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Peter Finch

Actor

Peter Finch

Born September 28, 1916 in South Kensington, London, England, UKDied January 14, 197753 films

Frederick George Peter Ingle Finch (28 September 1916 – 14 January 1977) was an English-Australian actor. He is best remembered for his role as crazed television anchorman Howard Beale in the 1976 film Network, which earned him a posthumous Academy Award for Best Actor, his fifth Best Actor award from the BAFTA, and a Best Actor award from the Golden Globes. He was the first of two people to win a posthumous Academy Award in an acting category; the other was fellow Australian Heath Ledger.

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The best way into Peter Finch's work
Network posterFirst watchNetwork19767.8as Howard BealeWhen veteran anchorman Howard Beale is forced to retire his 25-year post because of his age, he announces to viewers that he will kill himself during his farewell broadcast.View film

Essential films

Ranked by acclaim and reach
The Flight of the Phoenix poster7.2The Flight of the Phoenix1965The Nun's Story poster7.2The Nun's Story1959Sunday Bloody Sunday poster6.6Sunday Bloody Sunday1971Far from the Madding Crowd poster6.9Far from the Madding Crowd1967First Men in the Moon poster6.3First Men in the Moon1964The Battle of the River Plate poster6.4The Battle of the River Plate1956The Story of Robin Hood and His Merrie Men poster6.2The Story of Robin Hood and His Merrie Men1952The Pumpkin Eater poster6.7The Pumpkin Eater1964

Filmography

53 films as actor
  1. 1976Raid on EntebbeYitzhak Rabin
  2. 1976NetworkHoward Beale
  3. 1974The AbdicationAzzolino
  4. 1973England Made MeErich Krogh
  5. 1973Something to HideHarry Field
  6. 1973Bequest to the NationAdm. Lord Horatio Nelson
  7. 1973Lost HorizonRichard Conway
  8. 1971Sunday Bloody SundayDr. Daniel Hirsh
  9. 1969The Greatest Mother of 'em AllSean Howard
  10. 1969The Red TentUmberto Nobile
  11. 1968The Legend of Lylah ClareLewis Zarken / Louie Flack
  12. 1967Far from the Madding CrowdWilliam Boldwood
  13. 1966Murderers' RowBritish agent (uncredited)
  14. 196610:30 P.M. SummerPaul
  15. 1966JudithAaron Stein
  16. 1965The Flight of the PhoenixCaptain Harris
  17. 1964First Men in the MoonBailiff's Man (uncredited)
  18. 1964The Pumpkin EaterJake Armitage
  19. 1964Girl with Green EyesEugene Gaillard
  20. 1963In the Cool of the DayMurray Logan
  21. 1962I Thank a FoolStephen Dane
  22. 1962Antony and CleopatraAntony
  23. 1961The Sins of Rachel CadeColonel Henry Derode
  24. 1961No Love for JohnnieJohnnie Byrne
  25. 1960The Trials of Oscar WildeOscar
  26. 1960KidnappedAlan Breck Stewart
  27. 1959The Nun's StoryDr. Fortunati
  28. 1959Operation AmsterdamJan Smit
  29. 1957Windom's WayAlec Windom
  30. 1957The ShiraleeMacauley
  31. 1957Robbery Under ArmsCaptain Starlight
  32. 1956The Battle of the River PlateCaptain Langsdorff, "Admiral Graf Spee"
  33. 1956A Town Like AliceJoe Harman
  34. 1955Josephine and MenDavid Hewer
  35. 1955Simon and LauraSimon Foster
  36. 1955The Dark AvengerComte De Ville
  37. 1955Passage HomeCaptain Lucky Ryland
  38. 1954Make Me an Offer!Charlie
  39. 1954Father BrownGustave Flambeau
  40. 1954Elephant WalkJohn Wiley
  41. 1953The Heart of the MatterFather Rank
  42. 1953The Story of Gilbert and SullivanRichard D'Oyly Carte
  43. 1952The Story of Robin Hood and His Merrie MenSheriff of Nottingham
  44. 1950The Miniver StoryPolish officer
  45. 1950The Wooden HorseAustralian in Hospital
  46. 1949Eureka StockadeHumffray
  47. 1949Train of EventsPhilip Mason
  48. 1946A Son Is BornPaul Graham
  49. 1944The Rats of TobrukPeter Linton
  50. 1941The Power and the GloryFrank Miller
  51. 1939Mr. Chedworth Steps OutArthur Jacobs
  52. 1938Dad and Dave Come to TownBill Ryan
  53. 1935The Magic ShoesPrince Charming