David Lean

Career Overview

David Lean has 77 screen credits in a career dating back to 1927. Signature works include Lawrence of Arabia, The Bridge on the River Kwai, Doctor Zhivago. Explore the interactive character relationship maps on each title page to trace how their roles connect across franchises.

Personal Facts

Known For: Directing
Gender: male
Known Credits: 77
Birth Date: 1908-03-25
Birth Place: Croydon, Surrey, England, UK

Known For

Frequent Collaborators

Alec Guinness (4 collaborations)
Omar Sharif (2 collaborations)
Jack Hawkins (2 collaborations)
José Ferrer (2 collaborations)
Claude Rains (2 collaborations)
Robert Rietti (2 collaborations)
Erik Chitty (2 collaborations)
Peter O'Toole (1 collaborations)
Anthony Quinn (1 collaborations)
Anthony Quayle (1 collaborations)

Credits

actors (22 credits)
- Maverick: The Epic Adventures of David Lean
  Self (archive footage)
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2026
- Omar Sharif: Citizen of the World
  Self - Filmmaker (archive footage)
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2020
- E. M. Forster: His Longest Journey
  Self (archive footage)
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2019
- Nice Girls Don't Stay for Breakfast
  Self - Filmmaker (archive footage)
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2019
- Nostromo: David Lean's Impossible Dream
  Self (archive footage)
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2017
- Doctor Zhivago: A Celebration
  Self (Archive Footage)
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2010
- The Making of Lawrence of Arabia
  Self (archive footage)
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2001
- David Lean: A Life in Film
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1985
- The Golden Gong: The Story of Rank Films - British Cinema's Legendary Studio
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1985
- Lost and Found: The Story of Cook's Anchor
  himself
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1979
- David Lean: A Self Portrait
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1971
- Ryan's Daughter Featurette
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1970
- The Dick Cavett Show
  
  - David Lean, Jack E. Leonard, Rex Reed, Linda Ronstadt (1970) ... Self - Guest actor actors
  
  1968
- Moscow in Madrid
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1965
- Pasternak
  Self (archive footage)
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1965
- David Lean's Film of Doctor Zhivago
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1965
- Zhivago: Behind the Camera with David Lean
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1965
- Wind Sand and Star
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1963
- Lawrence of Arabia
  Motorcyclist by Suez Canal (uncredited)
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1962
- The Rise and Fall of a Jungle Giant
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1958
- ...On Seeing Film
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1958
- The Oscars
  
  - The 35th Annual Academy Awards (1963) ... Self actor actors
  
  - The 30th Annual Academy Awards (1958) ... Self actor actors
  
  1953
directing (18 credits)
- A Passage to India
  director
  
  directing
  
  1984
- Lost and Found: The Story of Cook's Anchor
  director
  
  directing
  
  1979
- Doctor Zhivago
  director
  
  directing
  
  1965
- The Greatest Story Ever Told
  second unit director
  
  directing
  
  1965
- Lawrence of Arabia
  director
  
  directing
  
  1962
- The Bridge on the River Kwai
  director
  
  directing
  
  1957
- Summertime
  director
  
  directing
  
  1955
- Hobson's Choice
  director
  
  directing
  
  1954
- The Sound Barrier
  director
  
  directing
  
  1952
- Madeleine
  director
  
  directing
  
  1950
- The Passionate Friends
  director
  
  directing
  
  1949
- Oliver Twist
  director
  
  directing
  
  1948
- Great Expectations
  director
  
  directing
  
  1946
- Brief Encounter
  director
  
  directing
  
  1945
- Blithe Spirit
  director
  
  directing
  
  1945
- This Happy Breed
  director
  
  directing
  
  1944
- In Which We Serve
  director
  
  directing
  
  1942
- Major Barbara
  assistant director
  
  directing
  
  1941
writing (9 credits)
- A Passage to India
  screenplay
  
  writing
  
  1984
- Lost and Found: The Story of Cook's Anchor
  writer
  
  writing
  
  1979
- Summertime
  screenplay
  
  writing
  
  1955
- Hobson's Choice
  screenplay
  
  writing
  
  1954
- The Passionate Friends
  adaptation
  
  writing
  
  1949
- Oliver Twist
  screenplay
  
  writing
  
  1948
- Great Expectations
  screenplay
  
  writing
  
  1946
- Blithe Spirit
  screenplay
  
  writing
  
  1945
- This Happy Breed
  screenplay
  
  writing
  
  1944
editing (23 credits)
- A Passage to India
  editor
  
  editing
  
  1984
- One of Our Aircraft Is Missing
  editor
  
  editing
  
  1942
- Spy for a Day
  editor
  
  editing
  
  1940
- French Without Tears
  editor
  
  editing
  
  1940
- Spies of the Air
  editor
  
  editing
  
  1939
- Pygmalion
  editor
  
  editing
  
  1938
- The Wife of General Ling
  editor
  
  editing
  
  1937
- Dreaming Lips
  editor
  
  editing
  
  1937
- As You Like It
  editor
  
  editing
  
  1936
- Ball at Savoy
  editor
  
  editing
  
  1936
- The Crouching Beast
  editor
  
  editing
  
  1935
- Escape Me Never
  editor
  
  editing
  
  1935
- The King of Paris
  editor
  
  editing
  
  1934
- Tiger Bay
  editor
  
  editing
  
  1934
- The Secret of the Loch
  editor
  
  editing
  
  1934
- Dangerous Ground
  editor
  
  editing
  
  1934
- The Fortunate Fool
  editor
  
  editing
  
  1933
- Song of the Plough
  editor
  
  editing
  
  1933
- Money for Speed
  editor
  
  editing
  
  1933
- The Ghost Camera
  editor
  
  editing
  
  1933
- Insult
  editor
  
  editing
  
  1932
- These Charming People
  editor
  
  editing
  
  1931
- The Night Porter
  editor
  
  editing
  
  1930
production (3 credits)
- Hobson's Choice
  producer
  
  production
  
  1954
- The Sound Barrier
  producer
  
  production
  
  1952
- Quinneys
  production runner
  
  production
  
  1927
crew (1 credits)
- Brief Encounter
  additional writing
  
  crew
  
  1945
camera (1 credits)
- Sailors Don't Care
  assistant camera
  
  camera
  
  1928