On This Day

Birthday of Gary Oldman

March 21st 1958

07:51 21 March 2024

English actor and film director Gary Oldman was born on this day in 1958. Oldman’s acting career began in theatre in 1979, before making his film debut in ‘Remembrance’ (1982). His rise to prominence in British film came with his portrayals of Sid Vicious in ‘Sid and Nancy’ (1986), Joe Orton in ‘Prick Up Your Ears’ (1987) and Rosencrantz in ‘Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead’ (1990). He also received acclaim for playing the leader of a gang of football hooligans in the television film ‘The Firm’ (1989).

Regarded as a member of the "Brit Pack, he gained further recognition for his role as a New York gangster in 'State of Grace' (1990) before going on to play a series of villains, both real-life and fictional, in a string of major movies throughout the 1990s including 'JFK' (1991), 'Bram Stoker's Dracula' (1992), 'True Romance' (1993), 'Léon: The Professional' (1994), 'The Fifth Element' (1997) and 'Air Force One' (1997). The decade also saw him play Ludwig Van Beethoven in 'Immortal Beloved' (1994).

Oldman made his debut as a writer and director with 'Nil by Mouth' (1997), an unflinching and disturbing drama based on his own childhood in South East London which won BAFTAs for Best British Film and Best Screenplay. He has played major roles in franchise films including Sirius Black in the 'Harry Potter' series (2001-2011), James Gordon in 'The Dark Knight' trilogy (2005-2012) and human leader, Dreyfus in 'Dawn of the Planet of the Apes' (2014). An Academy Award winner for Best Actor for his portrayal of Winston Churchill in 'Darkest Hour' (2017) as well as receiving Best Actor Oscar nominations for 'Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy' (2011) and 'Mank' (2020), Gary Oldman is without doubt one of the greatest actors of his generation. Happy Birthday Gary.