Laurence Harvey

Laurence Harvey (born Zvi Mosheh Skikne; 1 October 1928 – 25 November 1973) was a Lithuanian-born actor. He emigrated to South Africa at an early age, and later settled in the United Kingdom after World War II. In a career spanning a quarter-century, Harvey appeared in stage, film, and television productions primarily in the UK and the US. He was known for his crisp, refined accent and cool screen persona. His performance in Room at the Top (1959) resulted in an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor. Success followed with roles in The Alamo and Butterfield 8, both released in 1960. He also appeared as brainwashed Sergeant Raymond Shaw in The Manchurian Candidate (1962) and made his directorial debut with The Ceremony (1963), continuing to act into the 1970s until his early death in 1973 due to cancer.

Harvey was born in Joniškis, Lithuania, the youngest son of Ella (née Zotnickaita) and Ber Skikne, Lithuanian Jewish parents. His civil birth name was Larushka Mischa Skikne. When he was five, his family immigrated to South Africa, where he grew up in Johannesburg. He was only 15 when he auditioned and joined the Entertainment Unit of the South African Army during World War II. After moving to London, he enrolled in the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts, but left after three months. He changed his name to Laurence Harvey and quickly established a successful stage and film career.