Actor Albert Finney passed away on February 7th, 2019 due to a chest infection at the Royal Marsden Hospital in London. The Finney family has requested privacy during their moment of grief.
Legacy of Albert Finney
Albert Finney was born on May 9, 1936. He grew up in the World War II era, though he was not old enough to remember the chaos of war. He is survived by two children, named Simon and Michael. He was married to Pene Delmage, whom he married in 2006 after dating for a year. The couple were living a happy life, especially after several periods of illness and life threatening diseases. His wife, Pene, stood beside him when Albert fought lung cancer in 2011. After seeking privacy during his treatment, the actor was back again on the screen in 2012. He appeared in the James Bond flick Skyfall, as the groundskeeper Kincade.
Albert was an energetic young man, he began his acting career from Royal Shakespeare Company. He appeared as an 'angry young man' Arthur Seaton in Saturday Night and Saturday Morning. He went on to star in Tom Jones, Erin Brockovich and Annie.
Personal Life
Born in Manchester, Albert was naturally a huge fan of football. His father was a bookmaker but Albert gravitated towards the fine arts. Throughout his life, he was a huge supporter of Manchester United F.C. , whose games he frequently attended.
After many unsuccessful relationships, Finney finally had a long-term relationship with Pene. This was his third and longest lasting marriage, until his death. Albert, in one of his interview, mentioned that he was exceptionally happy to be with Pene. The matrimony came after remaining unmarried for 28 years. Albert was prone to the occasional flirting but never to the point where he was unfaithful. Furthermore, he added,
"I’m a born flirt, and that will never stop, but I would take things no further. I’m loyal and content."
Albert studied in a local grammar school. He was noted for his strong work ethic and was humility. He declined a CBE in 1980 and again, refused a knighthood in 2000. Speaking about his decision, he said,
"I think the Sir thing slightly perpetuates one of our diseases in England, which is snobbery"
Besides his disdain for the pretentious mannerisms in the English society, he also expressed his dislike for talking about his craft of acting. He mentioned that he disliked having to explain himself to an audience and preferred t simply tell stories through acting. Finney's contributions to the Art sector was recognized and immortalized at the Old Vic Theatre on 2018 in a commemorative stamp.
Albert Finney was nominated for the Oscars five times. In 1968, he won an Olivier Award for Orphans. He also won three Evening Standard Theatre Awards for Best Actor. Sources disclosed that Finney had an estimated net worth of $10 million.