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

Gary Oldman is a film and theater actor, producer, director and musician. In his creative biography, there are many examples of successful cooperation with the largest directors of Hollywood (Robert Zemeckis, Francis Ford Coppola, Oliver Stone, Ridley Scott, Quentin Tarantino and others). The actor played in the Harry Potter films the godfather of the young wizard, Batman's ally - commissioner Gordon, and also Dracula in the Bram Stoker film of the same name. The cinema of the last decades is difficult to imagine without the extraordinary talent of this man, not devoid of a sense of humor and self-irony.

Actor Gary Oldman. Beginning of biography

In the family of the housewife Kathleen and the welder of Leonard Bertram Oldman, March 21, 1958, a son appeared - Gary. The family lived in the famous London quarter of New Cross. At birth, the boy was given the name of Gary Leonard Oldman. The future movie star parents brought up with two sisters. One of them - Maureen - became an actress, choosing the alias "Layla Morse". His father, Gary despised for his craving for alcohol, scandalous character and leaving the family when his son was only seven years old. The boy was engaged in music, preparing for the career of a singer or pianist. Fateful for 10-year-old Gary were going to the cinema, where there were films with Malcolm McDowell. In one of his interviews, Gary Oldman admitted that he felt an irresistible craving for acting, which ultimately led him to the Greenwich Theater of the young spectator. After graduating from school in 1974, Gary got a job in the store, but the theater and playing the piano did not abandon.

Studying at the theater college and first awards

The young man tried to enter the Royal Academy of Art (London). The attempt failed, but the talented young man did not despair. Gary was in the same year enrolled as a student of the popular theater college scenic speech and drama "Rose Bruford." In his school, Gary was considered one of the best students, often appeared on the stage of the Greenwich Theater. In 1979, the young man received a diploma with honors, began his career in leading theaters in London. In 1985-1986, the roles of Gary Oldman brought him the award for the best season debut, established by the magazine Time Out, and the award of the British Theater Association (1985). For about 10 years Oldman devoted his work to the Greenwich Youth Theater, toured with the Glasgow theater company in Europe, was invited to the British television. It saw a rising star of the theatrical stage and a high-profile television actor.

Cinema and music in the life of the actor

In 1982, 24-year-old Gary Oldman, whose growth was the same as his child's ideal of Malcolm McDowell, 1.74 m, realized his dream of becoming a film actor. Followed by the enticing invitation of director Colin Gregg to star in the drama "Memory" ("Memoirs"). But the first truly successful role was Sid Vishes in the 1986 film "Sid and Nancy." Oldman brilliantly portrayed the scandalously famous musician of the band Sex Pistols. Film critics called the tape "punk" "Romeo and Juliet," gave estimates from enthusiastic to critical. The image of the rock legend Sid Vishes was very successful for Gary Oldman. In the life of an actor, music plays an important role. In his childhood, he seriously engaged in playing the piano, he liked to perform classical works. At one time Gary idolized Chopin, read many books about the composer, played his works. Becoming older, Oldman became interested in rock music and the Beatles, bought a guitar with portraits of idols.

Early film works

Almost immediately after filming in the tape "Sid and Nancy" Oldman appeared in the no less shocking picture "Pin up your ears" directed by Stephen Frears. Gary played the role of Joe Orton - playwright-gay 60-ies of the XX century, deprived of his own lover. The actor for this work was nominated for the prestigious BAFTA award. Journalists in those years wrote what a mysterious and extraordinary person is Gary Oldman. Filmography and transfer of some of the works in the first half of the 90's give an idea of the intense schedule of filming, the richest palette of talent of the actor:

• "Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are dead" (1990);
• "Henry and June" (1990);
• "The state of frenzy" (1990);
• "John F. Kennedy. Shots in Dallas "(1991);
• "Dracula" (1992) and other films.

Independent cinema and rental leaders

The roles of Gary Oldman invariably evoke interest, approval and admiring reviews. Well known experts and viewers of his work in independent cinema. The actor was nominated in 1992 for the Independent Spirit Award for Best Actor. A very versatile actor - Gary Oldman, whose filmography includes several talented incarnations on the screen of real and fictional negative characters:

• Lee Harvey Oswald in the 1991 film "John F. Kennedy. Shots in Dallas ";
• Dracula in the tape of the same name in 1992;
• Stan in the 1994 film "Leon";
• Interplanetary villain in the film "The Fifth Element" in 1997.

The roles of the murderer Kennedy and the legendary Count Dracula brought Oldman a barrage of praise from film critics and enthusiasm of the audience.

