Alfred Molina
{{Short description|British and American actor (born 1953)}}
{{EngvarB|date=February 2023}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2023}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Alfred Molina
| image = Alfred Molina 2021.jpg
| alt =
| caption = Molina in 2021
| birth_name = Alfredo Molina
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1953|05|24|df=y}}
| birth_place = Paddington, London, England
| citizenship = {{hlist|United Kingdom|United States}}
| occupation = Actor
| alma_mater = Guildhall School of Music and Drama
| years_active = 1978–present
| spouse = {{plainlist|
- {{marriage|Jill Gascoine|1986|2020|end=died}}
- {{marriage|Jennifer Lee|2021}}{{cite news |first=Christie |last=D'Zurilla |url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/story/2021-08-10/alfred-molina-jennifer-lee-marry-in-garden-ceremony-officiated-by-jonathan-groff |title=Alfred Molina, Jennifer Lee wed in garden ceremony officiated by 'Frozen' matchmaker |newspaper=Los Angeles Times |date=10 August 2021}}}}
| children = 1{{Cite news |title=Alfred Molina: 'My mother and I had a few moments that were like the third act of Aida' |last=Power |first=Vicki |url=https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2016/nov/04/my-family-values-alfred-molina-actor-rsc-jill-gascoine |newspaper=The Guardian |date=2016-11-04 |language=en |access-date=2020-02-24 |archive-date=2020-02-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200224085158/https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2016/nov/04/my-family-values-alfred-molina-actor-rsc-jill-gascoine}}
| awards = Full list
}}
Alfred Molina (born Alfredo Molina; 24 May 1953) is a British and American actor. He is known for his leading roles and character actor roles on the stage and screen. In a career spanning over five decades he has received a Drama Desk Award as well as nominations for two British Academy Film Awards, a British Independent Film Award, an Independent Spirit Award, five Screen Actors Guild Awards, and three Tony Awards.
He first rose to prominence in the West End, earning a nomination for the Laurence Olivier Award for Best Newcomer in a Play for his performance in the production of Oklahoma! in 1980. He received Tony Award nominations for his roles on Broadway playing Yvan in Art (1998), Tevye in Fiddler on the Roof (2004), and Mark Rothko in Red (2009). He returned to Broadway playing Professor Serebryakov in a revival of Uncle Vanya (2024).
On film, he made his debut as Satipo in Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981). He went on to receive two BAFTA Award nominations for his roles as Diego Rivera in Frida (2002), and Jack Mellor in An Education (2009). His other notable films include Prick Up Your Ears (1987), Enchanted April (1992), Boogie Nights (1997), Chocolat (2000), Luther (2003), The Da Vinci Code (2006), and Love Is Strange (2014). He has voiced characters in Rango (2011), Monsters University (2013), Ralph Breaks the Internet (2018), and Frozen II (2019). He is also known for his portrayal of Otto Octavius / Doctor Octopus in Sam Raimi's Spider-Man 2 (2004) and the Marvel Cinematic Universe film Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021).
On television, Molina has received two nominations for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie for his roles as Ben Weeks in the HBO movie The Normal Heart (2014), and Robert Aldrich in the FX miniseries Feud: Bette and Joan (2017). His other notable television credits include Meantime (1983), Murder on the Orient Express (2001), and Three Pines (2022).
Early life and education
He was born Alfredo Molina{{cite web|first1=Alex|last1=Clark|access-date=23 March 2019|title=Alfred Molina - actor - interview |url=https://www.thestage.co.uk/features/interviews/2018/alfred-molina-interview-michael-grandage-red-wyndhams-theatre-west-end/|date=25 April 2018|website=The Stage}} in the Paddington district of London. His parents were both immigrants: his Spanish father —from Murcia— was a waiter who had parachuted into France with SOE before D-Day, and his Italian mother worked as a cleaner.{{cite web|url=http://www.broadway.com/gen/Buzz_Story.aspx?ci=544358&pn=2 |title=Broadway Buzz: Q&A: Alfred Molina |first=Kathy |last=Henderson |website=Broadway.com |date=26 February 2007 |access-date=3 August 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071024032826/http://www.broadway.com/gen/Buzz_Story.aspx?ci=544358&pn=2 |archive-date=24 October 2007 }}{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2004/jul/15/features.simonhattenstone | newspaper=The Guardian | location=London | title=I give good foreign | first=Simon | last=Hattenstone | date=15 July 2004 | access-date=23 April 2010}}{{cite book|title=Current biography yearbook, Volume 65|publisher=H. W. Wilson Co.|year=2004|page=381}}{{cite news |url=https://english.elpais.com/culture/2024-09-29/from-republican-soldiers-to-tommies-the-spaniards-who-wore-british-uniforms-to-fight-in-world-war-ii.html | newspaper=El Pais | location=Barcelona | title=From Republican soldiers to 'Tommies': The Spaniards who wore British uniforms to fight in World War II | first=Jacinto | last=Antón | date=29 September 2024 | access-date=5 October 2024}}
Molina grew up in a working-class district in Notting Hill{{cite news |url=http://www.cnn.com/2004/SHOWBIZ/03/03/theater.alfred.molina.ap/ |title=Alfred Molina scales new heights in Fiddler on the Roof|url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040404035534/http://www.cnn.com/2004/SHOWBIZ/03/03/theater.alfred.molina.ap/ |website=CNN |archive-date=4 April 2004 |access-date=20 May 2013}} that was inhabited by many other immigrant families. He attended Cardinal Manning secondary modern Roman Catholic school there. He decided to become an actor after seeing Spartacus at the age of nine, and attended the Guildhall School of Music and Drama,{{cite web |url=https://movies.yahoo.com/movie/contributor/1800018903/bio |title=Alfred Molina Biography |website=Yahoo! Movies |date=24 May 1953 |access-date=3 August 2010}} as well as auditioning for and becoming a member of the National Youth Theatre.