Gary Oldman is a world famous actor, musician, producer and director. This man has become a true legend. Most of the famous Hollywood actors, including Anthony Hopkins, Tom Hardy, Brad Pitt, are equal to him. 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 film actor. But this was far from always. He was born on March 21, 1958 in London. His family could hardly be called wealthy, since his mother was a housewife, and his father worked as a welder. The boy's father was a drunkard, so life in the family became intolerable. And when the boy was seven years old, he left home.
At the age of 17, the guy decided to try his hand at 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 think to give up - he entered Rose Bruford College of Stage Speech and Drama.
Gary graduated from school at the age of 21, after which he began working on the theater stage. It is worth noting that even here his play was a success - for three years he was awarded several prestigious theater awards. It was here that in 1982 he was noticed by director Colin Gregg.
First career steps
In 1982, actor Harry Oldman made his debut in the role of Daniel in a film called "Memories." Two years later, he got the role of Coxie in the movie "Meanwhile." But a real breakthrough in the film career of the future star was the role in the film "Sid and Nancy", where he brilliantly played the infamous Sid Vicious, bassist of the band "Sex Pistols". It was this work that paved the way for Gary to 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 film "Point Your Ears." In 1988, the actor starred in the erotic thriller "Way 29". In the same year, other films were released 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 entitled "Firm" was released.
There are many other films starring Gary Oldman. The roles of the actor went predominantly complex and ambiguous. In particular, in 1989 he played the hero of the Korean War, placed in a psychiatric clinic in the movie "Chattahuchi." And in 1990, the picture "State of Frenzy" appeared on the screen, where the actor talentedly played a member of the gangster 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 all of America found out who Gary Oldman was. The best films of the actor are those in which he played negative characters. In fact, Oldman literally knocked down his extraordinary ability to naturally and organically fit into any environment.
In 1991, a movie called John F. Kennedy appeared on the screens. 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 the young and handsome Vlad Tepes, as well as the creepy vampire Count Dracula. This role brought the actor worldwide popularity, a lot of praise from critics, several nominations and awards.
In 1993, Oldman played a corrupt cop in the movie Romeo Bleeds and secured the image of a “bad guy.” And although the script and direction of the film were criticized, Gary's acting was appreciated.
In the film "True Love" (1993), the actor successfully played the cruel pimp Spivey. The role of Milton Glen, the prison sadistic overseer in the movie "First-degree Killing" (1995) was also very convincing. And for sure, many remember Gary Oldman in the image of the tyrant Sorg in the famous "Fifth Element" (1997).
The actor brought popularity and recognition to the role in the cult film “Leon” - here Oldman played a police officer, a drug addict who killed the main character’s family. And in 1994, the biographical picture “The Immortal Beloved” was released, where the actor brilliantly played the complex role of Ludwig Baths of Beethoven. And in 2001 the film “Hannibal” was released, where the actor gets the role of the millionaire Mason Verger, who is eager to take revenge on Hannibal Lecter.
The triumphant return of popularity
It is worth noting that after the release of the famous film “Hannibal” and until 2004, the actor did not participate in the creation of a single full-length film - during this time he starred in only a few second-rate films and was engaged in dubbing video games.
But already in 2004, the actor triumphantly returned to world screens paired with Daniel Radcliffe. Gary Oldman in “Harry Potter” played Sirius Black - the godfather of the protagonist, who appeared in the third part of the film / book “Prisoner of Azkaban”. It is worth noting that the actors became friends during the joint work, and the young Daniel repeatedly noted that he was trying to be equal to Oldman.
The very next year, actor Gary Oldman appeared on the screens as the incorruptible police commissioner James Gordon in the movie "Batman: The Beginning." In 2008, he also took part in the filming of a sequel called The Dark Knight. In 2012, the actor pleased the fans with his game in the final part of the trilogy “The Dark Knight: Revival of the Legend”.
In 2011, the movie “Spy Get Out!” Appeared, where Gary got the role of the sophisticated spy George Smiley. By the way, for this role, the actor was first nominated for an Oscar, which was a complete surprise for him. And the crime drama “The Most Drunkest District in the World”, released in 2012, was nominated for the Golden Palm Branch.
Director's work
In addition to filming in the mass of bright and extraordinary films, Gary Oldman is also involved in directing. In 1997, the actor made his debut as a director, presenting at the Cannes Film Festival his film entitled "Do Not Swallow." 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 critics called his debut debut.
Subsequently, the actor, together with Douglas Urbanski, created the company “SE8 Group”, which released several more films, as well as clips directed by Gary Oldman.
Music 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 an interview, 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, together with David Bowie, he recorded a song called "You've been around."
Personal life
It's no secret that Gary Oldman managed to be married four times. In 1987, he married actress Leslie Manville. In 1988, the couple had a son, Alfie. Unfortunately, the relationship went wrong and in 1990 the couple announced a divorce.
In the same 1990, Gary married the famous actress Uma Thurman. But due to Gary's addiction problems, this marriage also broke up in 1992. Then the actor had an affair with actress Isabella Rossellini - the couple even jointly adopted a child Roberto.
In 1997, the actor married photographer Donja Fiorentino. Together they lived until 2001. In 1997, the couple had a son, Gulliver Flynn, and two years later, another son, who was named Charlie John.
In 2008, Gary began a serious relationship with 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 beginning of the 1990s, Gary suffered from alcohol dependence. And in 2001, his ex-wife Donja Fiorentino also announced the addiction of the actor to drugs. Such problems badly affected primarily the personal life of Oldman, since it was his dependence that caused the divorce from 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 the most diverse awards and nominations. In 1987, he received the award for “Most Promising Newcomer” for playing in the movie Sid and Nancy. In 1992, the actor was awarded the Saturn Award as the best film actor for his role as Dracula.
In 1997, for the author’s film, Gary was awarded the following prizes: “Best Original Screenplay”, “Best British Film”, “Best Director”, “Best Directorial Debut”. In 2009, the actor received an honorary award as the “Icon of Cinema”.