(Applause Books). Sir John Gielgud's acting career was among the most distinguished of his generation. In a lifetime that lasted nearly a century, he appeared in hundreds of theatrical productions and films, receiving virtually every acting honor given, including an Academy Award for his performance as Hobson the butler in the film Arthur . Now, in this insightful authorized biography, written with unprecedented access to Gielgud's diaries and personal letters, author Sheridan Morley traces not only the actor's career, but gives a refreshingly frank look into Gielgud the man, and how his professional success as an actor often came at the expense of his personal happiness.