Gary Oldman (Gary Oldman): biography, filmography, personal life and photos

Gary Oldman is a world famous actor, musician, producer and director. This man became a real legend. It is equivalent to most famous Hollywood actors, including Anthony Hopkins, Tom Hardy, Brad Pitt. This actor received a lot of prestigious awards and starred in more than 100 films. And today many fans are interested in questions about how the career of a brilliant artist began.

Gary Oldman: biography and childhood

Today Oldman is a cult actor. But it was not always so. He was born on March 21, 1958 in London. His family could hardly be called wealthy, since the mother was a housewife, and my father worked as a welder. The father of the boy was a drunkard, so life in the family became intolerable. And when the boy was seven years old, he left home.

At 17, the guy decided to try himself in acting. First he applied to a prestigious school, namely the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art. Naturally, the attempts of an unknown boy were unsuccessful. But Gary did not even think about giving up - he went to the College of Stage Speech and Drama, Rose Bruford.

Gary graduated at the age of 21, after which he started working on the stage. It is worth noting that even here his game was a success - for three years he was awarded several prestigious theatrical awards. It was here in 1982, he noticed the director Colin Gregg.

First Career Steps

In 1982, actor Harry Oldman made his debut in the role of Daniel in the film called "Memories." Two years later he received the role of Coxie in the film "Meanwhile." But the real breakthrough in the film career of the future star was the role in the movie "Sid and Nancy", where he brilliantly played the infamous Sid Vishhes, the bassist of the band "Sex Pistols". It was this work that paved Gary's way into Hollywood.

Gary Oldman: Filmography

After moving to Los Angeles, the actor began active work. Already in 1987, he agreed to play the role of playwright and gay Joe Orton in the movie "Sharpen your ears." In 1988, the actor starred in the erotic thriller "Way 29". In the same year, there were other films with Gary Oldman, in particular, "Criminal Law", where he played Ben Chase, as well as "We Think Only About You", where the actor got the role of Johnny. In the same year, a rather popular picture came out called "Firma."

There are many other films in which Gary Oldman played. The roles of the actor were mostly complex and ambiguous. In particular, in 1989 he played the hero of the Korean War, placed in a psychiatric clinic in the film "Chattahuchi". And in 1990 a picture appeared on the screen: "A state of frenzy", where the actor played a talented role as a member of the bandit group Jackie Flannery.

Famous villains performed by Gary Oldman

Naturally, the talent of the young actor did not go unnoticed. However, it was not until 1991 that the whole of America learned who Gary Oldman was. The best films of the actor are those in which he played negative characters. In fact, Oldman literally knocked down with his extraordinary ability to naturally and organically fit into any situation.

In 1991, a screen appeared on the screen called "John F. Kennedy. Shots in Dallas, "where Gary played the role of a suspect in the murder of Lee Harvey Oswald.

In 1992, another picture appeared with the villain Oldman in the title role. In the film "Dracula" he simultaneously played a young and handsome Vlad Tepes, as well as an eerie vampire Count Dracula. This role brought the actor worldwide popularity, a lot of laudatory reviews from critics, several nominations and awards.

In 1993, Oldman played a corrupt cop in the film "Romeo bleeds" and secured the image of a "bad guy". And although the script and the direction of the film were criticized, Gary's acting role was appreciated.

In the film "True Love" (1993), the actor successfully played the cruel pimp Spivey. The role of Milton Glenn, the prison guardian in the film "Murder of the First Degree" (1995) was also very convincing. And for sure, many remember Gary Oldman as the tyrant Zorg in the famous "Fifth Element" (1997).

Popularity and recognition to the actor brought a role in the cult film "Leon" - here Oldman played a policeman - a drug addict who killed the family of the main character. And in 1994 the biographical picture "Immortal Beloved" came out on the screens, where the actor brilliantly played the complex role of Ludwig van Beethoven. And in 2001, the film "Hannibal", where the actor gets the role of millionaire Mason Verger, who burns with the desire to revenge Hannibal Lecter.

The triumphant return of popularity

It is worth noting that after the release of the famous painting "Hannibal" and until 2004, the actor did not take part in the creation of any full-length film - during this time he starred in only a few second-rate films and was engaged in scoring video games.

But already in 2004 the actor returned triumphantly to the world screens paired with Daniel Radcliffe. Gary Oldman in "Harry Potter" played Sirius Black - godfather of the protagonist, who appeared in the third part of the film / book "The Prisoner of Azkaban." It is worth noting that the actors have become friends during the time of teamwork, and young Daniel has repeatedly noted that he is trying to equal exactly on Oldman.

And the following year, actor Gary Oldman appeared on the screen as the incorruptible police commissioner James Gordon in the movie "Batman: The Beginning." In 2008, he also took part in the filming of the sequel, entitled "The Dark Knight". In 2012, the actor pleased fans with his game in the final part of the trilogy "The Dark Knight: The Renaissance of the Legend".

In 2011, the film "Spy, Get Out!", Where Gary got the role of the sophisticated spy George Smiley. By the way, for this role, the actor was nominated for the Academy Award for the first time, which became a complete surprise for him. A crime drama "The most drunken district in the world", published in 2012, was nominated for the "Golden Palm Branch".

Director's work

In addition to filming a lot of vivid and extraordinary films, Gary Oldman also does directing. In 1997, the actor made his debut as a director, presenting his film "Do not Swallow" at the Cannes Film Festival. This is a story about an ordinary London working-class family with all its problems and troubles. For this film, Oldman received two popular awards, and his debut critics called stunning.

Later, the actor, together with Douglas Urbanski, created the company "SE8 Group", which released several more films, as well as clips under the direction of Gary Oldman.

Musical career

It is worth noting that the music was of interest to the famous actor from an early age. As a child, he was fond of playing the piano. Gary also plays the guitar well. In one of the interviews, the actor jokingly said that it was better for him to become a musician.

By the way, he created soundtracks for some of his films on his own. And in 1995, along with David Bowie, he recorded a song called "You've been around".

Personal life

It's no secret that Gary Oldman managed to marry four times. In 1987, he married actress Leslie Manville. In 1988, the couple had a son, Alfie. Unfortunately, the relationship did not work out and in 1990 the couple announced a divorce.

In the same 1990, Gary married the famous actress Ume Thurman. But because of Gary's problems with dependence, this marriage also disintegrated in 1992. Then the actor had an affair with the actress Isabella Rossellini - the couple even co-adopted the child Roberto.

In 1997, the actor married photographer Donje Fiorentino. Together they lived until 2001. In 1997, the couple had a son Gulliver Flynn, and two years later - another little son, who was named Charlie John.

In 2008, Gary began a serious relationship with the jazz singer Alexandra Edenborough. Soon the couple was married. The singer remains the wife of the famous actor to this day.

It's no secret that since the early 1990s, Gary has suffered from alcohol dependence. And in 2001, his ex-wife, Doña Fiorentino, also stated that the actor was addicted to drugs. Such problems were badly affected first of all by Oldman's personal life, since it was his dependence that caused the divorce with Uma Thurman and Dona Fiorentino. But soon after the third divorce, the actor agreed to treatment in a rehabilitation clinic.

Awards of the famous actor

During his career, Gary Oldman managed to get a lot of different awards and nominations. In 1987, for the game in the movie "Sid and Nancy" he received the award as "The most promising newcomer". In 1992, the actor was awarded the prize "Saturn" as the best actor for the role of Dracula.

In 1997, for the author film, Gary was awarded the following prizes: "Best Original Screenplay", "Best British Film", "Best Director", "Best Director's Debut". In 2009, the actor received an honorable award as the "Icon of Cinematography".