Surely, the art of Shakespearean theater did not die Sunday. But it isn't likely ever to be the same again.
Sir John Gielgud, the last of three knighted actors who dominated the British stage with grace and aplomb, was 96 when he died peacefully in his home near London. His was a voice that easily gave life to the old bard's works, bringing them in new and dramatic ways to 20th century audiences. His was a love and excitement of the legitimate theater. As he wrote in his book, "Stage Directions": "For me the theater has always been an escape, a make-believe world, full of color and excitement, fun, emotion, poetry and movement, a world of striking characters and extraordinary personalities." And he passed that passion on to his audiences.
His first love was the stage, but he was equally willing to act in movies and on television. In fact, his willingness to continue working practically until the end of his life (his last film, "Catastrophe" was filmed this spring — 75 years after his first film, "Who is the Man?" in 1925) was a testament to the enthusiasm he felt for his career.
Now he has passed on, together with the other two knighted actors, Sir Lawrence Olivier and Sir Ralph Richardson. As the New York Times noted this week, Olivier captured fame for his physical daring. Richardson was known for eccentric characterization. But Gielgud was known for the way he elevated the language, transmitting Shakespeare with beauty and bearing. His voice was said to ensnare and enslave an audience.
Gielgud showed how acting can be a noble and uplifting a profession. For that, in an age where acting often has the opposite effect, he will be missed.