Gary Oldman

Gary Oldman (21.3.1958)

Gary Oldman is an English actor as well as a film director and producer.

Gary Oldman: Childhood

Gary Oldman was born to Kathleen and Len Oldman in London. His mother was a housewife, born in Ireland and his father was an ex-sailor, turned welder.

As a child, Oldman showed talent as a pianist and a singer. However, he decided to pursue acting instead of music, citing Malcolm McDowell in The Raging Moon as his primary influence for doing so.

Gary Oldman: Acting Career

In 1979, Gary Oldman graduated from drama school. He spent the next eight years working in the theatre and landed roles in some minor films, including 1982's Remembrance and 1984's Morgan's Boy.

In 1986, Oldman got his breakthrough role when he was cast to play Sid Vicious (of The Sex Pistols) in the film Sid and Nancy, directed by Alex Cox. John Lydon (the Sex Pistol's singer) commented that Oldman was "a bloody good actor."

The following year was a busy one for Oldman. He took on another biopic role when he played the playwright Joe Orton in Prick Up Your Ears. In 1988, Oldman played a football hooligan in The Firm and then starred alongside Christopher Lloyd in Track 29. Later that year, he worked with Kevin Bacon in the film Criminal Law. This was followed with his appearance in We Think The World Of You, with Frances McDormand and Dennis Hopper in 1989.

1991 was another breakthrough year for Gary Oldman, as he played the role of John F. Kennedy's assassin, Lee Harvey Oswald in the Oliver Stone directed JFK.

In 1992, Oldman played Count Dracula in Francis Ford Coppola's Bram Stoker's Dracula. The film, which also starred Tom Cruise and Winona Ryder, was a huge box office hit.

His appearance in Bram Stoker's Dracula proved to be a catalyst for his career and found him playing a string of 'bad guy' characters. In True Romance, he played a violent pimp, opposite Christian Slater and Patricia Arquette. In Léon he played a corrupt DEA officer, opposite Natalie Portman and Jean Reno. In Murder in the First he played a cruel prison officer and in The Fifth Element, he played an oppressive capitalist.

In 2000, Oldman landed a role in The Contender, which also starred Jeff Bridges.

The next year, Oldman starred in Hannibal, the sequel to Silence of the Lambs. In the film, he plays Mason Verger, Hannibal Lecter's only surviving victim. Julianne Moore and Anthony Hopkins also starred in the film.

When Gary Oldman appeared in two episodes of Friends, the popular American sitcom, he was awarded an Emmy for his performance.

Gary Oldman played the role of Sirius Black in the film adaptations of J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter books. Daniel Radcliffe - who plays Harry Potter - and Gary Oldman became close friends during the filming of the series, which also starred Robbie Coltrane and Alan Rickman.

When Christopher Nolan directed two Batman films, Batman Begins and The Dark Knight, Gary Oldman was chosen to play Commissioner James Gordon opposite Christian Bale, who played the lead role.

In 2009, Oldman starred in Unborn, a supernatural thriller directed by David Goyer.

Gary Oldman: Directing

Gary Oldman made his directorial debut in 1997 with the film Nil By Mouth. Based partly on his own childhood story, the film starred Ray Winstone and Kathy Burke and won the BAFTA for Best British Film.

Gary Oldman: Personal Life

Oldman moved to the USA in the 1990s and now lives in Los Angeles.

In 1991, Gary Oldman was arrested for drink driving. He was with the actor Keifer Sutherland at the time.

Gary Oldman has had four marriages. His first wife was Lesley Manville, his second was the actress Uma Thurman and his third was Donya Fiorentino. Since 2008 he has been married to Alexandra Edenborough.

Gary Oldman's sister, Laila Morse is an actress and plays Mo Harris in Eastenders.