One of the eight actors of Asian origin to be nominated for an Academy Award in the acting category, Ben Kingsley (Krishna Pandit Bhanji), was born on December 31, 1943 in Snaiton, Yorkshire, England.
Kingsley’s father Rahimtulla Harji Bhanji was a medical doctor of Gujarati lineage, born in Kenya. Rahimatulla’s father was apparently a spice trader who had moved to Zanzibar where they lived till Rahimatulla was 14, after which they moved to England.
Kingsley’s mother Anna Lynn Mary was a British actress and model allegedly born out of wedlock. Her father was believed to be a Russian or German Jew and her mother, an English lady who worked in East London’s garment district.
Kingsley was raised in Pendlebury, Salford and studied in Manchester Grammar School, University of Salford, and Pendleton College, which houses the Ben Kingsley Theater.
Kingsley’s professional debut on the London stage was in 1966, as the narrator of The Smashing Day produced by The Beatles’ manager, Brian Epstein. Kingsley wrote music, sang and even played the guitar for this production.
After one of the performances, John Lennon and Ringo Starr supposedly went backstage and told him to take up music as his career otherwise regret it all his life. But in 1967, he was invited to join the Royal Shakespeare Company and in 1971, made his American debut on Broadway.
He made his career choice. There was no looking back! His first marriage in 1966 to actress Angela Morrant, gave him two children, Thomas and Jasmin Kingsley. The marriage lasted six years.
READ MORE: http://www.indoamerican-news.com/?p=6772
No comments:
Post a Comment