{{cite news |last=Daniel |first=Alex |date=18 September 2016 |title=On my radar: Alfred Molina's cultural highlights |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2016/sep/18/alfred-molina-on-radar-cultural-highlights-eugene-oneill-mayer-hawthorne |work=The Guardian |access-date=17 December 2017}} Molina admitted in May 2024 that his father was disappointed in him for pursuing a career in acting.{{cite magazine|last=Sharf|first=Zack|title=Alfred Molina Fights Tears Saying 'I Did Disappoint My Dad' by Being an Actor and Rejecting Higher-Paying Job: 'He Stared at Me Like He Didn't Recognize Me'|date=May 1, 2024|magazine=Variety|url=https://variety.com/2024/film/news/alfred-molina-cries-dad-disappointed-actor-1235988777/|accessdate=May 6, 2024}}{{cite magazine|last=Thomas|first=Carly|title=Alfred Molina Fights Tears Recalling His Father Rejecting His Acting Career: "I Did Disappoint My Dad"|date=May 2, 2024|magazine=The Hollywood Reporter|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/alfred-molina-emotional-father-rejected-acting-career-1235889235/|accessdate=May 6, 2024}}
At the age of 21, he changed his name to Alfred, at the urging of his first agent.{{cite news|first1=Benjamin|last1=Secher|access-date=23 March 2019|title=Alfred Molina interview: 'All men are raised to talk down to women'|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/theatre/what-to-see/alfred-molina-interview-men-raised-talk-women/ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220110/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/theatre/what-to-see/alfred-molina-interview-men-raised-talk-women/ |archive-date=10 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|newspaper=The Telegraph|date=28 April 2018|issn=0307-1235|via=www.telegraph.co.uk}}{{cbignore}}
Career
=1978–1989: Early work =
Molina appeared with Leonard Rossiter in the sitcom The Losers (1978).{{cite book|last=Lewishohn|first=Mark |author-link=Mark Lewisohn|title=Radio Times Guide to TV Comedy|year=2003|publisher=BBC Worldwide|location=London|isbn=978-0-563-48755-5}} He made his film debut with a minor role alongside Harrison Ford in Steven Spielberg's adventure film Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981) as Indiana Jones' traitorous and ill-fated guide, Satipo, during its iconic opening sequence. Molina stated in an interview in 2013 that he owes his stage and film career to the Indiana Jones series. "I'm very, very proud of that, I have to admit I didn't think at the time, 'Oh, this is going to go down in movie history.' I'd never been in front of a camera before," Molina said about his short but memorable appearance in Raiders of the Lost Ark. He recalled getting the job as a "gift from God" and said, "I've publicly thanked Steven many, many times. That job saved my bacon, in more ways than one." About his now-famous line in the film, Molina stated that "I've never had a problem with people coming up to me about it. They'll shout that line to me, 'Throw me the idol, I'll throw you the whip!' I'm delighted that people still remember it."{{cite web |url=http://www.zap2it.com/blogs/raiders_of_the_lost_arks_alfred_molina_how_indiana_jones_saved_my_bacon-2013-01 |title='Raiders of the Lost Ark's' Alfred Molina: How Indiana Jones 'saved my bacon' |first=Jay |last=Bobbin |website=Zap2it |date=7 January 2013 |access-date=22 January 2015 |archive-date=22 January 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150122091037/http://www.zap2it.com/blogs/raiders_of_the_lost_arks_alfred_molina_how_indiana_jones_saved_my_bacon-2013-01 |url-status=dead }}
However, his big break came with Letter to Brezhnev (1985), which he followed with a starring role in Prick Up Your Ears (1987), playing Joe Orton's lover (and eventual murderer) Kenneth Halliwell. He was originally cast as Arnold Rimmer in the TV sitcom Red Dwarf, but was replaced by Chris Barrie.{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2019/mar/05/how-we-made-red-dwarf-doug-naylor-craig-charles-bbc|work=The Guardian|title=How we made Red Dwarf|first=Rich|last=Pelley|date=5 March 2019|access-date=5 March 2019}}
=1990–1999: Broadway debut and acclaim =
In the early 1990s, Molina was a ubiquitous presence on British television, with his highest profile role being the lead in the first two series of El C.I.D.. He appeared in the critically acclaimed films such as Mike Newell's costume drama Enchanted April (1992), Richard Donner's western comedy Maverick (1994), and Jim Jarmusch's western Dead Man (1995). Subsequent film roles include the drama Not Without My Daughter (1991), the science fiction horror film Species (1995), the broad comedy Dudley Do-Right (1999). With a midwestern American accent, Molina starred alongside Betty White in the US television series Ladies Man, which ran from 1999 to 2001.{{cite news |last=Richmond |first=Ray |date=16 September 1999 |title=Ladies Man |url=https://variety.com/1999/tv/reviews/ladies-man-2-1117752144/ |work=Variety |access-date=17 December 2017}} In 1993 he appeared in the BBC miniseries adaptation of A Year in Provence, playing the annoying Tony, along with John Thaw and Lindsay Duncan.{{cite news |last=Hilsman |first=Hoyt |date=18 March 1993 |title=A Year in Provence Winter |url=https://variety.com/1993/tv/reviews/a-year-in-provence-winter-1200431714/ |work=Variety |access-date=17 December 2017}} In 1995, Molina starred with Marisa Tomei in The Perez Family, playing Cuban refugees who pretend to be married so they can more easily stay in America.{{cite web|url=https://www.spokesman.com/stories/1995/may/12/a-story-of-cuban-immigrants-perez-family/|title=A Story Of Cuban Immigrants, 'Perez Family' Transcends Its Plot|date=12 May 1995|publisher=The Spokesman-Review}} Marjorie Baumgarten praised Molina as attaining "the right mixture of gentle honor and baffled stupefaction" to portray his character,{{cite web|url=https://www.austinchronicle.com/events/film/1995-05-12/the-perez-family/|title=The Perez Family|date=12 May 1995|first=Marjorie|last=Baumgarten|publisher=Austin Chronicle}} although Peter Rainer of Los Angeles Times called Molina "so intensely sodden that he's like a great big scowling dark cloud."{{cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1995-05-12-ca-65303-story.html|title=MOVIE REVIEW : 'The Perez Family': Saga in Need of a Thermostat|first=Peter|last=Rainer|date=12 May 1995|work=Los Angeles Times}} Molina has worked twice with Paul Thomas Anderson, first in Boogie Nights (1997) and then in Magnolia (1999).{{cite news |last=Wilmington |first=Michael |date=7 January 2000 |title='MAGNOLIA' TELLS ITS TALES WITH ORIGINALITY AND DARING |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-2000-01-07-0001070007-story.html |work=Chicago Tribune |access-date=17 December 2017}}
