Full Name: Gary Leonard Oldman (Gary Oldman)
Date of Birth: March 21, 1958
Place of Birth: London, England
Occupation: Actor, Filmmaker
Years Active: 1979–present
Spouse(s): Lesley Manville (1987–1990), Uma Thurman (1990–1992), Donya Fiorentino (1997–2001), Alexandra Edenborough (2008–2015), Gisele Schmidt (2017–present)
Children: 3
Early Life & Education
Gary Oldman was born in New Cross, London. His father, Leonard Bertram Oldman, was a former sailor and welder who left the family when Gary was young. Raised by his mother, Kathleen, he developed a passion for acting after being inspired by Malcolm McDowell in The Raging Moon (1971). He studied at the Rose Bruford College of Speech and Drama, graduating with a degree in acting in 1979.
Career Highlights
Theater & Early Film Career (1979–1989)
Oldman began his career in theater, performing with the Royal Court Theatre and the Royal Shakespeare Company. His breakthrough in film came with Sid and Nancy (1986), in which he played Sex Pistols bassist Sid Vicious. He followed this with Prick Up Your Ears (1987), earning widespread acclaim.
Hollywood Recognition (1990s–2000s)
Oldman quickly became known for playing intense, often villainous roles, including:
- Lee Harvey Oswald in JFK (1991)
- Count Dracula in Bram Stoker’s Dracula (1992)
- Drexl Spivey in True Romance (1993)
- Stansfield in Léon: The Professional (1994)
- Jean-Baptiste Zorg in The Fifth Element (1997)
He continued his villainous streak with Air Force One (1997), playing a ruthless Russian terrorist.
Mainstream Success & Franchise Roles (2000s–2010s)
Oldman gained mainstream recognition for his roles in major franchises:
- Sirius Black in Harry Potter (2004–2011)
- Commissioner Gordon in Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight Trilogy (2005–2012)
He also starred in Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (2011), earning his first Academy Award nomination.
Oscar Win & Recent Work (2017–Present)
Oldman won his first Academy Award for Best Actor for his portrayal of Winston Churchill in Darkest Hour (2017). He has since appeared in:
- Mank (2020) – Oscar-nominated for playing Herman J. Mankiewicz
- Slow Horses (2022–present) – Leading Apple TV+ series
Personal Life
Oldman has been married five times and has three children. He is also a musician and filmmaker, having directed Nil by Mouth (1997).
Awards & Recognition
Oldman is considered one of the greatest actors of his generation, known for his versatility and transformative performances. He has won an Academy Award, a Golden Globe, and multiple BAFTA awards.
