Laurence Olivier Award for Best Comedy Performance

Last updated
Laurence Olivier Award
for Best Comedy Performance
Awarded forBest Comedy Performance
LocationFlag of England.svg  England
Presented by Society of London Theatre
First awarded 1976
Last awarded 1995
Website officiallondontheatre.com/olivier-awards/ OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg

The Laurence Olivier Award for Best Comedy Performance was an annual award presented by the Society of London Theatre in recognition of achievements in commercial London theatre. The awards were established as the Society of West End Theatre Awards in 1976, and renamed in 1984 in honour of English actor and director Laurence Olivier.

Contents

This commingled actor/actress award was introduced in 1976, and was last presented at the 1995 ceremony, after which it was retired. On the 19 occasions that this award was given, it was presented three times to an actress and 16 times to an actor.

Winners and nominees

1970s

YearActorMusicalCharacter
1976
Penelope Keith Donkeys' Years Lady Driver
Peter Barkworth Crown Matrimonial Edward VIII
Richard Beckinsale Funny PeculiarTrevor Tinsley
Geraldine McEwan Oh, Coward! Performer
1977
Denis Quilley Privates on Parade Terri Dennis
Jane Carr Once a Catholic Mary Mooney
Joan Hickson Bedroom Farce Delia
Leslie Phillips SextetUnknown
1978
Ian McKellen The Alchemist Face
Sheila Hancock Annie Miss Hannigan
Geraldine McEwan Look After Lulu! Lulu
Donald Sinden Shut Your Eyes and Think of EnglandPerformer
1979
Barry Humphries A Night with Dame Edna Dame Edna Everage
Richard Griffiths Once in a Lifetime George Lewis
Oscar James Gloo JooMeadowlark Warner
Maureen Lipman Outside Edge Maggie

1980s

YearActorMusicalCharacter
1980
Beryl Reid Born in the Gardens Maud
Edward Duke Jeeves Takes Charge Jeeves
Ben Kingsley The Merry Wives of Windsor Ford
Julie Walters Educating Rita Rita
1981
Rowan Atkinson Rowan Atkinson in RevueHimself
Georgina Hale Steaming Josie
Donald Sinden Present Laughter Garry Essendine
Angela Thorne Anyone for Denis? Margaret Thatcher
1982
Geoffrey Hutchings Poppy Lady Dodo
Jane Carr A Midsummer Night's Dream Hermia
Paul Eddington Noises Off Lloyd Dallas
Bill Paterson Schweik in the Second World War Schweyk
1983
Griff Rhys Jones Charley's Aunt Lord Fancourt Babberley
Susan Colverd The Provok'd Wife Lady Brute
Michael Hordern The Rivals Sir Anthony Absolute
Peter Ustinov Beethoven's Tenth Ludwig van Beethoven
1984
Maureen Lipman See How They Run Miss Skillon
Lavinia Bertram Intimate Exchanges Various Characters
Leonard Rossiter Loot Truscott
Michael Williams Two into One George
1985
Michael Gambon A Chorus of Disapproval Dafydd Llewellyn
Roger Rees Love's Labours Lost Berowne
Griff Rhys Jones Trumpets and Raspberries Antonio Berardi / Agnelli
Maggie Smith The Way of the World Mrs. Millamant
1986
Bill Fraser When We Are Married Gerald Forbes
Brian Cox Misalliance John Tarleton
Nigel Hawthorne The Magistrate Posket
Paul Scofield I'm Not Rappaport Nat
1987
John Woodvine The Henrys Falstaff
Frank Ferrante Groucho: A Life in Revue Groucho Marx
Geoffrey Hutchings Three Men on a Horse Irwin
Les Marsden Groucho: A Life in Revue Harpo Marx
1988
Alex Jennings Too Clever by Half Gloumov
Kenneth Branagh As You Like It Celia
Lesley Sharp A Family Affair Lipochka
Sian Thomas CountrymaniaVittoria
1989/90
Michael Gambon Man of the Moment Douglas Beechey
Alex Jennings The Liar Dorante
Alfred Molina Speed-the-Plow Fox
Peter O'Toole Jeffrey Bernard is Unwell Jeffrey Bernard

1990s

YearActorMusicalCharacter
1991
Alan Cumming Accidental Death of an Anarchist The Madman
Richard Briers The Wind in the Willows Rat
Griff Rhys Jones The Wind in the Willows Mr. Toad
Joseph Maher What the Butler Saw Dr. Rance
1992
Desmond Barrit The Comedy of Errors Antipholus of Ephesus / Antipholus of Syracuse
Robin Bailey Black SnowIvan Vassilevich
Alan Cumming La Bête Valere
Lia Williams The Revengers' Comedies Karen
1993
Simon Cadell Travels with My Aunt Henry Pulling
Sara Crowe Hay Fever Sorel Bliss
Guy Henry The Alchemist Ananias
Robert Lindsay Cyrano de Bergerac Cyrano de Bergerac
1994
Griff Rhys Jones An Absolute TurkeyRedillon
Ken Campbell Jamais VuPerformer
Nicholas Le Prevost An Absolute TurkeyPontagnac
Maggie Smith The Importance of Being Earnest Lady Bracknell
1995
Niall Buggy Dead FunnyBrian
Nigel Hawthorne The Clandestine Marriage Lord Ogleby
Tony Slattery Neville's Island Gordon
Debra Gillett The Country Wife Mrs. Pinchwife

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