The Only Major Actors Still Alive From 1965’s Doctor Zhivago

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The Only Major Actors Still Alive From 1965's Doctor Zhivago

As I delve into the lives of these remarkable actors who graced our screens in “Doctor Zhivago” over half a century ago, I am truly amazed by their resilience and continued dedication to their craft.

1965’s cinematic masterpiece, “Doctor Zhivago,” showcases beautifully lit actors amidst the dramatic Russian backdrop. The film adaptation of Boris Pasternak’s novel was an unparalleled success with both audiences and critics. Directed by David Lean, renowned for his exceptional visual storytelling, the movie catapulted Omar Sharif and Julie Christie to stardom as they portrayed two key figures in one of cinema’s most intriguing love triangles. With ten Academy Award nominations (equal with “The Sound of Music” that year), the film ultimately won five: best screenplay, best art direction – color, best cinematography – color, best costume design – color, and best score. Notably, the Academy Awards used to differentiate between black-and-white and color for many categories until a few years after “Doctor Zhivago.”

Since the release of the iconic romantic epic “Doctor Zhivago” in cinemas, we’ve tragically lost several of the actors who brought that film to life. The captivating Egyptian lead actor Omar Sharif passed away from a heart attack in 2015, while his co-stars Sir Alec Guinness (also from “Doctor Zhivago” and “Lawrence of Arabia”) lost his battle with cancer in 2000. Considering that “Doctor Zhivago” was first shown almost 60 years ago, it’s remarkable that a good portion of the main cast is still alive to keep the film’s memory alive, including Julie Christie, Geraldine Chaplin, Tom Courtenay, and Rita Tushingham.

Julie Christie (Lara)

The Only Major Actors Still Alive From 1965's Doctor Zhivago

As a devoted admirer, I’d express it this way: When I was 25, I stepped into the shoes of Lara, the long-suffering female lead in “Doctor Zhivago.” Interestingly, the role initially was offered to Jane Fonda, but she declined – a decision she later regretted. At that time, though young, I was already making waves in British cinema. Two years prior, I shared the screen with my future “Doctor Zhivago” partner, Tom Courtenay, in “Billy Liar,” a role that earned me a BAFTA nod. However, it was “Zhivago” that catapulted me to stardom, as I portrayed the love interest of Dr. Zhivago, intersecting with him amidst the turmoil of World War I and the Russian Revolution.

For the following many decades, Christie consistently remained active within the film industry, earning four Oscar nominations (one of which she won) spanning five decades. These roles included her award-winning performance in “Darling” from 1966, followed by “McCabe and Mrs. Miller” in 1972, “Afterglow” in 1998, and “Away From Her” in 2008. To contemporary viewers, she is most recognized for her work on “Don’t Look Now,” “Troy,” “Finding Neverland,” and “Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban.” Christie’s latest role was as the narrator in Emily Mortimer’s 2017 period drama, “The Bookshop.”

Geraldine Chaplin (Tonya)

The Only Major Actors Still Alive From 1965's Doctor Zhivago

In the movie “Doctor Zhivago”, Geraldine Chaplin plays Tonya, Yuri Zhivago’s wife, who is a gentle and saintly woman adored by her husband. However, she struggles to match the chemistry between Yuri and Lara, which becomes more pronounced whenever they are fatefully brought together. As an actress, Chaplin boasts an impressive lineage: She is the daughter of legendary silent comedian Charlie Chaplin, and the granddaughter of esteemed playwright Eugene O’Neill. Her debut on-screen role was an unacknowledged part in her father’s 1952 film “Limelight”, but despite this illustrious background, “Doctor Zhivago” marked only her second credited appearance. Yet, it was not her last by any means.

1992 marked a distinctive acting milestone for her when she portrayed her own grandmother, Hannah Chaplin, in the film “Chaplin,” which was headlined by Robert Downey Jr. More recently, she has been seen in “Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom” and as an elderly Wallis Simpson on “The Crown.” Now in her 80s, this accomplished actress boasts over 150 roles to her credit and continues to work in the industry. She has two confirmed upcoming projects – a sci-fi western titled “The Wind Blew On” and a romantic comedy named “Amar en Madrid.” Furthermore, she is preserving her family’s Hollywood legacy as her daughter, Oona Chaplin, played Robb Stark’s wife Talisa in “Game of Thrones.”

Tom Courtenay (Pasha)

The Only Major Actors Still Alive From 1965's Doctor Zhivago

Pasha represents the revolutionary fervor in Russia, first as Lana’s idealistic husband and later as a high-ranking Bolshevik leader. He’s brought to life in “Doctor Zhivago” by Tom Courtenay, one of the premier actors of his generation in Britain. He first rose to prominence in 1962, with his leading performance in “The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner,” one of the so-called “kitchen sink” dramas featuring disillusioned young men that were popular at the time. In “Doctor Zhivago” four years later, he was nominated for the best supporting actor Oscar, the only performer in the film to be acknowledged by the Academy (he was nominated a second time in 1984 for “The Dresser”).

Despite achieving significant critical acclaim early on in his career, Courtenay has remained active in notable productions throughout the years. Notable examples include “The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society” and “The Aeronauts.” In 2022, he starred in “The Railway Children Return,” with an upcoming project, “Queen at Sea,” a drama featuring Juliette Binoche currently in post-production.

Rita Tushingham (Tonya)

The Only Major Actors Still Alive From 1965's Doctor Zhivago

In the outer narrative of “Doctor Zhivago,” character Tonya (portrayed by Rita Tushingham) is found. The character Alec Guinness plays Yevgraf, Yuri’s half-brother, who is on a quest to locate his long-lost niece, the daughter of Yuri and Lara. This search takes place years after the movie’s events. The clues suggest that Tonya may be this grown-up niece. Her alleged proficiency in playing the balalaika, an instrument inherited by orphaned Yuri from his deceased mother, seems to support this theory.

Hailing from Liverpool, Tushingham kick-started her acting journey back in 1961 with a role in “A Taste of Honey.” Subsequently, she maintained a consistent presence on the screen, featuring in movies like “Being Julia” and “Last Night in Soho.” As we speak, Tushingham remains active — she has four projects underway at different stages of production, one of which, “L’Orto Americano,” was announced for the 2024 lineup at the illustrious Venice Film Festival.

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2024-08-19 19:00