Alfred Molina
| Alfred Molina | |
|---|---|
 At the San Diego Comic-Con in 2003 |
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| Born | Alfredo Molina 24 May 1953 Paddington, London, England, UK |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1978–present |
| Spouse | Jill Gascoine (1986–present) |
Alfred Molina (born 24 May 1953) is a British actor. He first came to public attention in the UK for his supporting role in the 1987 film Prick Up Your Ears. He is well known for his roles in Raiders of the Lost Ark, Spider-Man 2, Species, Not Without My Daughter, Chocolat, Frida, Steamboy, The Hoax, The Prince of Persia:The Sands of Time, The Da Vinci Code, Little Traitor, An Education and The Sorcerer's Apprentice.
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Early life
Molina was born Alfredo Molina in Paddington, London. His father, Esteban, was a Spaniard from Madrid who worked as a waiter and chauffeur, while his mother, Giovanna, was an Italian house-keeper who cleaned rooms in a hotel and worked as a cook.[1][2][3] Molina grew up in a working class neighbourhood in Notting Hill[4] that was inhabited by many other immigrant families.[5] He decided to become an actor after seeing Spartacus at the age of nine, and attended the Guildhall School of Music and Drama.[6]
Career
In 1978, Molina starred with Leonard Rossiter in the sitcom The Losers.[7] Molina made his film debut with a minor role in the 1981 movie Raiders of the Lost Ark as Indiana Jones' ill-fated guide during its iconic opening sequence. However, his big break came with Letter to Brezhnev in 1985, which he followed up with a starring role in Prick Up Your Ears in 1987, playing Joe Orton's lover Kenneth Halliwell. He was originally cast as Arnold Rimmer in the TV sitcom Red Dwarf, however, he was replaced by Chris Barrie.
Molina starred in the first two series of El C.I.D. but left to concentrate on his film work. Subsequent films included Species, Dudley Do-Right, Chocolat, Not Without My Daughter, and Enchanted April. With a flawless mid-western American accent, Molina starred alongside Betty White in the US television series "Ladies Man", which ran from 1999–2001.
He has worked twice with Paul Thomas Anderson, first in Boogie Nights and then Magnolia. In 2002, Molina gained wide recognition for his portrayal of Mexican muralist Diego Rivera alongside Salma Hayek in the biopic Frida, a role which garnered him BAFTA and SAG award nominations. In 2003, he played himself alongside Steve Coogan in Coffee and Cigarettes. In 2004, Molina gained further commercial recognition when he was cast as the villain Doctor Octopus in Spider-Man 2, which went on to become one of the highest-grossing films of that year. He later reprised his role of Doctor Octopus in the video game adaption of Spider-Man 2 and archive footage of Molina as Doctor Octopus is seen in the opening of Spider-Man 3. In 2006, Molina portrayed Touchstone in Kenneth Branagh's film version of Shakespeare's As You Like It and appeared in Ron Howard's adaptation of The Da Vinci Code. Molina provided the voice of the villain Ares in the 2009 animated Wonder Woman film.[8]
Molina's stage work has included two major Royal National Theatre productions, Tennessee Williams' The Night of the Iguana (as Shannon) and David Mamet's Speed the Plow (as Fox). In his Broadway debut, Molina performed in Yasmina Reza's Tony Award-winning play 'Art', for which he received a Tony nomination in 1998. In 2004, Molina returned to the stage, starring as Tevye in the Broadway production of Fiddler on the Roof. For his performance he once again received a Tony Award nomination, this time for Best Actor in a Musical. Molina received his third Tony Award nomination for "Red" in 2010, for Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Play.
In 2007, Molina narrated a 17-part original audiobook for Audible.com called The Chopin Manuscript. This serialized novel was written by a team of 15 best-selling thriller writers, including Jeffery Deaver, Lee Child, Joseph Finder and Lisa Scottoline.
On 1 April 2010, he opened at Broadway's John Golden Theater in the role of artist Mark Rothko in John Logan's drama Red opposite Eddie Redmayne for a limited engagement through June 27.[9] He had played the role to much critical success at the Donmar Warehouse in London in December 2009.
In 2010 he will star opposite Dawn French in the six-part BBC sitcom Roger and Val Have Just Got In.[10]
He is the only actor to have three Lego Minifigures modelled after him, with them being Doctor Octopus from Spider-Man 2, Satipo from Raiders of the Lost Ark and Sheik Amar from Prince of Persia.
In July 2010, it was announced that Molina had joined the cast of Law & Order: Los Angeles as Deputy District Attorney Morales.[11]
Personal life
Molina resides in Los Angeles and has become a U.S. citizen.[12] He is fluent in Spanish.
He married actress Jill Gascoine in 1986 in Tower Hamlets, London.[13] He has a daughter, Rachel (born 1980), from a previous relationship, and two stepsons (Adam and Sean), from Gascoine's first marriage. He is also a grandfather to Alfie (born November 2003) and Layla (born May 2006).
Filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | Raiders of the Lost Ark | Satipo | |
| 1984 | Meantime | John | |
| 1985 | Letter to Brezhnev | Sergei | |
| 1985 | Ladyhawke | Cezar | |
| 1987 | Prick Up Your Ears | Kenneth Halliwell | |
| 1989 | Virtuoso | John Ogdon | TV role |
| 1989 | The Accountant | Lionel Ellerman | TV role Royal Television Society Award for Best Actor - Male Nominated—BAFTA TV Award for Best Actor |
| 1991 | Hancock | Tony Hancock | TV role |
| 1991 | Not Without My Daughter | Moody | |
| 1991 | American Friends | Oliver Syme | |
| 1992 | Enchanted April | Mellersh Wilkins | |
| 1993 | A Year in Provence | Tony Havers | |
| 1993 | The Trial | Titorelli | |
| 1994 | Maverick | Angel | |
| 1995 | Species | Dr. Stephen Arden | |
| 1995 | The Perez Family | Juan Raúl Perez | |
| 1995 | Dead Man | Trading Post Missionary | |
| 1995 | Hideaway | Dr. Jonas Nyebern | |
| 1995 | Nervous Energy | Ira Moss | |
| 1996 | Before and After | Panos Demeris | |
| 1997 | Anna Karenina | Levin | |
| 1997 | Boogie Nights | Rahad Jackson | Florida Film Critics Circle Award for Best Cast Nominated—Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture |
| 1997 | The Man Who Knew Too Little | Boris 'The Butcher' Blavasky | |
| 1998 | The Impostors | Sir Jeremy Burtom | |
| 1999 | Dudley Do-Right | Snidely K. 'Whip' Whiplash | |
| 1999 | Magnolia | Solomon Solomon | Florida Film Critics Circle Award for Best Cast Nominated—Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture |
| 1999 | Ladies Man | Jimmy Stiles | CBS television role 1999 to 2001, nominated three times for Best Young Artist Award/Young Star Award |
| 2000 | Chocolat | Comte De Reynaud | Nominated—Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture |
| 2001 | Murder on the Orient Express | Hercule Poirot | |
| 2001 | Texas Rangers | King Fisher | |
| 2002 | Frida | Diego Rivera | Imagen Award for Best Actor - Film Nominated—BAFTA Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role Nominated—Broadcast Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actor Nominated— Chicago Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actor Nominated—Satellite Award for Best Supporting Actor Nominated—Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role - Motion Picture |
| 2003 | My Life Without Me | Ann's Father | |
| 2003 | Identity | Dr. Malick | |
| 2003 | Coffee and Cigarettes | Himself | Nominated—Chlotrudis Award for Best Supporting Actor |
| 2003 | Luther | Johann Tetzel | |
| 2004 | Crónicas | Victor Hugo Puente | |
| 2004 | Spider-Man 2 | Doctor Otto Octavius/Doc Ock | Visual Effects Society Award for Outstanding Performance by an Actor or Actress in a Visual Effects Film Nominated—London Film Critics' Circle Award for British Supporting Actor of the Year Nominated—Satellite Award for Best Supporting Actor Nominated—Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actor Nominated—Teen Choice Awardfor Choice Movie Bad Guy |
| 2004 | Steamboy | James Edward Steam | |
| 2004 | Undertaking Betty | Boris Plots | |
| 2006 | The Da Vinci Code | Bishop Manuel Aringarosa | |
| 2006 | As You Like It | Touchstone | |
| 2007 | The Hoax | Dick Suskind | Nominated—London Film Critics' Circle Award for British Supporting Actor of the Year |
