Michael Blakemore

Trained for the stage at London's Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, Australian-born Michael Blakemore acted without distinction through the 1950s, appearing with various British repertory companies, before finding his true calling as a director during the 60s. Near the end of his run as Artistic Director at Glasgow's Citizens' Theatre, he enjoyed a triumph at the helm of Peter Nichols' "A Day in the Life of Joe Egg" (1967) and accompanied the play on its moves to London that year and Broadway in 1968, earning his first Tony nomination for directing. After helming, scripting and appearing as himself in the 16mm documentary "A Personal History of the Australian Surf" (1971), he served as Associate Director under Laurence Olivier at the National Theatre, directing Olivier in a revival of "Long Day's Journey Into Night" (1971), among the shows he helmed there. He also co-adapted (with Peter Wood) the 1973 ABC-TV version of "Long Day's Journey Into Night," starring Olivier.