Hugh Griffith

Hugh Griffith (1912–1980) was a Welsh actor whose career spanned stage and screen. He won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for playing Sheikh Ilderim in Ben-Hur (1959).

Connect

Ben-Hur (1959 film): William Wyler’s epic film about the Jewish prince Judah Ben-Hur, released in 1959. Griffith won an Academy Award for playing the horse breeder Sheikh Ilderim.
William Wyler: An American film director whose work includes Ben-Hur, Roman Holiday, and The Best Years of Our Lives. Wyler directed the Ben-Hur performance that earned Griffith his Oscar.
Mary Lloyd Jones: A Welsh visual artist whose work draws on Welsh language, landscape, and cultural history. Griffith was born in Marian-glas, Anglesey, in Wales, a setting central to Welsh cultural identity.
Academy Award: An annual set of American film awards presented by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Griffith’s supporting-actor win made his Ben-Hur role his most widely recognized performance.
Tom Jones (1963 film): A 1963 comedy film adaptation of Henry Fielding’s novel, directed by Tony Richardson. Griffith played Squire Western in this acclaimed British period comedy.
Charlton Heston: An American actor known for leading roles in films including Ben-Hur and The Ten Commandments. Heston starred opposite Griffith as Judah Ben-Hur.
Royal Academy of Dramatic Art: A London drama school that trains actors for theatre, film, and television. Griffith studied at RADA before establishing his acting career.
Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture: A Golden Globe category honoring supporting performances in motion pictures. Griffith also received this award for Ben-Hur.
Oliver! (1968 film): A 1968 musical film adaptation of Lionel Bart’s stage musical Oliver!, directed by Carol Reed. Griffith appeared as the magistrate Mr. Fang.
Stephen Boyd: A Northern Irish actor who played Messala in the 1959 film Ben-Hur. Boyd’s Messala is a central counterpart to Griffith’s Sheikh Ilderim in the film.