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Anything for a quiet life;: The autobiography of Jack Hawkins
Anything for a Quiet Life The Autobiography of Jack Hawkins
180 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1974
33 people want to read
About the author
Jack Hawkins
1 bookLibrarian note:
There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
John Edward Hawkins, CBE was an English actor who worked on stage and in film from the 1930s until the 1970s.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_Ha...
There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
John Edward Hawkins, CBE was an English actor who worked on stage and in film from the 1930s until the 1970s.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_Ha...
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
November 5, 2018
Easy read by a likeable actor who died in 1973 after having throat cancer and a varied career.Famous for The Cruel Sea,River Kwai,League of Gentlemen.Another bygone British Star largely forgotten today.
September 3, 2021
Until recently I didn't really know who Jack Hawkins was. I recognized him from his supporting roles in famous movies like Bridge on the River Kwai and Lawrence of Arabia, but it wasn't until I caught the magnificent 1962 film The League of Gentlemen that I saw what he was capable of as a leading man. His performance led me to learn more about him on (where else) Wikipedia, and from there I learned of this autobiography, published shortly before his death in 1973.
Hawkins was clearly born to act. A child of a middle-class English family, he started singing in church choirs when he was a boy, and by the time he was 13 he was acting in stage plays. He went on to perform with greats like John Gielgud, David Niven, and Laurence Olivier, and was good friends with them all. His growing popularity in the 1930s brought him to the attention of Broadway, and his adventures in New York City as recounted in this book were truly epic. He even ended up married, for a time, to the great actress Jessica Tandy, with whom he had a daughter. Both their careers were in full swing, however, and they soon grew apart and divorced, though amicably.
World War II threatened to end his career, as he enlisted, went to officer training school, and was posted to the Royal Welch Fusiliers where he served in India and Burma. Through some lucky accidents he was able to transfer to ENSA (the Entertainments National Service Association, sort of like the USO for Americans), where he managed lining up entertainments for the UK troops all over that part of the world. During this time he met his second wife, Doreen Lawrence, an actress with one of the troupes he managed.
After the war Hawkins got back into acting as soon as he could, taking virtually any role he could get just to keep working. This led to a series of fortunate screen credits, and by the late 1950s he was the most popular movie star in England. Success followed success, as Jack and Doreen had three children of their own, and built a second home in the south of France. In 1962, though, around the time The League of Gentlemen was made, he started having trouble with his voice. Hawkins was a three-pack-a-day smoker, so it should be no surprise that he was diagnosed with throat cancer. Cobalt treatments had some effect but not enough, so eventually he had to make the choice between death by cancer, or the death of his career by a complete laryngectomy. For an actor noted for his rich voice and precise elocution, this was a devastating blow. Never one to give up easily, though, Hawkins eventually learned how to speak again (after a fashion) by using breath control techniques. In some later films, his voice was dubbed; but he also took roles which required little speaking.
Unfortunately the cancer returned in the early 1970s. After a subsequent surgery, the wound in his neck became infected and the antibiotics of the time were ineffective against it (I can't help but wonder if it was a variety of MRSA). There were repeated incidents where his infection-weakened carotid artery would give way and bleed profusely, and eventually during one such episode in 1973, doctors were unable to control the damage and Hawkins hemorrhaged to death.
Lucky for us, during those last months Hawkins managed to pen this superb story of his life. I have not read that he relied heavily on an editor or ghost writer, so I assume most of the language in the book is his own, and it is delightful. His pleasure at his acting ability is evident, and while he is never boastful, neither does he suffer from false modesty. He is effusive in his praise for his fellow actors as well as playwrights, producers, and others whom he perceived as helping him in his career. He does not name the few people for whom his memories were less kind.
My only quibble with the book is Hawkins' parsimonious use of dates, making it hard sometimes to discern how much time was passing between incidents.
The afterword was written by his wife Doreen, or Dee as he called her, very shortly after his death. She goes into some detail about his medical difficulties, but only so that his qualities as a brave and determined man can shine through.