=2000–2009: Established actor =
File:AlfredMolinaByJustinHoch2009.jpg
In 2000, Molina appeared in Lasse Hallström's Chocolat which received critical acclaim and an Academy Award for Best Picture nomination. He gained wide recognition for his portrayal of Diego Rivera alongside Salma Hayek in the biopic Frida (2002), a role for which he gained BAFTA and SAG award nominations. He played himself alongside Steve Coogan in Jarmusch's Coffee and Cigarettes (2003) and gained further commercial recognition when he portrayed Johann Tetzel in Luther (2003) and Otto Octavius / Doctor Octopus in Spider-Man 2 (2004),{{cite news|first=Jeff|last=Otto|title=Interview: Tobey Maguire and Alfred Molina|website=IGN|date=25 June 2004|url=http://uk.movies.ign.com/articles/526/526417p1.html|access-date=30 April 2007|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120518000440/http://uk.movies.ign.com/articles/526/526417p1.html|archive-date=18 May 2012}} which became one of the highest-grossing films of that year. For the latter, Molina was nominated for a Satellite Award as Best Supporting Actor. He reprised his role in the video game adaptation. 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 film Wonder Woman.{{cite web |url=http://www.comicscontinuum.com/stories/0806/26/index.htm |title=Comics Continuum cast list |publisher=Comicscontinuum.com |date=26 June 2008 |access-date=3 August 2010}}
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
In 2007, Molina narrated a 17-part original audiobook for Audible.com called The Chopin Manuscript. This serialised novel was written by a team of 15 best-selling thriller writers, including Jeffery Deaver, Lee Child, Joseph Finder and Lisa Scottoline. The novel won the 2008 Audiobook of the Year Award from Audio Publishers Association.{{cite web |url=https://www.audiopub.org/winners/2008-audies |title=The Audies 2008 Winners |website=Audio Publishers Association |year=2008 |access-date=30 August 2016 |archive-date=26 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220826031715/https://www.audiopub.org/winners/2008-audies |url-status=dead }}
=2010–2019 Career expansion =
On 1 April 2010, Molina opened at Broadway's John Golden Theatre in the role of artist Mark Rothko in John Logan's drama Red opposite Eddie Redmayne for a limited engagement through 27 June.{{cite journal |first=Lalayn |last=Baluch |url=http://www.thestage.co.uk/news/newsstory.php/24136/west-to-appear-in-donmars-life-is-a-dream |title=West to appear in Donmar's Life is a Dream |journal=The Stage |date=17 April 2009 |access-date=3 August 2010}} He had played the role to much critical success at the Donmar Warehouse in London in December 2009 and revisited that role at the Wyndham's Theatre in the West End in 2018.{{cite news|title=Red review – Alfred Molina's portrait is as layered as a Rothko canvas|url=https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2018/may/15/red-review-rothko-wyndhams-london-michael-grandage-alfred-molina|newspaper=The Guardian|author=Michael Billington|author-link=Michael Billington (critic)|access-date=6 June 2018|date=15 May 2018}}
In 2010, Molina starred opposite Dawn French in the six-part BBC sitcom Roger & Val Have Just Got In,{{cite news |title=Molina stars opposite Dawn French |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/8256871.stm |website=BBC News |date=15 September 2009 |access-date=26 September 2009}} with a second series in 2012.{{cite news |last=Frost |first=Vicky |date=9 March 2012 |title=Have you been watching … Roger & Val Have Just Got In? |url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/tvandradioblog/2012/mar/09/roger-val-just-got-in |work=The Guardian |access-date=17 December 2017}}
Molina has three Lego Minifigures modelled after him, namely Doctor Octopus from Spider-Man 2, and Spider-Man: No Way Home, Satipo from Raiders of the Lost Ark, and Sheik Amar from Prince of Persia.{{cite web |url=https://brickset.com/article/19729/which-actor-has-the-most-minifigures |title=Which actor has the most minifigures? |date=6 March 2016 |website=Brickset |access-date=17 December 2017}} In July 2010, it was announced that Molina had joined the cast of Law & Order: LA as Deputy District Attorney Morales.{{cite web |url=https://www.tvguide.com/News/Molina-Law-Order-1020925.aspx |title=Alfred Molina Signs on to Law & Order: Los Angeles |first=Kate |last=Stanhope |date=24 July 2010 |website=TVGuide.com |access-date=27 July 2010}} He previously guest-starred in a two-part crossover in 2005 in two other Law & Order franchise shows, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit and Law & Order: Trial by Jury.{{cite news |last=Boedeker |first=Hal |date=10 September 2005 |title=Emmy, she hopes, on 18th try |url=https://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/os-xpm-2005-09-10-lansbury-story.html |work=Orlando Sentinel |access-date=17 December 2017}}
Molina is a patron of the performing arts group Theatretrain. He is also a longtime member of the Los Angeles theatre company The New American Theatre, formerly known as Circus Theatricals, where he often teaches Shakespeare and Scene Study along with the company's artistic director Jack Stehlin.{{cite web |url=https://www.newamericantheatre.com/testimonials.html |title=Testimonials |website=The New American Theatre |access-date=17 December 2017}} In 2017 he portrayed film director Robert Aldrich in Ryan Murphy's FX limited series Feud: Bette & Joan. The series revolved around the filming of What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? in 1962 and the relationship between actresses Bette Davis and Joan Crawford played by Susan Sarandon and Jessica Lange respectively. Molina received critical praise for the film as well as awards attention received nominations from the Primetime Emmy Awards, and Golden Globe Awards for his performance.
