Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actor

The Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actor in a Play is an annual award presented by the Society of London Theatre in recognition of achievements in commercial London theatre. The awards were established as the Society of West End Theatre Awards in 1976, and renamed in 1984 in honour of English actor and director Laurence Olivier.

Laurence Olivier Award
for Best Actor

Best Actor in a Play

England

Society of London Theatre

1985

Mark Gatiss for The Motive and the Cue (2024)

officiallondontheatre.com/olivier-awards/

This award was introduced in 1985, as Actor of the Year, then retitled to its current name for the 1993 ceremony. Prior to this award, from 1976 to 1984 (and again in 1988), there was a pair of awards given each year for this general category, one for Actor of the Year in a New Play and the other for Actor of the Year in a Revival.

Ian McKellen

from Henry IV, Parts 1 and 2

Falstaff

from Richard III

Richard III of England

from Death of a Salesman

Willy Loman

Eddie Carbone from

A View from the Bridge

(1976–1984, 1988)

Laurence Olivier Award for Actor of the Year in a New Play

(1976–1984, 1988)

Laurence Olivier Award for Actor of the Year in a Revival

Critics' Circle Theatre Award for Best Actor

Evening Standard Theatre Award for Best Actor

Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play

London Theatre Guide (2008). (PDF). 1976-2008. The Society of London Theatre. p. 20. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-01-11. Retrieved 2008-08-30.

Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actor