sir alec guinness (2 april 1914 - 5 august 2000) was an academy award winning english actor. he was born in london. he is well known for the role of obi-wan kenobi, a "jedi master", in the star wars movie series (episodes iv, v, and vi), a role that he was embarrassed with. he won an academy award for "best actor in a leading role". he got this award for acting in the movie "the bridge on the river kwai" (1957). guinness also received a golden globe award and a bafta award for that movie. he has also received a tony award. in 1989 he received a bafta academy fellowship award, a lifetime achievement award. guinness died from liver cancer in midhurst, west sussex, in 2000.