= 2020–present =
In 2020, Molina appeared in David Oyelowo's drama The Water Man, and Emerald Fennell's black comedy thriller Promising Young Woman. On 8 December 2020, it was announced that he would be returning as Doctor Octopus for Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021) in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), set to premiere on 17 December 2021.{{Cite web|last1=Couch|first1=Aaron|last2=Kit|first2=Borys|date=8 December 2020|title='Spider-Man 3': Alfred Molina Returning as Doctor Octopus|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/spider-man-3-alfred-molina-returning-as-doctor-octopus|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201208194306/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/spider-man-3-alfred-molina-returning-as-doctor-octopus|archive-date=8 December 2020|access-date=8 December 2020|website=The Hollywood Reporter}} Molina later confirmed that he would actually be reprising his role as the Spider-Man 2 incarnation of Doctor Octopus in No Way Home, retconning his character's apparent death at the end of the former film. He was digitally de-aged to his 2004 self.{{Cite web |last=Aurthur |first=Kate |date=16 April 2021 |title=Alfred Molina Details Doc Ock's Return in 'Spider-Man: No Way Home': 'The Tentacles Do All the Work' (Exclusive) |url=https://variety.com/2021/film/news/alfred-molina-spider-man-no-way-home-doc-ock-1234953527/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210416232314/https://variety.com/2021/film/news/alfred-molina-spider-man-no-way-home-doc-ock-1234953527/ |archive-date=16 April 2021 |access-date=16 April 2021 |website=Variety}} On 2 September 2021, it was announced that Alfred Molina was set to star in Amazon Prime police drama series Three Pines, which comes from The Crown producer Left Bank Pictures. Molina plays Chief Inspector Armand Gamache of the Sûreté du Québec, the lead character from Louise Penny's book series (including Still Life, the first entry of the unnamed series), he also serves as executive producer for the show.{{Cite web |last1=White |first1=Peter |date=2 September 2021 |title=Alfred Molina To Star In Amazon Police Drama Series 'Three Pines' From 'The Crown' Producer Left Bank |url=https://deadline.com/2021/09/alfred-molina-amazon-three-pines-left-bank-1234826095/ |access-date=23 October 2022 |website=Deadline |language=en-US}} The trailer came out in October 2022{{Citation |title=Three Pines - Official Teaser {{!}} Prime Video | date=18 October 2022 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gVxxdBunyno |language=en |access-date=23 October 2022}} and the show premiered in December 2022. It was cancelled after one season.
In 2024, Molina returned to Broadway playing Professor Serebryakov in a revival of Anton Chekov's Uncle Vanya (2024). The production was directed by Lila Neugebauer and adapted by Heidi Schreck. Molina co-starred alongside Steve Carell, William Jackson Harper, Alison Pill, Anika Noni Rose, and Jayne Houdyshell.{{cite web|url= https://playbill.com/article/steve-carell-will-make-broadway-debut-as-uncle-vanya-alongside-alison-pill|title= Steve Carell Will Make Broadway Debut as Uncle Vanya Alongside Alison Pill|website= Playbill|accessdate= April 27, 2024}} He would also play the narrator in the film version of Harold and the Purple Crayon.{{cite news|url=https://www.seattletimes.com/entertainment/movies/review-harold-and-the-purple-crayon-draws-a-perplexing-adaptation/|title=Review: 'Harold and the Purple Crayon' draws a perplexing adaptation|first=Katie|last=Walsh|newspaper=Seattle Times|date=August 2, 2024|accessdate=August 2, 2024}}
Personal life
Molina has a daughter, Rachel, from a previous relationship. In 1986, Molina married actress Jill Gascoine in Tower Hamlets, London.{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2020/apr/29/the-gentle-touch-star-jill-gascoine-dies-aged-83|title=The Gentle Touch star Jill Gascoine dies aged 83|date=29 April 2020|website=The Guardian}} They remained married until her death on 28 April 2020 in Los Angeles from Alzheimer's disease.{{cite news |title=Jill Gascoine: Pioneering British actress dies at 83 |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-52471574 |work=BBC News |date=29 April 2020 |access-date=29 April 2020}} In November 2019, director Jennifer Lee confirmed that she was in a relationship with Molina, the two having worked together in Frozen 2 (2019), and they later married in August 2021.{{cite news |last1=Dowd |first1=Maureen |date=7 November 2019 |title=Jennifer Lee, Queen of the 'Frozen' Franchise |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/11/07/style/jennifer-lee-frozen.html |access-date=25 November 2019}} Molina resides in Los Angeles, California. In 2004, he became a U.S. citizen.{{cite web |url=http://jam.canoe.ca/Movies/Artists/M/Molina_Alfred/2004/06/27/760319.html |title=Alfred Molina set for big-time recognition |first=Bruce |last=Kirkland |work=JAM! Movies |date=27 June 2004 |access-date=3 August 2010 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120715214254/http://jam.canoe.ca/Movies/Artists/M/Molina_Alfred/2004/06/27/760319.html |archive-date=15 July 2012 |publisher=Canoe Inc. |url-status=usurped}} He is fluent in French, Italian and Spanish.