 The Oliviers ' marriage was disintegrating during the late 1950s . While directing Charlton Heston in the 1960 play The <unk> , Olivier <unk> that " Vivien is several thousand miles away , trembling on the edge of a cliff , even when she 's sitting quietly in her own drawing room " , at a time when she was threatening suicide . In May 1960 divorce proceedings started ; Leigh reported the fact to the press and informed reporters of Olivier 's relationship with Plowright . The decree <unk> was issued in December 1960 , which enabled him to marry Plowright in March 1961 . A son , Richard , was born in December 1961 ; two daughters followed , <unk> Agnes Margaret — born in January 1963 — and Julie @-@ Kate , born in July 1966 . 