Personal life. Problems with alcohol

The actor was married four times. With his first wife - actress Leslie Menville Oldman was married in 1987, in 1988, the son Alfred. In 1990, his wife filed for divorce. When Gary turned 32, he was named Hollywood as a "phenomenal" actor. Oldman moved to the United States and has since lived in Los Angeles. His next choice was Uma Thurman, with whom the actor was married on October 1, 1990. Relations lasted until April 30, 1992. On that day Uma Thurman and Gary Oldman divorced. On the reasons for the gap is easy to guess, back in August 1991, the actor was arrested in Los Angeles for driving under the influence and released the next day. The passenger in the car was Kiefer Sutherland. On the shooting of the tape "The Scarlet Letter" in 1995, Gary began to have difficulty remembering the text because of the use of alcohol.

Treatment in the clinic. Third and fourth marriages

To help get rid of dependence, a new girlfriend, Isabella Rosselini, tried to play with her, Gary played in the film "Immortal Beloved." The passionate romance ended in a break when Oldman went to the clinic. He honestly admitted in his interviews that he was coping with the last stage of alcoholism. During the treatment from addiction to alcohol and attending courses of anonymous alcoholics, Gary's relationship with Donia Fiorentino, a professional photographer, began. The third marriage lasted from February 1997 to April 2001. Dona gave Gary sons - Gulliver and Charlie. Films with Gary Oldman appeared on the screens every year, spectators and did not guess what a difficult period came in the life of the actor. The work was tense, Gary did not give himself a break. In a year there were 1-2 films with his participation. In the new millennium, Oldman married for the fourth time. The spouse of the actor was a young showy brunette - singer Alexander Edenborough. Marriage with her was concluded in December 2008.

Triumphs of Gary Oldman in the 2000s

In 2002, Oldman played one of the leading roles in the tape "Track 60: Cases on the road." The picture in the genre of the parable was shot by director Bob Gale, who is also the author of the script. Gary's character - O. G. Grant - is endowed with the ability to fulfill desires that a person does not even suspect.

Two years later, the filming of the continuation of one of the highest grossing franchises in the history of cinematography began. The role of Sirius Black in the Harry Potter film was given to Gary Oldman. The filmography of the actor was replenished with tapes about Harry Potter in 2004-2012.

During the same decade, Oldman starred with director Christopher Nolan. The actor played the detective James Gordon in the superhero trilogy about Batman. "Batmaniana" Nolan had a big box office success, and critics favorably accepted the work of the cast.

Gary Oldman is an actor with a "great face"

In the summer of 2009, the director of the detective thriller "Spy, Get Out!" Thomas Alfredson was looking for the main actor - intelligence agent George Smiley. The events in the film unfold in the 1970s around the events of the Cold War. Explaining the choice of Gary Oldman for the main role, the director-director noted that the actor has a "great face", which inspires "energy and modest intelligence". This is exactly what you need, "Alfredson said. The role was "age-old," it required proper training, which was taken seriously by Gary Oldman. Photos of the actor at the time show that his appearance has changed. Oldman ate sweet, grew a small stomach, which usually happens in the elderly. Film critics lauded the tape "Spy, Get Out!", Predicted the Oscar winner. The author of the novel about George Smiley D. Le Carré called the film and the game Gary "a real triumph." Oldman has a strong reputation as an actor who can change his appearance and voice so that each character is unique.

Interesting facts related to Gary Oldman

• In 1997, the actor made an autobiographical drama "Do not swallow". Director's debut Oldman was nominated for the Cannes "Golden Palm Branch" and received two BAFTA awards.
• Another directorial work of Gary was a video for the song of the wife - Alexandra Edenborough.
• In 2007, the actor was named Empire magazine among the 100 sexiest stars in the history of cinema.
• Nominated for the Emmy Award for the role of an alcoholic in the television comedy series Friends.
• Until 2011 Oldman was considered one of the greatest actors, never nominated for an Oscar (in 2011 he was nominated for his role in the film "Spy, Get Out!").
• Tom Hardy, who calls Oldman his favorite actor, starred with him in the tapes "The most drunken district in the world" (2012) and "Kid-44" (the premiere is expected in 2014).
• His idol is Gary Hollywood stars Ryan Gosling, Shaya LaBeouf, Bo Barrett and others.
• In 2012, the edition of The Hollywood Reporter calculated that Oldman - the highest-grossing actor in history.
• Gary is puzzled why he is considered impulsive. "People mistakenly take my passion and energy for anger," he says. The actor jokes that sometimes "Hollywood does not know what to do with me."