Biography in: John Wakeman, editor. "World Film Directors, Volume One, 1890- 1945". Pages 633-639. New York: The H.W. Wilson Company, 1987.

Was in final pre-production for the filming of "Nostromo" (based on the Joseph Conrad novel) when he died.

Once screened Lawrence of Arabia (1962) with Steven Spielberg. Lean gave Spielberg a "live director's commentary" (as Spielberg put it). Spielberg said it was one of the best moments of his life, learning from a true master. Consequently, Spielberg stated that it helped him make better pictures and that commentary directly influenced every movie he has made since.

Towards the end of his life, he said he'd like to have another go at filming Boris Pasternak's "Doctor Zhivago." The prerequisite for remaking the film would be the casting of Julie Christie once again as Lara, but since she would be too old for the part, he wouldn't be able to do it.

He was made a Fellow of the British Film Institute in recognition of his outstanding contribution to film culture.

According to Richard Schickel, Lean was so wounded by Pauline Kael's and other critics' vicious attacks on Ryan's Daughter (1970) that he didn't direct another picture for 14 years, until A Passage to India (1984).

Frequently worked with Alec Guinness. When he recommended that Steven Spielberg direct Empire of the Sun (1987), Spielberg ended up hiring Eve Mavrakis as a translator. Fittingly, Mavrakis would go on to marry Ewan McGregor, who succeeded Guinness in the role of Obi-Wan Kenobi.

He was signed to direct several major stars including Marlon Brando, Dennis Quaid and Paul Scofield in a film version of Joseph Conrad's "Nostromo" when he was diagnosed with throat cancer, and died three months later. The film was never made.

He was honoured with the American Film Institute Life Achievement Award in 1990.

Was voted the 34th Greatest Director of all time by Entertainment Weekly.

He was married 6 times and at all times briefly, apparently having been unable to maintain a marriage due to his wandering eye. He also declined to discuss his personal life.

Directed 11 different actors in Oscar-nominated performances: 'Celia Johnson', Katharine Hepburn, Alec Guinness, Sessue Hayakawa, Peter O'Toole, Omar Sharif, Tom Courtenay, John Mills, Sarah Miles, Peggy Ashcroft and Judy Davis. Guiness, Mills and Ashcroft won for their performances in one of Lean's movies.

According to Sarah Miles, Lean enjoyed pushing his actors to their personal limits and then breaking them, just for his own amusement.

In his home town of Croydon, South London, there is a cinema named after him in the Croydon Clocktower Arts Centre.

Originally wanted to direct Empire of the Sun (1987), but passed it on to Steven Spielberg because of advancing years.

Peter O'Toole based his performance in The Stunt Man (1980) on Lean.

His first wife was his first cousin, Isabel Lean (b. 1908).

His third wife was previously married to his first cousin, Nigel Tangye .