Gary Oldman

Profile
Name: Gary Oldman
Birth Name: Leonard Gary Oldman
Height: 5' 11"
Sex: M
Nationality: British
Birth Date: March 21, 1958
Birth Place: New Cross, London, England, UK
Profession: actor, director, writer
Education: Rose Bruford College of Speech and Drama in Kent, England (graduated in 1979)
Husband/Wife: Donya Fiorentino (photographer; married on February 16, 1997; divorced on April 13, 2001), Uma Thurman (actress; born on April 29, 1970; married in October 1990; divorced in 1992), Lesley Manville (actress; born on March 12, 1956; divorced)
Relationship: Isabella Rossellini (actress; born on June 18, 1952; reportedly engaged in July 1994; separated in 1996)
Father: Welder (died of alcoholism in 1984)
Mother: Kathleen Oldman
Sister: Laila Morse (actress; born on August 1, 1945)
Son: Gulliver Flynn Oldman (born in August 1997; mother: Donya Fiorentino), Charlie John (mother: Donya Fiorentino), Alfred Oldman (born in 1988; mother: Lesley Manville)
Step daughter: Phelix Imogen Fincher (born in April 1994; mother: Donya Fiorentino)
Claim to fame: as punk rocker Sid Vicious in Sid and Nancy (1986)

Biography
Oldman began his acting career in 1979, and worked extensively in the theatre, from Shakespearean plays to contemporary works. From 1989-89, Oldman performed exclusively with the Royal Court Theatre. Oldman quickly established himself as a gifted 'actor's' actor. Working for BBC, Gary Oldman starred in Mike Leigh's "Mean Time' and Alan Clarke's "The Firm"(1988). His first big 'breakthrough' into the world of film came with "Sid and Nancy", which earned him widespread recognition. After appearing in "JFK" as Lee Harvey Oswald, and in "Bram Stoker's Dracula" as Dracula, Oldman's talent was more fully recognized in Hollywood, leading to 'big' roles, such as in "The Fifth Element", "Air Force One" to name a few. In 1995, Oldman formed a production company with Douglas Urbanski, the SEB group, which produced, along with personal friend Luc Besson, "Nil by Mouth," Oldman's directorial and writing debut.Oldman's newest release is "Air Force One", in which he stars with the internationally known movie star, Harrison Ford.

Oldman is known for his chameleon like ability to 'become' the character. His whole persona changes
This astounding acting ability has led many to call him truly brilliant.
Unfortunately, his personal life has not held this success- two failed marriages (one to Uma Thurman, from 1990-1992). A marriage from the mid- eighties to English stage-actress, Lesley Manville, resulted in Oldman's son, Alfie, now eight and a half, with whom Oldman shares a good relationship. Oldman was also engaged to actress/model Isabella Rosselini, whom he met on the set of Immortal Beloved, but this too collapsed.

These failures are often blamed on Oldman's problems with alcohol abuse, inherited from his father. Though it never affected his acting career, in 1994, Oldman checked into an alcohol abuse program, and has since stayed sober.

Oldman married photographer Donya Fiorentino in early 1997, and his second son, Gulliver Flynn, was born in mid-August. Many hail Oldman as one of the greatest actors alive, and to watch one of his electrifying, consuming performances, one can see why.

Filmography
2008 The Dark Knight
2007 Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
2006 The Backwoods
2005 Dead Fish
2005 Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
2005 Batman Begins
2004 Who's Kyle
2004 The Magic Touch of Harry Potter
2004 Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
2003 Tiptoes
2003 Sin
2002 Interstate 60
2001 Hannibal
2001 Nobody's Baby
2000 Jesus
2000 The Contender
1999 Plunkett & Macleane
1998 Quest For Camelot
1998 Lost in Space
1997 The Fifth Element
1997 Nil by Mouth
1997 Air Force One
1996 Basquiat
1995 The Scarlet Letter
1995 Murder in the First
1994 Romeo Is Bleeding
1994 The Professional
1994 Immortal Beloved
1993 Fallen Angels, Vol. 2
1993 True Romance
1992 Bram Stoker's Dracula
1991 JFK
1990 Heading Home
1990 Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead
1990 State of Grace
1989 Chattahoochee
1988 The Firm
1988 Track 29
1988 We Think the World of You
1987 Prick Up Your Ears
1986 Sid and Nancy
1985 Honest, Decent and True
1982 Remembrance
1981 Meantime

Awards
* Broadcast Film Critics Association Awards: Alan J. Pakula Award, THE CONTENDER (2001)
* BAFTA Awards: Alexander Korda Award for Best British Film, NIL BY MOUTH (1998)
* BAFTA Awards: Best Screenplay - Original, NIL BY MOUTH (1998)
* Empire Awards: Best Debut, NIL BY MOUTH (1998)
* Edinburgh International Film Festival: Channel 4 Director's Award, NIL BY MOUTH (1997)
* CableACE Award: Actor in a Dramatic Series, FALLEN ANGELS: DEAD END FOR DELIA (1993)
* Saturn Award: Best Actor, DRACULA (1993)
* London Critics Circle Film Awards: Actor of the Year, PRICK UP YOUR EARS (1988)
* Evening Standard British Film Awards: Most Promising Newcomer, SID AND NANCY (1987)
* London Evening Standard Award: Most Promising Film Newcomer, SID AND NANCY (1986)
* London Critics Circle Film Award: Best Actor, THE POPE'S WEDDING (1985)

