummertime
- 1John WayneThe Greatest Story Ever Told
- 1Christopher LeeThe Greatest Story Ever Told
- 1Peter O'TooleLawrence of Arabia
- 1Sidney PoitierThe Greatest Story Ever Told
- 1Laurence OlivierThis Happy Breed
- 1Charlton HestonThe Greatest Story Ever Told
- 1Martin LandauThe Greatest Story Ever Told
- 1Anthony QuinnLawrence of Arabia
- 1Richard AttenboroughIn Which We Serve
- 1Robert MitchumRyan's Daughter
- 1Donald PleasenceThe Greatest Story Ever Told
- 1Julie ChristieDoctor Zhivago
- 1Angela LansburyThe Greatest Story Ever Told
- 1William HoldenThe Bridge on the River Kwai
- 1Max von SydowThe Greatest Story Ever Told
- 1Charles LaughtonHobson's Choice
- 1Shelley WintersThe Greatest Story Ever Told
- 1Klaus KinskiDoctor Zhivago
- 1Jean SimmonsGreat Expectations
- 1Rod SteigerDoctor Zhivago
- 1Rex HarrisonBlithe Spirit
- 1Geraldine ChaplinDoctor Zhivago
- 1Carroll BakerThe Greatest Story Ever Told
- 1Peggy AshcroftA Passage to India
- 1Margaret RutherfordBlithe Spirit
- 1Telly SavalasThe Greatest Story Ever Told
- 1George StevensThe Greatest Story Ever Told
- 1Leslie HowardIn Which We Serve
- 1Judy DavisA Passage to India
- 1Arthur KennedyLawrence of Arabia
- 1Sarah MilesRyan's Daughter
- 1Denholm ElliottThe Sound Barrier
- 1Bessie LoveThis Happy Breed
- 1Tom CourtenayDoctor Zhivago
- 1Sessue HayakawaThe Bridge on the River Kwai
- 1Diana DorsOliver Twist
- 1Anthony QuayleLawrence of Arabia
Other regulars
Films in this guide
- The Ghost Camera (1933)film editor
- Pygmalion (1938)film editor
- 49th Parallel (1941)film editor
- In Which We Serve (1942)director, film editor
- One of Our Aircraft Is Missing (1942)film editor
- This Happy Breed (1944)director, screenwriter
- Blithe Spirit (1945)director, screenwriter
- Brief Encounter (1945)director, screenwriter
- Great Expectations (1946)director, screenwriter
- Oliver Twist (1948)director, screenwriter
- The Passionate Friends (1949)director, screenwriter
- The Sound Barrier (1952)director
- Hobson's Choice (1954)director, screenwriter
- Summertime (1955)director, actor, screenwriter
- The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957)director
- Lawrence of Arabia (1962)director, actor, as a voice shouting
- Doctor Zhivago (1965)director
- The Greatest Story Ever Told (1965)director
- Ryan's Daughter (1970)director
- A Passage to India (1984)director, screenwriter, film editor