{{cite web | url=https://metro.co.uk/2022/12/02/alfred-molina-champions-indigenous-people-in-telling-their-own-story-17862043/ | title=Alfred Molina champions indigenous people in telling their own stories | date=2 December 2022 }}{{cite web | url=https://cinemovie.tv/Interviews/alfred-molina-secret-in-their-eyes-interview-diversity-immigrants | title='Secret in Their Eyes' Star Alfred Molina Talks Diversity in Casting and the Hollywood Industry }} In 2017, he moved to La Cañada Flintridge.{{cite news |url=https://www.latimes.com/business/realestate/hot-property/la-fi-hotprop-alfred-molina-la-canada-flintridge-20170725-story.html |title='Feud' star Alfred Molina snaps up view-house in La Cañada Flintridge |first=Neal J. |last=Leitereg |date=25 July 2017 |access-date=30 September 2018 |newspaper=Los Angeles Times |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180614045307/http://www.latimes.com/business/realestate/hot-property/la-fi-hotprop-alfred-molina-la-canada-flintridge-20170725-story.html |archive-date=14 June 2018 |url-status=live}} Molina is an advocate for people with Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS). He donates towards AIDS research, participates in the Los Angeles AIDS Walk and appeared as himself in a documentary produced by Joseph Kibler{{cite journal |url=http://abilitymagazine.com/Alfred-Molina.html |title=Alfred Molina – Interview |journal=Ability |date=December 2010 – January 2011 |access-date=30 September 2018}} (who has been HIV+ and paraplegic since his birth, c. 1989) about Kibler's life titled Walk On, first screened in 2013.{{cite news |last=Mahbubani |first=Rhea |url=https://www.latimes.com/tn-dpt-0428-walk-on-hiv-newport-beach-film-festiva-20130427-story.html |title=Walking with pride, support and strength |newspaper=Los Angeles Times |date=27 April 2013 |access-date=2 January 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612113133/http://www.latimes.com/tn-dpt-0428-walk-on-hiv-newport-beach-film-festiva-20130427-story.html |archive-date=12 June 2018 |url-status=live}}{{cite web |url=http://santafefilmfestival.com/index/film/walk-on/ |title=Walk On |work=Santa Fe Film Festival |year=2014 |access-date=2 January 2016 }} When playing the role of Sayyed Bozorg Mahmoody in Not Without My Daughter, Molina was once physically assaulted on his way to a rehearsal by a man who mistook him for the real Mahmoody.{{cite interview|last=Molina|first=Alfred|interviewer=Raven Snook|title=The Hot Seat: Alfred Molina|date=14 March 2010|magazine=Time Out|url=http://www.timeout.com/newyork/film/alfred-molina|access-date=10 February 2021}}
Filmography
=Film=
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| Year
! Title ! Role ! class="unsortable" | Notes |
|---|
| 1981
| Satipo | |
| rowspan=4| 1985
| Sergei | |
| Ladyhawke
| Cezar | |
| Water
| Pierre | |
| Eleni
| Young Christos | Uncredited |
| 1987
| |
| 1988
| Avanti | |
| rowspan=2| 1989
| Virtuoso | |
| Rescuers Speaking
| Italian Priest | |
| rowspan=3| 1991
| Hancock | |
| Not Without My Daughter
| |
| American Friends
| Oliver Syme | |
| 1992
| Mellersh Wilkins | |
| rowspan=3|1993
| {{sortname|A|Year in Provence}} | Tony Havers | |
| {{sortname|The|Trial|The Trial (1993 film)}}
| Titorelli | |
| When Pigs Fly
| Marty | |
| rowspan=3|1994
| Maverick | Angel | |
| White Fang 2: Myth of the White Wolf
| Reverend Leland Drury | |
| Cabin Boy
|Nathaniel's History Teacher |Uncredited |
| rowspan=7|1995
| Species | Dr. Stephen Arden | |
| The Steal
| Cliff | |
| {{sortname|The|Perez Family}}
| Juan Raúl Perez | |
| Dead Man
| Trading Post Missionary | |
| Scorpion Spring
| Denis Brabant | |
| Hideaway
| Dr. Jonas Nyebern | |
| Nervous Energy
| Ira Moss | |
| rowspan=2| 1996
| Sal | |
| Before and After
| Panos Demeris | |
| rowspan=4| 1997
| Levin | |
| Boogie Nights
| Rahad Jackson | |
| {{sortname|The|Man Who Knew Too Little}}
| Boris 'The Butcher' Blavasky | |
| A Further Gesture
| Tulio | |
| rowspan=4| 1998
| {{sortname|The|Impostors}} | Sir Jeremy Burtom | |
| Rescuers: Stories of Courage: Two Couples
| | |
| Pete's Meteor
| Hugh | |
| The Treat
| The Colonel | |
| rowspan=2| 1999
| |
| Magnolia
| Solomon Solomon | |
| rowspan=2| 2000 |
| Chocolat
| Comte De Reynaud | |
| 2001
| |
| rowspan=2| 2002
| Frida | |
| Plots with a View
| Boris Plots | |
| rowspan=4| 2003
| Ann's Father | |
| Identity
| Dr. Malick | |
| Coffee and Cigarettes
| Himself | |
| Luther
| |
| rowspan=3| 2004
| Crónicas | Victor Hugo Puente | |
| Spider-Man 2
| Dr. Otto Octavius / Doctor Octopus | |
| Steamboy
| James Edward Steam |
| rowspan=3| 2006
| {{sortname|The|Da Vinci Code|The Da Vinci Code (film)}} | |
| As You Like It
| |
| Orchids
| Cliff | Short film |
| rowspan="6" | 2007
| {{sortname|The|Hoax}} | |
| Silk
| Baldabiou | |
| {{sortname|The|Ten Commandments|The Ten Commandments (2007 film)}}
| Ramesses |
| The Moon and the Stars
| Davide Rieti | |
| The Little Traitor
| Sergeant Dunlop | |
| Chill Out, Scooby-Doo!
