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The Final Resting Place of Peter Finch.
Peter Finch 28th.September 1916 - 14th.January
1977
Located in the Cathedral Mausoleum corridor A crypt 1223.
Peter Finch was an English-born actor with strong Australian connections.
Born Frederick George Peter Ingle-Finch in London, he lived as a child in France and India, and finally in Australia, his parents' native country. There he grew up in Sydney.
After finishing school, he worked in several badly-paid jobs until he tried acting. He began in 1935 playing theatre roles, and also working in radio. In 1938, he appeared in his first film, Dad and Dave Come to Town.
Thereafter he played again on stage, where he was noticed by Laurence Olivier and encouraged to return to London. During this time Finch had an affair with Olivier's wife, Vivien Leigh.
Despite his stage experience, Finch suffered from stage fright and turned to films. His first role in a British-made film was in Eureka Stockade (1949) (set in Australia).
Finch's Hollywood debut was in The Miniver Story in 1950, but his first major role was in 1956's A Town Like Alice.
In 1972, his role of the homosexual Jewish doctor in Sunday Bloody Sunday earned him an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor in a Leading Role.
He also won an Oscar for his over-the-top portrayal of the crazed television anchor man Howard Beale in the 1976 film Network.
He died from a heart attack, aged 60, during a promotional tour for the film. He nevertheless won the Oscar, the first time the Best Actor award had been made posthumously, and he was the first Australian actor to win the award. It was accepted by his widow.
Finch also won five Awards of the British Film Academy.
Peter Finch was married three times. His first wife was Tamara Tchinarova and his second wife Yolande Turner. Both marriages ended in divorce. His third wife was Eletha Finch. He had four children from his three marriages.