Actor Thomas Geoffrey Wilkinson is well-known in Britain. For his “services to drama,” he has been awarded the title of Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE). Numerous distinguished honors, such as the Golden Globe, the British Academy Film Awards, and two Screen Actors Guild Awards, have been bestowed upon him. His passion in theater started out academically, but he quickly joined The Royal Shakespeare Company to act. Additionally, he has performed with the Oxford Playhouse and the National Theatre. His confidence was increased by his commanding stage presence, which helped him transition into other roles in television and movies. He has played a variety of roles and characters since then and has never looked back. His global recognition did not come from his performance as Dr. Matt Fowler in “In the Bedroom.” His growing body of work over the years has further enhanced his reputation; he keeps taking on parts that bring out his natural depth and acuity as a performer. He is still a favorite of directors and a well-liked actor today.
Early Life & Childhood
On February 5, 1948, Tom Wilkinson was born in Leeds, West Yorkshire. Despite being English, he spent his first five years of childhood in Canada until his family moved back to the UK. He grew up on a farm, having been raised by farmers Thomas and Marjorie Wilkinson.
After attending British Columbia, he earned a degree in English and American Studies from Kent University in Canterbury. Later, he made the decision to pursue a career in theater by enrolling at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London.
Career of Tom Wilkinson
In the 1976 picture “The Shadow Line,” directed by the well-known Andrzej Wajda, Tom Wilkinson made his screen debut. Despite the movie’s poor reception, Wilkinson had already proven to be a formidable performer. For economical concerns, he moved from theatrical performing to cinema acting.
In Jeffery Archer’s 1986 adaption of “First Among Equals,” he made his television debut as the aspirant prime minister son of a butcher. He made a few cameos in television programs in the ensuing years.
During the 1980s, he made more noteworthy performances as Parker (1984), Sylvia (1985), and Wetherby (1985). Throughout this decade, he continued to be more involved in television, playing parts in the renowned BBC series “Miss Marple” and the mystery thriller “The Ruth Rendell Mysteries.”
Despite being a well-known figure in the field, Wilkinson hadn’t been given a part in which he could make a lasting impression. The 1995 historical drama “Sense and Sensibility” marked Ang Lee’s breakthrough performance as a leading man.
His second most well-known film was the British comedy “The Full Monty” starring Peter Cattaneo, which came out in 1997 and won him a BAFTA award in addition to receiving praise from a larger audience.
During the 1990s, he contributed to a number of movies, including “Oscar and Lucinda,” “Shakespeare in Love,” “The Governess,” and “The Essex Boys.” Additionally, he starred in the TV miniseries “Martin Chuzzlewit,” which was adapted by the BBC.
In the 1998 motion picture “Rush Hour,” he costarred with Jackie Chan, playing the antagonist. The film was a financial hit.
The role that Tom Wilkinson played as Matt Fowler in the 2001 film “In the Bedroom” stands out as his most notable performance. In addition to being named the “Best Actor of the Year” by the New York Film Critics’ Circle, he was nominated for an Academy Award.
He has acted in a number of very popular worldwide motion pictures, including “Batman Begins” (2005), “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind” (2004), “The Exorcism of Emily Rose” (2005), and “Girl with a Pearl Earring” (2003).
For his performance as manic lawyer Arthur Edens in the 2007 film “Micheal Clayton,” he was nominated for a second Academy Award. In the same year, he was also cast in Woody Allen’s “Cassandra’s Dream.”
He played the lead role in the HBO miniseries “John Adams” in 2008. In it, he played Benjamin Franklin, for which he was nominated for a Screen Actors Guild Award, an Emmy Award, and a Golden Globe.
In the 2008 HBO political drama “Recount,” he portrayed American political strategist and attorney James A. Baker. He co-starred with Tom Cruise in the World War II suspense film “Valkyrie” that same year, in which he was Friedrich Fromm, the Commander in Chief of the German Reserve Army.
Tom Wilkinson’s career developed steadily, and since 2008, he has acted in more than 20 films, such as the horror comedy Burke and Hare, the films The Ghost Writer by Roman Polanski, The Grand Budapest Hotel by Wes Anderson, and The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel by John Madden.
In the 2011 historical drama miniseries “The Kennedys,” he portrayed Joseph Kennedy Sr. In this film, Rose Kennedy, his on-screen spouse, was portrayed by his real wife Diana Hardcastle. For this role, he received a Primetime Emmy Award nomination.
He has recorded audio for the video games “Sleeping Dogs” as Superintendent Pendrew and “Batman Begins” as Carmine Falcone.
In the 2016 film “Denial,” he portrayed Richard Rampton, a British barrister. He defended Rachel Weisz’s character Deborah Lipstadt against libel charges brought by a Holocaust denier.
The films “Burden,” “The Happy Prince,” and “The Titan” are among the several releases he has planned for 2018. He will also be appearing in the upcoming British animated television miniseries “Watership Down.”
Large-scale Works of Tom Wilkinson
His Oscar-nominated performance as Dr. Matt Fowler in Todd Field’s 2001 film “In the Bedroom” was his most significant role in Hollywood. His subtle portrayal has garnered plaudits from many who consider this role to be his greatest.
One of Wilkinson’s greatest moments in his career was costarring with George Clooney in Tony Gilroy’s 2007 legal thriller “Micheal Clayton.” He portrayed senior attorney Arthur Edens, who poses a threat to reveal a dishonest client. Critics called his performance “brilliant” and “convincing.”
Individual Life and Heritage
Diana Hardcastle, an actress, and Tom Wilkinson were wed in 1998. Together, they have two daughters, Alice and Molly. North London is home to the family. On their 30th anniversary, they intend to reaffirm their marriage vows.
His alma university, the University of Kent, bestowed upon him an honorary “Doctor of Letters” degree in 2001 in recognition of his contributions to the industry.
He was named an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) by Queen Elizabeth II as part of the 2005 New Year’s Honors.
Random Facts of Tom Wilkinson
His favorite TV shows are Midsomer Murders and F.R.I.E.N.D.S.
He has August off from work and never takes on any obligations because it’s his family vacation month. He gave the same explanation when turning down a part in a “Lord of the Rings” trilogy.
Wilkinson stated that he wanted “Black Knight” to be forgotten in response to the question of whether he had ever regretted being a member of any of his films.
He belongs to the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art as an associate member.
Net worth of Tom Wilkinson
The estimated net worth of Tom Wilkinson is about $1 million.