Michael Langham

{{short description|British actor and director}} {{Use dmy dates|date=May 2020}} {{Infobox person |image =  | | name = Michael Langham | birth_date = {{Birth_date|df=yes|1919|08|22}} | birth_place = Bridgwater, Somerset, England | death_date = {{death date and age|df=yes|2011|01|15|1919|08|22}} | death_place = Cranbrook, Kent, England | occupation = {{hlist|Theatre director|actor}} | spouse = Helen Burns | children = Chris Langham }}

'''Michael Seymour Langham''' (22 August 1919 – 15 January 2011) was an English director and actor, who spent much of his career living and working in Canada and the United States.

He was educated at Radley College and studied law at the University of London before enlisting in the British Army in 1939. After spending five years as a prisoner of war, Langham set his sights on the theatre and led several repertory theatres in the UK including Coventry (1946–1948), Birmingham (1948–1950) and Glasgow (1953–1954).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/michael-langham |title=Michael Langham |website=Canadianencyclopedia.ca|accessdate=17 February 2019}}</ref>

Langham was the second artistic director at the Stratford Festival in Canada from 1956 to 1967, and he directed 38 productions over a 53 year association with Stratford.<ref>[http://www.stratfordfestival.ca/about/pdf/NR392007.pdf Stratfordfestival.ca] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110706204656/http://www.stratfordfestival.ca/about/pdf/NR392007.pdf |date=6 July 2011 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url =https://archives.stratfordfestival.ca/AIS/Details/people/7739 | title = Michael Langham directing credits | website = Stratford Festival Archives | access-date = 3 June 2019}}</ref> He was the third artistic director of the Guthrie Theater from 1971 to 1977.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.guthrietheater.org/about_the_guthrie/explore_past_plays/michael_langham_1971_1977|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080105034516/http://www.guthrietheater.org/about_the_guthrie/explore_past_plays/michael_langham_1971_1977|url-status=dead|title=Michael Langham: 1971-1977 | Guthrie Theater|archivedate=5 January 2008}}</ref> He was also director of the Juilliard School from 1979 to 1982, and again from 1987 to 1992. In 1995 he directed two plays for the inaugural season of the Atlantic Theatre Festival in Wolfville, Nova Scotia.

Langham was married to actress Helen Burns. Their son is the writer and comedy actor Chris Langham.

Langham died on 15 January 2011 in Cranbrook, Kent, England, after a short illness.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thestar.com/entertainment/stage/2011/01/15/michael_langham_former_stratford_artistic_director_dies_at_91.html|title=Michael Langham: Former Stratford Artistic Director dies at 91|date=15 January 2011|website=thestar.com}}</ref>

==Video clips== *{{YouTube|HHUzgy3B3dU|Interview for TheatreMuseumCanada}} *[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=do84tPNMXco&index=6&list=PLC6886AD7DB126845 Interview] with Stratford Festival costumer Cynthia MacLennan on working with Langham.

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== *{{IMDb name | id=0486419| name=Michael Langham}} *{{IBDB name}} *{{IOBDB name|8614}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Langham, Michael}} Category:1919 births Category:2011 deaths Category:Alumni of the University of London Category:British Army personnel of World War II Category:British theatre directors Category:Juilliard School faculty Category:People educated at Radley College Category:People from Bridgwater Category:Military personnel from Somerset Category:English expatriates in Canada Category:English expatriate male actors in the United States Category:Male actors from Somerset