Alvin Rakoff

Alvin Rakoff has directed more than 100 television, film and stage productions. He is now in his 10th decade. And still active. The twice Emmy Award-winning director has worked with many of the world's most prestigious leading talent, including Laurence Olivier, John Gielgud, Peter Sellers, Judi Dench, Donald Pleasance, Henry Fonda and Richard Harris. Alvin Rakoff also gave an unknown extra his first leading role: Sean Connery. He gave drama student Alan Rickman his first professional job. Other young talent nurtured includes Michael Crawford, Simon Russell Beale and Michael Caine. As well as a producer of much of his screen and stage work, Alvin is also a prolific writer of original screenplays, adaptations, theatre musicals, plays, and three novels. His first novel, & Gillian (Little Brown) was translated into ten languages Alvin Rakoff was born in Canada. His early days as journalist helped him work his way to a degree at University of Toronto. In 1952 he was seconded by CBC to visit BBC in London. He has lived here ever since. The late actress Jacqueline Hill was his first wife, with whom he had two children: Dr Sasha Rakoff, Charity Executive and John D Rakoff, film producer. He is now married to Sally Hughes - MD, The Mill at Sonning Theatre. Alvin is working on the first volume of his memoirs, to be published in 2021.