On 21 May 2000, Sir John Gielgud died of natural causes in England; he was 96. Gielgud, whose distinguished professional career spans more than 70 years, was one of the most respected actors of the 20th century. His work in Shakespearean theatre includes Hamlet, Richard II, The Tempest, Julius Caesar, and King Lear.

Gielgud made his stage debut in 1921 at London's Old Vic with a single line as a herald in Shakespeare's Henry V. His first movie role came in 1924 when he played Daniel in Who is the Man? and his last was in 1998 as Pope Paul IV in Elizabeth.

A truly versatile genius, he performed everything from Macbeth to Kleenex commercials. He was rewarded for this versatility in 1982 with a Best Supporting Actor Oscar for his portrayal of Dudley Moore's foul-mouthed manservant in the comedy Arthur. Check out these John Gielgud movies.