Alec Guinness, one of the greatest British actors of all time, passed away peacefully on August 5, 2000 at the age of 86. Born in Marylebone, London in 1914, Alec Guinness is remembered best for his iconic performance as Obi-Wan Kenobi in the original 1977 Star Wars trilogy, as well as an array of roles spanning stage, film, and television. He was trained at the Fay Compton studio and began his theatrical career on the British stage in 1934 and transitioned into film in 1938. His notable film credits include The Ladykillers (1955), The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957), Lawrence of Arabia (1962), Dr. Zhivago (1965) and Gandhi (1982). Guinness’ role in The Bridge on the River Kwai won him the Academy Award for Best Actor in 1958, a BAFTA, three Golden Globes, and two Cannes Film Festival awards. He was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 1959 and a Knight Bachelor for services to the theatre in 1967. Later in his life, Guinness was one of the first actors to receive an Honorary Academy Award. Alec Guinness was a talented and Seattle-acclaimed actor, and will be remembered for his exceptional work in films, TV, and theatre. He is survived by his wife, Merula Salaman, and their four children.