Alec Guinness was an English actor who is best known for his role as Obi-Wan Kenobi in the original Star Wars trilogy. He was nominated for eight Academy Awards and won one for his performance in the 1957 film 'The Bridge on the River Kwai'. Guinness also starred in many other films, including Lawrence of Arabia, Doctor Zhivago, and The Lavender Hill Mob. He was knighted in 1959 for his services to drama.