I'll be looking for Jack more closely now in the old movies that I watch, and when I see him I will reflect on the fascinating life that he shared with us in this book.
Hawkins was clearly born to act. A child of a middle-class English family, he started singing in church choirs when he was a boy, and by the time he was 13 he was acting in stage plays. He went on to perform with greats like John Gielgud, David Niven, and Laurence Olivier, and was good friends with them all. His growing popularity in the 1930s brought him to the attention of Broadway, and his adventures in New York City as recounted in this book were truly epic. He even ended up married, for a time, to the great actress Jessica Tandy, with whom he had a daughter. Both their careers were in full swing, however, and they soon grew apart and divorced, though amicably.
World War II threatened to end his career, as he enlisted, went to officer training school, and was posted to the Royal Welch Fusiliers where he served in India and Burma. Through some lucky accidents he was able to transfer to ENSA (the Entertainments National Service Association, sort of like the USO for Americans), where he managed lining up entertainments for the UK troops all over that part of the world. During this time he met his second wife, Doreen Lawrence, an actress with one of the troupes he managed.
After the war Hawkins got back into acting as soon as he could, taking virtually any role he could get just to keep working. This led to a series of fortunate screen credits, and by the late 1950s he was the most popular movie star in England. Success followed success, as Jack and Doreen had three children of their own, and built a second home in the south of France. In 1962, though, around the time The League of Gentlemen was made, he started having trouble with his voice. Hawkins was a three-pack-a-day smoker, so it should be no surprise that he was diagnosed with throat cancer. Cobalt treatments had some effect but not enough, so eventually he had to make the choice between death by cancer, or the death of his career by a complete laryngectomy. For an actor noted for his rich voice and precise elocution, this was a devastating blow. Never one to give up easily, though, Hawkins eventually learned how to speak again (after a fashion) by using breath control techniques. In some later films, his voice was dubbed; but he also took roles which required little speaking.
Unfortunately the cancer returned in the early 1970s. After a subsequent surgery, the wound in his neck became infected and the antibiotics of the time were ineffective against it (I can't help but wonder if it was a variety of MRSA). There were repeated incidents where his infection-weakened carotid artery would give way and bleed profusely, and eventually during one such episode in 1973, doctors were unable to control the damage and Hawkins hemorrhaged to death.
Lucky for us, during those last months Hawkins managed to pen this superb story of his life. I have not read that he relied heavily on an editor or ghost writer, so I assume most of the language in the book is his own, and it is delightful. His pleasure at his acting ability is evident, and while he is never boastful, neither does he suffer from false modesty. He is effusive in his praise for his fellow actors as well as playwrights, producers, and others whom he perceived as helping him in his career. He does not name the few people for whom his memories were less kind.
My only quibble with the book is Hawkins' parsimonious use of dates, making it hard sometimes to discern how much time was passing between incidents.
The afterword was written by his wife Doreen, or Dee as he called her, very shortly after his death. She goes into some detail about his medical difficulties, but only so that his qualities as a brave and determined man can shine through.
I'll be looking for Jack more closely now in the old movies that I watch, and when I see him I will reflect on the fascinating life that he shared with us in this book.
October 13, 2025
I have read numerous autobiographies and biographies about illustrious movie stars. However, this particular book was initially published on January 1, 1974, the year succeeding Jack Hawkins' passing, when I was in my 30s, yet I remained oblivious to its publication at that time. I was well aware of his status as a film icon. I even recall the first motion picture I attended at the local cinema featuring this remarkable actor: “The Cruel Sea.” In my estimation, it remains one of the finest films. I would have been in high school when it premiered in 1953. Consequently, I felt compelled to delve into this book, first published 51 years ago, and to my delight, I acquired a wealth of knowledge about this extraordinary and consummate actor. I thoroughly enjoyed reading the book, particularly the insights into Jack’s acclaim in the theater throughout the 1930s, which ultimately led him to Broadway and his acting endeavors in New York. The postscript penned by Jack’s wife, Doreen, is profoundly poignant and emotional, I almost wish I had refrained from reading it. This autobiography ranks among the finest. 5 stars.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews