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Tom Wilkinson

Tom Wilkinson.jpg
Wilkinson in 2009
Born
Thomas Geoffrey Wilkinson

(1948-02-05)5 February 1948
Leeds, Yorkshire, England
Died 30 December 2023(2023-12-30) (aged 75)
Alma mater University of Kent
Royal Academy of Dramatic Art
Occupation Actor
Years active 1976–2023
Spouse(s)
Diana Hardcastle
(m. 1988)
Children 2

Thomas Geoffrey Wilkinson OBE (5 February 1948 – 30 December 2023) was a British actor of film, television, and stage. Over his career he received numerous accolades including a BAFTA Award, a Golden Globe Award, and a Primetime Emmy Award as well as nominations for two Academy Awards and a Laurence Olivier Award. In 2005, he was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE).

Wilkinson received the BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role for The Full Monty (1997) as well as two Academy Award nominations, one for Best Actor for In the Bedroom (2001) and Best Supporting Actor for Michael Clayton (2007). He gained notoriety as a character actor acting in numerous films such as In the Name of the Father (1993), Sense and Sensibility (1995), Shakespeare in Love (1998), The Patriot (2000), Girl with a Pearl Earring (2003), Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004), Batman Begins (2005), Valkyrie (2008), The Ghost Writer (2010), The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel (2011), Belle (2013), Selma (2014), The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014), and Denial (2016).

In 2009, he won a Golden Globe Award and a Primetime Emmy Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or Movie for playing Benjamin Franklin in the HBO limited series John Adams (2008). His other Emmy-nominated roles were as Roy/Ruth Applewood in the HBO film Normal (2003), James Baker in the HBO film Recount (2008), and Joseph P. Kennedy Sr. in the limited series The Kennedys (2011).

Early life and education

Thomas Geoffrey Wilkinson was born on 5 February 1948 in Leeds, West Riding of Yorkshire, the son of Marjorie and Thomas Wilkinson, a farmer. At the age of 11, he moved with his family to Kitimat, British Columbia, in Canada, where they lived for five years before returning to the United Kingdom and running a pub in Cornwall. Wilkinson graduated in English and American literature from the University of Kent at Canterbury. While at university, Wilkinson became preoccupied with acting and directing with the University of Kent Drama Society (now called T24 Drama Society). After finishing his degree, Wilkinson then attended the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London, graduating in 1973.

Career

Wilkinson made his acting debut in 1976 and worked on several British television series, most notably the mini-series First Among Equals (1986). He first gained critical acclaim with his appearance as Seth Pecksniff in the BBC's 1994 adaptation of Martin Chuzzlewit. Wilkinson made only the occasional film, including a brief appearance in 1995's Sense and Sensibility and a villain in The Ghost and the Darkness (1996). After becoming part of the ensemble cast of the comedy drama The Full Monty in 1997, a role which earned him a BAFTA, he began to take film roles more frequently, including supporting roles in Oscar and Lucinda, Wilde, Shakespeare in Love, and The Patriot. He also starred with Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker in the 1998 film Rush Hour, as the evil British Ambassador/Juntao.

His portrayal of Matt Fowler, in Todd Field's In the Bedroom, received international praise from critics. For the role, he was named Best Actor of the Year by the New York Film Critics' Circle, and went on to be nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actor. That success was followed up by Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Normal, The Exorcism of Emily Rose, Batman Begins, and Separate Lies.

In 2007, Wilkinson played Arthur Edens, an attorney with bipolar disorder, in Michael Clayton and garnered much critical acclaim and a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. The same year, he played in Woody Allen’s Cassandra's Dream, and played opposite Billy Crudup as children's book writing partners in Dedication.

In 2008, Wilkinson portrayed American polymath Benjamin Franklin in the HBO mini-series John Adams. In the HBO film Recount Wilkinson portrayed American political adviser and lawyer, James A. Baker, in Baker's capacity as Chief Counsel to George W. Bush during the 2000 U.S. Presidential Election, receiving an Emmy Award for the former and a nomination for the latter. He received a Golden Globe Award and Screen Actors' Guild Award nomination for his role in John Adams. He portrayed Friedrich Fromm, Commander in Chief of the German Reserve Army, alongside Tom Cruise in the 2008 World War II thriller Valkyrie.

In 2010, Wilkinson starred in the horror comedy Burke and Hare, which was directed by John Landis. He portrayed a covert CIA agent in Roman Polanski's The Ghost Writer. He played another historical character, Joseph P. Kennedy Sr., in the 2011 television miniseries The Kennedys, for which he was nominated for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie. He and his wife portrayed husband and wife Joe and Rose Kennedy. Earlier that year, he appeared in The Green Hornet and Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol.

In 2014, Wilkinson portrayed Lyndon B. Johnson, the 36th President of the United States, in the historical drama film Selma. In 2016, he portrayed journalist Ewen MacAskill in Snowden and barrister Richard Rampton in Denial.

Personal life

Wilkinson lived in North London with his wife, actress Diana Hardcastle. They had two daughters together, Alice (born in 1989) and Molly (born in 1991).

Wilkinson died suddenly at his home on 30 December 2023, at the age of 75.

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
1976 Smuga cienia Chef Ransome Wajda's adaptation of The Shadow Line
1984 Parker Tom
1985 Sylvia Keith Henderson
Wetherby Roger Braithwaite
1990 Paper Mask Dr Thorn
1993 In the Name of the Father Grant Richardson
1994 Priest Father Matthew Thomas
A Business Affair Bob
Prince of Jutland Hardvendel
1995 Sense and Sensibility Mr Dashwood
1996 The Ghost and the Darkness Robert Beaumont
1997 Smilla's Sense of Snow Prof. Loyen
The Full Monty Gerald Cooper
Wilde Marquess of Queensberry
Oscar and Lucinda Hugh Stratton
1998 The Governess Charles Cavendish
Rush Hour Thomas Griffin/Juntao
Shakespeare in Love Hugh Fennyman
1999 Ride with the Devil Orton Brown
Molokai: The Story of Father Damien Brother Joseph Dutton
2000 Essex Boys John Dyke
The Patriot General Lord Cornwallis
Chain of Fools Robert Bollingsworth
2001 In the Bedroom Matt Fowler
Another Life Mr Carlton
Black Knight Sir Knolte of Malborough
2002 The Importance of Being Earnest Dr. Frederick Chasuble
Before You Go Frank
2003 Girl with a Pearl Earring Pieter Van Ruijven
Normal Jane Anderson
2004 If Only Taxi driver
Piccadilly Jim Bingley Crocker
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind Howard Mierzwiak
Stage Beauty Betterton
A Good Woman Tuppy
2005 Ripley Under Ground John Webster
Batman Begins Carmine Falcone
The Exorcism of Emily Rose Father Moore
Separate Lies James Manning
2006 The Night of the White Pants Max Hagan
The Last Kiss Stephen
2007 Dedication Rudy Holt
Cassandra's Dream Howard
Michael Clayton Arthur Edens
2008 RocknRolla Lenny Cole
Valkyrie Colonel General Friedrich Fromm
Recount James Baker
2009 Duplicity Howard Tully
44 Inch Chest Archie
2010 The Ghost Writer Paul Emmett
Burke & Hare Dr. Robert Knox
Jackboots on Whitehall Albert and Joseph Goebbels Voice
2011 The Green Hornet James Reid
The Conspirator Reverdy Johnson
The Debt Stefan Gold
Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol IMF Secretary Uncredited
2012 The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel Sir Graham Dashwood
Fury Xavier aka The Samaritan
2013 The Lone Ranger Latham Cole
Belle Lord Mansfield
Felony Detective Carl Summer
2014 The Grand Budapest Hotel Author
Good People DI John Halden
Selma President Lyndon B. Johnson
2015 Unfinished Business Timothy McWinters
Bone in the Throat Charlie
Little Boy Fr Oliver
Jenny's Wedding Eddie
2016 The Choice Dr. Shep
Snowden Ewen MacAskill
Denial Richard Rampton
This Beautiful Fantastic Alfie Stephenson
2018 The Catcher Was a Spy Paul Scherrer
Burden Tom Griffin
Dead in a Week or Your Money Back Leslie
The Happy Prince Fr Dunne
The Titan Professor Martin Collingwood
2021 Dr. Bird's Advice for Sad Poets Dr. Bird Voice
SAS: Red Notice William Lewis

Television

Year Film Role Notes
1979 Crime and Punishment Cadet Episode: "Part 1"
1983 Panorama Czuma Episode: "Two Weeks in Winter: How the Army Took Over Poland"
Spyship Martin Taylor 6-part BBC television miniseries
1984 Strangers and Brothers George Passant 2 episodes
Sharma and Beyond Vivian Television film
Squaring the Circle Rulewski
1985 A Pocket Full of Rye Detective Inspector Neele
Travelling Man "Granny" Jackson Episode: "On the Hook"
Happy Families Jack Episode: "Cassie"
1986 First Among Equals Raymond Gould 10-episode miniseries
1988 The Woman He Loved Ernest Aldrich Simpson Television film
The Attic: The Hiding of Anne Frank Silberbauer
The Ruth Rendell Mysteries Robert Hathall 3 episodes
1989 First and Last Stephen Television film
1990 Inspector Morse Music Master Jake Normington Episode: "The Infernal Serpent"
TECX Hugo Gillon Episode: "The Wine Business"
Counterstrike Unknown 2 episodes
1990–1996 Screen Two David Hanratty / Father McAteer / Dr. Middleton 4 episodes
1991 Parnell & the Englishwoman Sir Charles Russell Episode: "The Libel"
Lovejoy Ashley Wilkes Episode: "One Born Every Minute"
Prime Suspect Peter Rawlins 2 episodes
1992 Underbelly Paul Manning Miniseries
Resnick: Lonely Hearts Detective Inspector Charlie Resnick Television film
1993 Stay Lucky Allon Episode: "Gilding the Lily"
Resnick: Rough Treatment Detective Inspector Charlie Resnick Television film
1994 The Inspector Alleyn Mysteries Gerald Lacklander Episode: "Scales of Justice"
Shakespeare: The Animated Tales Buckingham (voice) Episode: "King Richard II"
Performance Duke Vincentio Episode: "Measure for Measure"
Martin Chuzzlewit Seth Pecksniff Miniseries
1996 Eskimo Day Hugh Lloyd Television film
1997 Cold Enough for Snow Hugh Lloyd
1999 David Copperfield Narrator (Old David Copperfield)
2002 The Gathering Storm Sir Robert Vansittart
An Angel for May Sam Wheeler
2003 Normal Roy/Ruth Applewood
2008 John Adams Benjamin Franklin Miniseries
Recount James Baker Television film
A Number Salter
2009 The Gruffalo Fox (voice)
2011 The Kennedys Joseph P. Kennedy Sr. Miniseries
The Gruffalo's Child Fox (voice) Television film
2017 The Kennedys: After Camelot Joseph P. Kennedy Sr. Cameo; The Kennedys Sequel
2018 Watership Down Threarah (voice) Miniseries
2020 Belgravia Peregrine, Earl of Brockenhurst
2023 The Full Monty Gerald Cooper

Theatre

Year Film Role Notes
1980 Hamlet Horatio Aldwych Theatre, West End
1988 An Enemy of the People Dr. Stockmann Playhouse Theatre, West End

Video games

Year Film Voice role Notes
2005 Batman Begins Carmine Falcone
2012 Sleeping Dogs Superintendent Thomas Pendrew

Awards and honours

Wilkinson recevied a BAFTA Award, a Golden Globe Award, a Emmy Award, and two Screen Actors Guild Awards as well as nominations for two Academy Awards. He also earned a Doctor of Letters honorary degree from the University of Kent in July 2001. In the 2005 New Year Honours, he was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) "for services to Drama".

See also

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