Photo: Kalervo Manninen / Public domain (source: Wikimedia Commons)
David Lean was credited as a film director, film producer and film editor. David Lean was born in Croydon, United Kingdom on March 25, 1908. Death is recorded on April 16, 1991, at the age of 83. Recorded honors include Commander of the Order of the British Empire (1953), Directors Guild of America Award, BAFTA Fellowship (1974) and 4 more. The listed height was 185 cm.
My Take
David Lean is, to me, the rare director who mastered both the vast and the intimate. The desert sweep of Lawrence of Arabia and the snowbound ache of Doctor Zhivago made him synonymous with epic cinema, yet Brief Encounter - small, restrained, devastating - might be his finest hour. That range is no accident; his roots as an editor gave him an almost surgical sense of rhythm and composition. Two directing Oscars and an AFI Life Achievement Award barely capture his influence. When I think about what scale in filmmaking should feel like, Lean is still my reference point.
1. Profile
- Name (English)
- David Lean
- Name (Japanese)
- デヴィッド・リーン
- Reading
- でゔぃっど・りーん
- Born
- March 25, 1908 – April 16, 1991
- Zodiac / Chinese zodiac
- Aries / Monkey
- Origin
- Croydon, United Kingdom
- Height
- 185 cm
- Occupation
- film director / film producer / film editor / screenwriter / director
2. Background
Awards & achievements
- 1953 Commander of the Order of the British Empire
- Directors Guild of America Award
- 1974 BAFTA Fellowship
- 1958 Academy Award for Best Director
- 1963 Academy Award for Best Director
- 1990 AFI Life Achievement Award
- 1957 Golden Globe Award for Best Director
- 1954 Golden Bear
3. Works & records
| Category | Title | Role | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Notable work | Lawrence of Arabia | — | |
| Notable work | Brief Encounter | — | |
| Notable work | The Bridge on the River Kwai | — | |
| Notable work | A Passage to India | — | |
| Notable work | Doctor Zhivago | — |
4. Links
5. About this entry
Tags
- Last updated
- 2026-06-17
Facts are limited to publicly available information up to 2024; non-public or unconfirmed items are omitted. English text is machine-assisted (facts translated by Sonnet, "My Take" written by Opus 4.8). The Japanese page is the source of record.
Frequently asked questions
When was David Lean born?
Born March 25, 1908.
When did David Lean die?
Died April 16, 1991, aged 83.
Where was David Lean from?
David Lean was from Croydon, United Kingdom.
What did David Lean do?
David Lean worked as film director, film producer, film editor, screenwriter, director.
How tall was David Lean?
David Lean was 185 cm.
What was David Lean known for?
Notable works include Lawrence of Arabia, Brief Encounter, The Bridge on the River Kwai.
Film director — see all → · Film producer — see all → · More people from the United Kingdom →