Trivia
* Looks unlikely to reprise his role as Sirius Black in the next Harry Potter film, after reports he has been mysteriously axed from the wizard franchise. (February 10, 2006)
* Pulled out of STAR WARS: REVENGE OF THE SITH because it was made outside the Screen Actor's Guild rules. (September 2004)
* Is facing a massive tax bill in his adopted home of America, after court papers were filed in Los Angeles claiming he owes $288,000. (May 22, 2004)
* Oldman has emerged victorious from a custody battle with ex-wife Donya Fiorentino over their two sons Gulliver, 5, and Charlie, 4. (July 29, 2003)
* As if Hogwarts wasn't stuffed to its magical rafters with the cream of British acting talent already, it looks mighty like English rent-a-baddie par excellence Gary Oldman will be joining HARRY POTTER 3 in the shape-shifting form of wizard Sirius Black -- confirmed to be in talks to play the canny animagus himself, Gary Oldman is certainly the perfect adversary for those pesky Dementors, fully capable of giving them the slip and escaping the rather limiting environs of Azkaban with just a few of his well-honed psychotic twitches. (January 9, 2003)
* Whether playing a punk rocker, an assassin, a war vet, or a ghoul, Oldman has consistently amazed viewers with his ability to completely disappear into his roles.
* In AIR FORCE ONE (1997) when Valera gives his thumbprint for a background check near the beginning of the film, the date of birth that comes up among his info (3/21/58) is his real birthday.
* In DRACULA (1992) Prince Vlad's scream after he drives his sword into the cross is not the voice of Oldman. Lux Interior, lead singer of punk band The Cramps, recorded the scream and it was dubbed in.
* In most of his shots in THE FIFTH ELEMENT (1997), there is a circle around his head. In fact, a circle in the middle of the frame is a near-constant motif in this film. Bruce Willis, on the other hand, is more often framed by a rectangle or doorway behind him.
* At one point in LOST IN SPACE (1998), he is told, You are a monster. His characters have been told similar things in THE FIFTH ELEMENT (1997) and AIR FORCE ONE (1997).
* Had to lose weight to play Sid Vicious in SID AND NANCY (1986), but he lost so much that he ended up in a hospital.
* He asks Mathilda's Father if he likes Beethoven before he goes on his killing spree in LÉON (1994). Gary Oldman himself ends up portraying Ludwig van Beethoven in Immortal Beloved the same year.
* Playing Mason Verger in HANNIBAL (2001), he originally wanted to share star billing alongside Anthony Hopkins and Julianne Moore. When the producers denied him this, he declined to have any billing at all and, in the original theatrical release, remained uncredited at the film's opening and closing credits. In the VHS & DVD releases, however, his name has been added to the credits.
* (IMMORTAL BELOVED (1994): Starring as Beethoven, he had just that year starred in LÉON (1994), a film in which his character presents a monologue on the power of Beethoven's music.
* Various Stanley Kubrick references: Milk, as in A CLOCKWORK ORANGE (1971). His line, I don't have time for this Mickey Mouse shit, is similar to Sgt. Hartman's line and the many references to Mickey Mouse in FULL METAL JACKET (1987). The shot which follows the movement of the axe when Leon is smashing in the wall, is similar to the same type of shot in THE SHINING (1981). Leon dresses as John Wayne, who is mentioned many times by Private Joker in FULL METAL JACKET (1987).
* Was nominated for Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actor in 1999 for LOST IN SPACE.
* Sometimes Credited As: Maurice Escargot
* Trade mark: characters are usually borderline psychotics.
* Known for playing a wide variety of roles that often requires a variety of different accents.
* Considered a career in music.
* Was arrested for drunk driving in L.A. and released on bail the next morning. His passenger in the car was pal, Kiefer Sutherland. (8 August 1991)
* His library includes essays on Bertold Brecht, poetry by Roger McGough, a biography of Montgomery Clift, The Elizabethan World Picture, all things Shakespeare, and Jane Austen.
* Has used a different speaking voice (i.e. accent) in practically every movie he's ever been in.
* He and HARRY POTTER AND THE PRISONER OF AZKABAN co-star Timothy Spall have both played the character of Rosencrantz; Spall in Kenneth Branagh's HAMLET, Oldman in ROSENCRANTZ AND GUILDENSTERN ARE DEAD.
* Was paid $1,000,000 for JESUS (1999) (TV)
* Was paid $5,000,000 for LOST IN SPACE (1998)
* Has appeared in a Guns-N-Roses music video.
* Sang I Wanna Be Your Dog and Frank Sinatra's My Way on the soundtrack to SID AND NANCY.
* His singing voice can also be heard in the songs You've Been Around and Stamford Hill on guitarist Reeves Gabrels' release The Sacred Squall of Now.
* Artist Julian Schnabel (the director of Basquiat) has a CD out entitled Every Silver Lining Has A Cloud. Gary sings on this CD and there is also a track called Gary's Song.
* Met Donya Fiorentino at alcoholic rehabilitation.
* Nil By Mouth, which marked his writing and directing debut, is semi-autobiographical.
* Early in the film THE FIFTH ELEMENT, Oldman's character quotes Nietzsche: What doesn't kill you, makes you stronger. Oldman's costar, Bruce Willis, released a record album with that title in the 80's.