| Professor Jeffries |
| 2008
| Edy Rodriguez | |
| rowspan="6" | 2009
| Jack Mellor | |
| {{sortname|The|Pink Panther 2}}
| Randall Pepperidge | |
| Angels & Demons
| Narrator | Voice |
| {{sortname|The|Lodger|The Lodger (2009 film)}}
| Chandler Manning | |
| Wonder Woman
| Ares |
| Big Guy
| Kent | Short film |
| rowspan=3| 2010
| {{sortname|The|Tempest|The Tempest (2010 film)}} | Stefano | |
| Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time
| Sheik Amar | |
| {{sortname|The|Sorcerer's Apprentice|The Sorcerer's Apprentice (2010 film)}}
| Maxim Horvath | |
| rowspan=3| 2011
| The Dark Ages | Alexander Goldgoff | |
| Abduction
| Frank Burton | |
| Rango
| Roadkill |
| 2012
| Everly Campbell | |
| rowspan=5| 2013
| Antonio | Voice |
| The Truth About Emanuel
| Dennis | |
| Justin and the Knights of Valour
| Reginald |
| Monsters University
| Professor Derek Knight |
| Vivaldi
| Tartini | |
| rowspan=6| 2014
| George | |
| Return to Zero
| Robert Royal | |
| We'll Never Have Paris
| Terry Berman | |
| Swelter
| Doc | |
| Kahlil Gibran's The Prophet
| Sergeant |
| Heavenly Sword
| King Bohan |
| rowspan=2| 2015
| Fairy King |
| The Secret in Their Eyes
| Martin Morales |
| rowspan=6| 2016
| Hernán | |
| Donald Trump's The Art of the Deal: The Movie
| Jerry Schrager | |
| Whiskey Tango Foxtrot
| Ali Massoud Sadiq | |
| Paint It Black
| Cal | |
| Message from the King
| Preston | |
| A Family Man
| Lou Wheeler | |
| rowspan=3| 2017
| Paul Weller | |
| Justice League Dark
| Destiny |
| Sam Did It
| Himself | Short film |
| rowspan=5| 2018
| |
| Saint Judy
| Ray Hernandez | |
| Ralph Breaks the Internet
| Double Dan |
| Henchmen
| Baron Blackout |
| Vice
| Waiter | Uncredited cameo |
| rowspan=4| 2019
| Howard Keleshian | |
| Frankenstein's Monster's Monster, Frankenstein
| Aubrey Fields | Short film |
| The Devil Has a Name
| Big Boss | |
| Frozen II
| King Agnarr |
| rowspan="2"| 2020
| Jordan Green | Uncredited |
| The Water Man
| Jim Bussey | |
| rowspan="2"| 2021
| Trollhunters: Rise of the Titans | Archie |
| Spider-Man: No Way Home
| Dr. Otto Octavius / Doctor Octopus | |
| rowspan="1"| 2022
| Jor-El |
| rowspan="2"| 2024
| Richie Dechico | |
| Harold and the Purple Crayon
| Narrator / Crockett Johnson | |
=Television=
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| Year
! Title ! Role ! class="unsortable" | Notes |
|---|
| 1978
| Nigel | 6 episodes |
| 1981
| Bognor | Waiter | 2 episodes |
| 1982
| Joni Jones | Giovanni | Episode: "JONI JONES Y Ffoadur" |
| 1982
| Eric | Television film |
| rowspan=2| 1983
| Meantime | John | Television film |
| Reilly, Ace of Spies
| Episode: "Gambit" |
| rowspan=3| 1985
| Number One | D.C. Rogers | Television film |
| Angels in the Annexe
| Mike Brittain | Television film |
| C.A.T.S. Eyes
| Det. Sgt. Cropper | Episode: "Blue for Danger" |
| 1986
| Casualty | Harry Horner | Episode: "Jump Start" |
| 1987
| Esther's Attorney | Episode: "The Big Thaw" |
| rowspan=3| 1989
| The Accountant | Lionel Ellerman | Television film |
| Saracen
| Jose Morazan | Episode: "Proof of Death" |
| Revolutionary Witness
| The Butcher/ Robert Sauveur | Episode: "The Butcher" |
| 1989–1992
| Various characters | 4 episodes |
| 1989–1995
| Various characters | 4 episodes |
| 1990–1992
| Bernard Blake | 13 episodes |
| rowspan=3| 1991
| Ashenden | Carmona | Episode: "The Hairless Mexican" |
| Performance
| Episode: "The Trials of Oz" |
| Boon
| Mike Hubble | Episode: "The Night Before Christmas" |
| 1994
| Requiem Apache | Hamish/Getaway Driver | Television film |
| 1996
| Mr. Dragotti | Episode: "Royalty" |
| 1998
| Elcio | Voice, episode: "Only Child" |
| 1999–2001
| Jimmy Stiles | 30 episodes; also producer |
| 2001
| Murder on the Orient Express | Television film |
| 2002
| Bram | 9 episodes |
| 2003
| King Gustav |
| rowspan=2| 2005
| Law & Order: Special Victims Unit | Gabriel Duvall | Episode: "Night" |
| Law & Order: Trial by Jury
| Gabriel Duvall | Episode: "Day" |
| rowspan=2|2007
| Monk | Peter Magneri | Episode: "Mr. Monk and the Naked Man" |
| {{sortname|The|Company|The Company (miniseries)}}
| The Sorcerer | 3 episodes |
| 2009 |
| 2010–2011
| 16 episodes |
| 2010–2012
| Roger & Val Have Just Got In | Roger Stephenson | 12 episodes |
| 2010–2012
| Chairman | Voice, 2 episodes |
| rowspan=3|2011