| 2007 | The Company | Harvey 'The Sorcerer' Torriti | TV miniseries |
| 2007 | Silk | Baldabiou | |
| 2007 | The Ten Commandments | Ramesses, the Pharaoh (voice) | |
| 2007 | The Moon and the Stars | Davide Rieti | |
| 2007 | The Little Traitor | Sergeant Dunlop | |
| 2007 | Chill Out Scooby-Doo! | Professor Jeffries | |
| 2008 | Nothing Like the Holidays | Edy Rodriguez | |
| 2009 | An Education | Jack Mellor | Nominated—BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role Nominated—British Independent Film Award for Best Supporting Actor Nominated—Broadcast Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actor Nominated—Chlotrudis Award for Best Supporting Actor Nominated—London Film Critics' Circle Award for British Supporting Actor of the Year Nominated—Satellite Award for Best Supporting Actor - Motion Picture Nominated—Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture Nominated—Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association for Best Supporting Actor |
| 2009 | The Pink Panther 2 | Chief Inspector Randall Pepperidge | Nominated—ALMA Award for Best Actor in Film |
| 2009 | The Lodger | Chandler Manning | |
| 2009 | Wonder Woman | Ares (voice) | |
| 2010 | The Tempest | Stephano | post-production |
| 2010 | Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time | Sheik Amar | |
| 2010 | The Sorcerer's Apprentice | Horvath | |
| 2010- | Law & Order: Los Angeles | D.D.A. Ricardo Morales | Filming |
| 2011 | Abduction | Frank Burton | Filming |
References
- ↑ "Alfred Molina, Q&A Interview: Broadway.com Buzz". Broadway.com. http://www.broadway.com/gen/Buzz_Story.aspx?ci=544358&pn=2. Retrieved 2010-08-03.
- ↑ Hattenstone, Simon (July 15, 2004). "I give good foreign". The Guardian (London). http://www.guardian.co.uk/g2/story/0,,1261494,00.html. Retrieved April 23, 2010.
- ↑ Current biography yearbook, Volume 65. H. W. Wilson Co.. 2004. p. 381.
- ↑ . http://www.cnn.com/2004/SHOWBIZ/03/03/theater.alfred.molina.ap/.
- ↑ Hispanic Magazine.com - July/August 2004 - Alfred Molina - Cover Story
- ↑ "Alfred Molina Biography — Yahoo! Movies". Movies.yahoo.com. 1953-05-24. http://movies.yahoo.com/movie/contributor/1800018903/bio. Retrieved 2010-08-03.
- ↑ Lewishohn, Mark (2003). Radio Times Guide to TV Comedy. London: BBC Worldwide. ISBN 0563487550.
- ↑ "Comics Continuum cast list". Comicscontinuum.com. 2008-06-26. http://www.comicscontinuum.com/stories/0806/26/index.htm. Retrieved 2010-08-03.
- ↑ Lalayn Baluch (2009-04-17). "The Stage / News / West to appear in Donmar's Life is a Dream". Thestage.co.uk. http://www.thestage.co.uk/news/newsstory.php/24136/west-to-appear-in-donmars-life-is-a-dream. Retrieved 2010-08-03.
- ↑ Molina stars opposite Dawn French http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/8256871.stm
- ↑ "Alfred Molina Signs on to Law & Order: Los Angeles". TVGuide.com. http://www.tvguide.com/News/Molina-Law-Order-1020925.aspx.
- ↑ "CANOE — JAM! Movies — Artists — Molina, Alfred: Alfred Molina set for big-time recognition". Jam.canoe.ca. 2004-06-27. http://jam.canoe.ca/Movies/Artists/M/Molina_Alfred/2004/06/27/760319.html. Retrieved 2010-08-03.
- ↑ "Marriages England and Wales 1984–2005". Findmypast.com. http://www.findmypast.com/BirthsMarriagesDeaths.jsp. Retrieved 2010-08-03.
External links
- Alfred Molina at the Internet Movie Database
- Alfred Molina at the Internet Broadway Database
- Alfred Molina at the Internet Off-Broadway Database
- Alfred Molina interviewed on Downstage Center XM Radio at American Theatre Wing, November 2004
- Working in the Theatre: Performance video seminar at American Theatre Wing, April 1998
- Q&A: Alfred Molina
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