Photo: Raph_PH / CC BY 2.0 (source: Wikimedia Commons)
Derek Jacobi was born on October 22, 1938 in Leytonstone, United Kingdom and is credited as a television actor, film director and stage actor. That puts Derek Jacobi at 87 years old in 2026. Education on record includes University of Cambridge. Recorded honors include Laurence Olivier Award for Actor of the Year in a Revival (1983), Commander of the Order of the British Empire (1985), Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play (1985) and 5 more. Notable works include The Martini Shot.
My Take
Sir Derek Jacobi is one of those rare actors where you genuinely feel like you're in the presence of something uncommon the moment he opens his mouth. Cambridge-educated, knighted by the Queen in 1994, two Olivier Awards, a Tony, two Emmys — the trophy shelf is impressive, sure, but the real thing is what he does with a line of Shakespeare or a quietly menacing glance on screen. I first really locked in on him through his landmark BBC portrayal of Claudius, and I've never quite gotten over how completely he inhabited that character. What I love most is that he never seemed interested in being a movie star — he just kept doing the work, stage and screen, decade after decade, with the kind of craft that makes younger actors look like they're just guessing. A genuine institution.
This take was written by generative AI, one per person, from publicly reported facts (editorial policy). It is a reading of the record, not reporting.
1. Profile
- Name (English)
- Derek Jacobi
- Name (Japanese)
- デレク・ジャコビ
- Reading
- でれく・じゃこび
- Born
- October 22, 1938 (age 87)
- Origin
- Leytonstone, United Kingdom
- Occupation
- television actor / film director / stage actor / film actor / actor
- Zodiac / Chinese zodiac
- Libra / Tiger
2. Background
- University
- University of Cambridge
Awards & achievements
- 1983 Laurence Olivier Award for Actor of the Year in a Revival
- 1985 Commander of the Order of the British Empire
- 1985 Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play
- 1994 Knight Bachelor
- 1989 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie
- 2001 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series
- 2009 Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actor
- 1976 British Academy Television Award for Best Actor
3. Works & records
Filmography / notable works
| Category | Title |
|---|---|
| Notable work | The Martini Shot |
4. Links
- Wikipedia (English)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Derek%20Jacobi
- Wikipedia (Japanese)https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E3%83%87%E3%83%AC%E3%82%AF%E3%83%BB%E3%82%B8%E3%83%A3%E3%82%B3%E3%83%93
- Wikidatahttps://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q256164
5. About this entry
Tags
- Last updated
Only publicly available facts are listed; non-public or unconfirmed items are omitted. Base data was compiled from Wikidata from June 2026 onward; ages are recalculated daily and deaths are checked against Wikidata on an ongoing basis. 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 Derek Jacobi born?
Derek Jacobi was born on October 22, 1938 and is 87 years old.
Where is Derek Jacobi from?
Derek Jacobi is from Leytonstone, United Kingdom.
What does Derek Jacobi do?
Derek Jacobi works as television actor, film director, stage actor, film actor, actor.
Where did Derek Jacobi study?
Derek Jacobi attended University of Cambridge.
What is Derek Jacobi known for?
Derek Jacobi's notable works include The Martini Shot.
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