| Eric Sanders | 3 episodes |
| Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson
| Voice, 3 episodes |
| Innocent
| Alejando "Sandy" Stern | Television film |
| rowspan=2| 2012
| Kung Fu Panda: | Ke-Pa |
| Loving Miss Hatto
| Barrie | Television film |
| 2012; 2015–2016 | Multi-Bear |
| 2012–2020
| Lex Luthor / Various characters | Voice, Recurring role |
| rowspan=2|2013
| Dr. Harding Hooten | 10 episodes |
| Drunk History
| Episode: "Detroit" |
| rowspan=5| 2014
| Lucius Needful | Voice, episode: "Something Ricked This Way Comes" |
| Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey
| Alhazen | Voice, episode: "Hiding in the Light" |
| The Normal Heart
| Ben Weeks | Television film |
| Matador
| Andrés Galan | 13 episodes |
| Wordgirl
| Patrick Needlemeyer | Voice, episode: "Putt with Honor" |
| 2014–2017
| Rippen |
| rowspan=4|2015
| Henry J. Spallone | 6 episodes |
| Axe Cop
| Various | Voice, 2 episodes |
| Oscar's Hotel for Fantastical Creatures
| Norbert | Voice, episode: "Fishy Business" |
| Long Live the Royals
| Rupert / Neil | Voice, 2 episodes |
| 2016–2018
| Viggo Grimborn |
| 2016–2017
| Dr. Edelweiss | Uncredited |
| rowspan=2|2016
| Harold Lindsay-Jones | 7 episodes |
| Sister Cities
| Mort | Television film; also executive producer |
| 2016; 2020
| Tow Truck Driver / Kazim | Voice, 2 episodes |
| rowspan="4" |2017 |
| I'm Dying Up Here
| Carl Veisor | Episode: "Pilot" |
| Hey Arnold!: The Jungle Movie
| Lasombra |
| Welcome to the Wayne
| Albert Molina |
| 2018–2023
| Monster Under the Bed / Various characters |
| 2018
| Max | Episode: "My Kids Barely Know Their Culture" |
| rowspan=2| 2019
| Archie |
| Vampirina
| Sir Ghoulgood | Voice, episode: "Haunted Theater" |
| 2020–2021; 2024 | The Duke | Voice, 4 episodes |
| 2020–2022
| Cogburn | Voice, 2 episodes |
| rowspan=5| 2020
| Mr. Freeze, Stew |
| Family Guy
| Panamanian Man | Voice, episode: "Coma Guy" |
| Wizards: Tales of Arcadia
| Archie |
| Crossing Swords
| Voice, episode: "Hot Tub Death Machine" |
| Infinity Train
| Chandelier | Voice, episode: "The Debutante Ball Car" |
| 2021; 2024
| Professor Derek Knight |
| 2021
| Lord Mictlan |
| 2022
| Roar | Silas McCall | Episode: "The Girl Who Loved Horses" |
| 2022
| Inspecteur-chief Armand Gamache | 8 episodes |
| 2023
| Human Shih Tzu | Voice, 4 episodes{{cite web|last=Foertsch|first=Rachel|title=Petey Meets Her New Human Shih Tzu In Praise Petey Clip [EXCLUSIVE]|url=https://screenrant.com/praise-petey-show-human-shih-tzu-clip/|publisher=Screen Rant|date=July 21, 2023}} |
| 2024
| Benjar Pranic | Voice, episode: "Very Interesting, as an Astrogation Problem" |
| 2025
| Multi-Bear | Voice, Episode: "The Perfect Gift" |
| 2024–2025
| Mordros the Annihilator | Voice, 4 episodes |
| 2025
|Voice, 8 Episodes |
=Theatre=
| class="wikitable sortable" | |||
| Year
! Title ! Role ! class="unsortable" | Theater | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1970
|Cigolotti/ Durandarte | |||
| 1971
|Dramaturge | |||
| 1976
|Walk-on (Knights/Soldiers/Servants) | |||
| 1977
|That Good Between Us |Jumbo/ Private Hart/ Riot Soldier | |||
| 1977
|P C Boyd/ Pathologist | |||
| 1977
|Bismarck / Fat Gentleman / Mayor 1 / Priest | |||
| 1978
|Al | |||
| 1978
|A Miserable and Lonely Death |Major Snyman | |||
| 1979
|Accidental Death of an Anarchist |The Maniac | |||
| 1980–81
|Jud Fry |Palace Theatre, West End | |||
| 1981
|Giovanni Bardi | |||
| 1982
|Tom Destry | |||
| 1982
|Witch of the North | |||
| 1983 | |||
| 1984
|Alfredo | |||
| 1985
|Sammy 'Mammy' Wurlitzer |Royal Shakespeare Company National West Tour | |||
| 1985
|Royal Shakespeare Company National West Tour | |||
| 1986-87
|Zac Zackerman | |||
| 1989
|Charlie Fox |Royal National Theatre, London | |||
| 1992
|Rev. T. Lawrence Shannon |Royal National Theatre, London | |||
| 1995–96
|Frank Sweeney |Laura Pels Theatre, RTC | |||
| 1998
|Art |Yvan |Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre, Broadway | |||
| 2001
|Lee |Skirball Cultural Center, Los Angeles | |||
| 2002
|Odyssey Theatre | |||
| 2004–05
|Minskoff Theatre, Broadway | |||
| 2006
|Lopakhin |Mark Taper Forum, Los Angeles | |||
| 2007
|Howard Katz |Howard Katz |Laura Pels Theatre, RTC | |||
| 2009–10
|rowspan=3|Red |rowspan=3|Mark Rothko |Donmar Warehouse, London | |||
