Born in Coventry, Warwickshire, England; raised in South Africa and schooled by the Christian Brothers; educated at the University of Cape Town (South Africa). Intense-looking British character player of stage, TV and film, who was usually cast as older dignitaries or men of official stature. Hawthorne bounced around on the English stage and in TV projects for years before gaining notice in the States for his portrayal of the stiff-lipped, quick-witted civil servant Sir Humphrey Appleby in the acclaimed British series "Yes, Minister" and its followup series "Yes, Prime Minister." In films, Hawthorne could be seen in Richard Attenborough's YOUNG WINSTON (1972) and GANDHI (1982), Clint Eastwood's FIREFOX (1982), and the sci-fi actioner DEMOLITION MAN (1993). His first home, however, was the stage, where he won a Tony® for his portrayal of writer C.S. Lewis in the Broadway production of Shadowlands (only to lose the film role to Anthony Hopkins). Hawthorne got the chance to take a character from stage to screen when he starred in the film version of THE MADNESS OF KING GEORGE (1994). Adapted by Alan Bennett from his The Madness of George III, Hawthorne portrayed a man dealing with the loss of the colonies, his mind and control of his bladder endowing him with great humor and sympathy. For his efforts, Hawthorne was rewarded with an Oscar® nomination for Best Actor. Other notable credits include WATERSHIP DOWN (1978, voice), THE SAILOR'S RETURN (1978), HISTORY OF THE WORLD: PART I (1981), DEAD ON TIME (1982), THE PLAGUE DOGS (1983, voice), THE CHAIN (1984), THE BLACK CAULDRON (voice) and TURTLE DIARY (both 1985), RICHARD III (1995), AMISTAD (1997), THE OBJECT OF MY AFFECTION, MADELINE and AT SACHEM FARM (also producer) (all 1998) and THE WINSLOW BOY, THE BIG BRASS RING, TARZAN (voice), A REASONABLE MAN and THE CLANDESTINE MARRIAGE (all 1999). Hawthorne's last appearances were on television, in "Victoria & Albert" as Lord William Lamb, 2nd Viscount Melbourne, and in "Call Me Claus", both in 2001. Named a C.B.E. (Commander of the British Empire) in 1987, he was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in the 1999 Queen's New Year's Honours List. He was also the Honorary Patron of Salmac Productions, an independent film production company. Hawthorne lived quietly in a 15th-century manor house in Hertfordshire, England, where he died of a heart attack on Boxing Day, 2001. He was survived by his partner, writer Trevor Bentham.  Nominated for Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role 1994: THE MADNESS OF KING GEORGE 1 nomination