Gary Oldman

Basic Information

• Name - Gary Leonard Oldman

• Date of Birth - March 21, 1958

• Nationality - British

• Profession - Actor, Filmmaker, Voice Artist

• Spouse - Gisele Schmidt (m. 2017) ·

• Children♏ - Alfie Oldman, Charlie John Oldman, Gulliver Flynn Oldman

• Social Media Links - Gary Oldman is known to maintain a low-profile and does not actively use so༺cial media.

Biography

Gary Leonard Oldman was born onꦕ March 21, 1958, in New Cross, London. His father, Leonard Bertram Oldman, was a sailor who later worked as a welder, while his mother, Kathleen, ran a boarding house. Oldman’s childhood was marked by challenges, as his father, who struggled with alcoholism, left the family when Gary was just seven years old.

He has an older sister, Maureen, better known by her stage name, Laila Morse. Maureen is also an actress and appeared in Gary’s directorial debut, Nil by Mouth (1997). She later became famous for her role as Mo Harris in the BBC soap opera EastEnders.

Gary attended West Greenwich School in Deptford but left at 16 to work in a sports shop. As a child, he loved playing the piano and even dreamed of a musical career. However, after watching Malcolm McDowell’s powerful performance in The Raging Moon (1971), he felt inspired to pursue acting. Reflecting on 🙈that moment in an interview, he said, “Something about Malcolm just arrested me, and I connected. I thought, ‘I want to do that.’”

Growing up in south London, Gary was a devoted fan of Millwall, his local football club. He also admired Manchester United, thanks to his idol, football legꦗend George Best. In 2011, G👍ary learned something surprising about his father. His mother revealed that Leonard had played a few games for Millwall’s first team shortly after World War II, a fact Gary hadn’t known before.

Gary Oldman earned a scholarship to study at Rose Bruford College in Sidcup, southeast London. He graduated in 1979 with a BA in Acting. Reflecting on his time at the college, Oldman described himself as shy but deeply committed to his craft. He worked diligently, taking on challenging roles, including Puck in Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night's Dream. This period laid 🐻the foundation for his remarkable career, shaping his talent and discipline as an actor.

Career Timeline

• 1982 - Made his film debut in Remembrance.

• 1986 - Played Sid Vicious in Sid and Nancy, earning critical acclaim.

• 1991 - Starred as Lee Harvey Oswald in JFK, cementing his reputation as a dynamic actor.

• 1992 - Gained widespread recognition as Count Dracula in Bram Stoker’s Dracula.

• 1994 - Became a fan-favorite as Norman Stansfield, a corrupt cop, in Léon: The Professional.

• 2001–2011 - Portrayed Sirius Black in the Harry Potter series, becoming a household name.

• 2008 - Played Commissioner Gordon in The Dark Knight, a role he reprised in the trilogy.

• 2017 - Won the Academy Award for Best Actor for his portrayal of Winston Churchill in Darkest Hour.

Achievements

• Awards & Recognition:

  • Academy Award for Best Actor (Darkest Hour, 2017)

  • Golden Globe Award for Best Actor (Darkest Hour, 2017)

  • BAFTA Award for Best Actor (Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, 2011)

  • Screen Actors Guild Award (Darkest Hour, 2017)

• Records/Stats:
  Oldman has been nominated for and won numerous prestigious awards. His portrayal of diver🅰se characters in both indie and blockbuster films has made him a highly sought-after act🍸or.

• Philanthropic Work:
  Oldman is actively involved in charitable causes, including advocating for environmental pro📖tection and supporting organizatiꦏons that aid struggling actors.

Key Quotes / Catchphrases

• “What other people think of me is none of my busi꧃ness.”

• “Growing up, I didn't know a single actor. It was a very unlikely thing to do for a li𝄹ving.”

• “Being an actor i🍨s a privilege; it allows me to experience other lives.”

Multimedia

Gallery