| rowspan=2|2012-13
|Mark Taper Forum, Los Angeles | |||
| L.A. Theatre Works | |||
| 2016
|Don | |||
| 2017
|Long Day's Journey into Night |James Tyrone |Geffen Playhouse, Los Angeles | |||
| 2018 | Red | Mark Rothko | Wyndham's Theatre, West End |
| 2020 | The Father | André | rowspan=2|Pasadena Playhouse |
| 2023
|Henry Drummond | |||
| 2024 | Uncle Vanya | Aleksandr Vladimirovich Serebryakov | Lincoln Center Theatre |
=Radio and audiobooks=
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| Year
! Title ! Voice Role ! Radio Station / Production Company |
|---|
| 1985
|Azari |
| 1986
|Albert |
| 1987
|Aristophanes against the World |Dikaiopolis |
| 1988
|Zvi |
| 1989
|Jacques Brel |
| 1989
|A Waiter |
| 1990
|Niggle |
| 1993
|Alexander Gideon |
| 1996
|Narrator |
| 1998
|Narrator |
| 2002
|The Berrybender Narratives (Volume 1,2,3) |Narrator |
| 2003
|Nightingale |
| 2004
|The Berrybender Narratives (Volume 4) |Narrator |
| 2004
|Narrator with Jan Maxwell |
| 2006
|Narrator |
| 2006
|The Foreign Correspondent (Novel) |Narrator |
| 2006
|Narrator |
| 2007–08
|Father Bertie |
| 2009
|Jack |
| 2009
|Narrator |
| 2009
|Henry |
| 2011
|Tommy Huggins |
| 2012
|Electric Decade: Uncle Fred in the Springtime |Earl of Ickenham (Uncle Fred) |
| 2014
|On Her Majesty's Secret Service |Ernst Stavro Blofeld |
| 2015
|Eddie Carbone |
| 2016
|Ernst Stavro Blofeld |
| 2016
|Stoner |Narrator |
| 2017
|Leonardo Da Vinci |Narrator |Simon & Schuster Audio |
| 2018
|Dr Thomas Stockmann |
=Video games=
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| Year
! Title ! Role ! Notes |
|---|
| 2004
| Otto Octavius / Doctor Octopus |{{cite web|url=https://screenrant.com/spiderman-2-movie-behind-scenes-trivia-making-details/|title= 20 Crazy Details Behind The Making Of Spider-Man 2|website= Screen Rant|date= 13 October 2018|access-date=29 November 2018}} |
| 2014
| Abnur Tharn |
| 2015
| The Elder Scrolls Online: Tamriel Unlimited | Abnur Tharn | |
| 2016
| The Elder Scrolls Online: Gold Edition | Abnur Tharn | |
| 2017
| The Elder Scrolls Online: Morrowind | Abnur Tharn | |
| 2017
| Bela Belascó | |
| 2018
| The Elder Scrolls Online: Summerset | Abnur Tharn | |
| 2019
| The Elder Scrolls Online: Elsweyr | Abnur Tharn | |
| 2019
| The Elder Scrolls Online: Dragonhold | Abnur Tharn | |
| 2020
| The Elder Scrolls Online: Greymoor | Abnur Tharn | |
| 2021
| The Elder Scrolls Online: Blackwood | Abnur Tharn | |
| 2024
| Indiana Jones and the Great Circle | Satipo | Likeness used only; role performed by Joe Hernandez-Kolski |
Awards and nominations
{{main|List of awards and nominations received by Alfred Molina}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{Commons category-inline}}
- {{IMDb name|547}}
- {{IBDB name}}
- {{Iobdb name|6074|Alfred Molina}}
- [https://soundcloud.com/american-theatre-wing/episode30 Alfred Molina interviewed on Downstage Center XM Radio] at American Theatre Wing, November 2004
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20071024032821/http://www.broadway.com/gen/Buzz_Story.aspx?ci=544358&pn=1 Q&A: Alfred Molina]
{{Navboxes
|title = Awards for Alfred Molina
|list =
{{AARP Movies for Grownups Award for Best Grownup Love Story}}
{{DramaDesk PlayOutstandingFeaturedActor 1975-1999}}
{{Distinguished Performance Award}}
{{RTS Programme Award for Best Performance by a Male Actor}}
}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Molina, Alfred}}
Category:Male actors from London
Category:People from Paddington
Category:Actors from the City of Westminster
Category:Alumni of the Guildhall School of Music and Drama
Category:Drama Desk Award winners
Category:English male film actors
Category:English male musical theatre actors
Category:English male Shakespearean actors
Category:English male stage actors
Category:English male television actors
Category:English male video game actors
Category:English male voice actors
Category:English people of Italian descent
Category:English people of Spanish descent
Category:British HIV/AIDS activists
Category:National Youth Theatre members
Category:Actors from the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea
Category:Naturalized citizens of the United States
Category:Royal Shakespeare Company members
Category:Theatre World Award winners
Category:20th-century English male actors