About Michael Blakemore
Michael Howell Blakemore AO OBE was an Australian actor, writer and theatre director who also made some films. A former Associate Director of the National Theatre, in 2000 he became the only individual to win Tony Awards for Best Director of a Play and Musical in the same year for Copenhagen and Kiss Me, Kate. Blakemore's first job in the theatre was as a press agent for Robert Morley during the Australian tour of Edward, My Son, who advised him to try drama school. Blakemore then worked for several years in repertory including Birmingham Repertory Company, Bristol and Coventry, and made his first London appearance at the Princes Theatre in March 1958 as Jack Poyntz in the musical play School. Blakemore became one of ten associate directors forming what was called a planning committee.
Biography source: Wikipedia. The profile adds birthday-specific historical context from the Celebs Birthday Today editorial database.