Ron Perlman
{{Short description|American actor (born 1950)}}
{{for|the businessman|Ronald Perelman}}
{{Use American English|date=August 2023}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2024}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Ron Perlman
| image = Ron Perlman 2022 (cropped).jpg
| alt = Perlman looking towards a camera
| caption = Perlman in 2022
| birth_name = Ronald N. Perlman
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1950|4|13}}
| birth_place = Manhattan, New York, U.S.
| education = {{ubl|Lehman College (BA)|University of Minnesota (MFA)}}
| occupation = Actor
| years_active = 1975–present
| works = Full list
| spouse = {{plainlist|
- {{marriage|Opal Stone|February 14, 1981|2019|end=div.}}
- {{marriage|Allison Dunbar|2022}}
}}
| children = 2, including Delroy Edwards
}}
Ronald N. Perlman (born April 13, 1950) is an American actor. His credits include the roles of Amoukar in Quest for Fire (1981), Salvatore in The Name of the Rose (1986), Vincent in the television series Beauty and the Beast (1987–1990), for which he won a Golden Globe Award, One in The City of Lost Children (1995), Johner in Alien Resurrection (1997), Koulikov in Enemy at the Gates (2001), Hellboy in both Hellboy (2004) and its sequel Hellboy II: The Golden Army (2008), Clay Morrow in the television series Sons of Anarchy (2008–2013), Nino in Drive (2011) and Benedict Drask in Don't Look Up (2021). As a frequent collaborator of Hellboy director Guillermo del Toro, he has had roles in the del Toro films Cronos (1993), Blade II (2002), Pacific Rim (2013), Nightmare Alley (2021), and Pinocchio (2022).
Perlman has also had a prolific career as a voice actor, including the narrator of the post-apocalyptic game series Fallout (1997–present), Clayface in the DC Animated Universe (1992–2003), Slade in Teen Titans (2003–2006), Mr. Lancer in Danny Phantom (2004–2007), Lord Hood in the video games Halo 2 (2004) and Halo 3 (2007), the Stabbington brothers in Tangled (2010), The Lich in the Adventure Time franchise (2011–2023), Xibalba in The Book of Life (2014), and Optimus Primal in both the Transformers: Power of the Primes (2018) animated series and the film Transformers: Rise of the Beasts (2023).
Early life and education
Ronald N. Perlman{{Cite tweet |user=perlmutations |number=423257897137479680 |title=N. Yes.}} was born on April 13, 1950, in Washington Heights, New York City.{{cite book|last1=Kane|first1=Paul|last2=O'Regan|first2=Marie|title=Voices in the Dark: Interviews with Horror Writers, Directors and Actors|publisher=McFarland|year=2014|page=229|isbn=978-0-7864-5672-7|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Eo12Xyraq9UC|access-date=March 19, 2024|archive-date=March 19, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240319235223/https://books.google.com/books?id=Eo12Xyraq9UC|url-status=live}} His mother, Dorothy (née Rosen), was a municipal employee, and his father, Bertram "Bert" Perlman, was a jazz drummer and television repairman.{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zP3mBAAAQBAJ&pg=PR5 |title=Easy Street (the Hard Way) | via=google.ca|isbn=9780306823459|last1=Perlman|first1=Ron|date=September 30, 2014|publisher=Hachette Books }} He is Jewish.{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zP3mBAAAQBAJ&q=Bar+Mitzvah+is,+and+then+youre+part+of+the+whole+congregation&pg=PA28|title=Easy Street (The Hard Way): A Memoir|isbn=9780306823459|last1=Perlman|first1=Ron|date=September 30, 2014|publisher=Hachette Books|access-date=October 16, 2020|archive-date=September 26, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240926233909/https://books.google.com/books?id=zP3mBAAAQBAJ&q=Bar+Mitzvah+is,+and+then+youre+part+of+the+whole+congregation&pg=PA28#v=snippet&q=Bar%20Mitzvah%20is%2C%20and%20then%20youre%20part%20of%20the%20whole%20congregation&f=false|url-status=live}}{{cite web|last=Taylor |first=Drew |url=http://www.screened.com/news/comic-con-2011-del-toro-and-nicolas-refn-talk-dont-be-afraid-of-the-dark-and-drive/2624 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120201043008/http://www.screened.com/news/comic-con-2011-del-toro-and-nicolas-refn-talk-dont-be-afraid-of-the-dark-and-drive/2624 |url-status=dead |archive-date=February 1, 2012 |title=Movies | Movie Times | Tickets Online | MoviesTrailers – Moviefone.com |publisher=Screened.com |access-date=March 28, 2014}}
Perlman said in 1988, "It was not a bad childhood but I had a perception of myself that was{{nbsp}}... I was terribly overweight as a young kid, and it was sort of a low self image."{{YouTube|id=NfcT1j1tj8A|title=BEAUTY & THE BEAST - Ron Perlman on HOUR MAG March 1988}} He stated this experience is something that attracts him to roles where he portrays "these sorts of deformed people who are very endearing."{{YouTube|id=62YzvoOss-c|title=Ron Perlman on Acting}}{{cite book|last1=Perlman|first1=Ron|title=Easy Street (the hard Way): A Memoir|date=2015|publisher=Da Capo Press|isbn=978-0306824180|pages=29, 67}} Perlman had a "very close" relationship with his father, who convinced his son he "had to" pursue a career as an actor after seeing him perform in a college production of Guys and Dolls.
Perlman graduated from George Washington High School in 1967 and Lehman College in 1971. He later attended the University of Minnesota, where he graduated with a master's degree in theater arts in 1973.{{cite web |url=http://cla.umn.edu/alumni/ana.php |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110116215046/http://cla.umn.edu/alumni/ana.php |url-status=dead |archive-date=January 16, 2011|title=Alumni of Notable Achievement: College of Liberal Arts: University of Minnesota |publisher=University of Minnesota |access-date=January 30, 2011 }}
Career
=Film and television=
File:RonP.jpg in September 1989]]
Perlman made his television debut in the soap opera Ryan's Hope in 1979. He made his feature film debut in Jean-Jacques Annaud's film Quest for Fire (1981). Annaud later revealed that when he contacted Perlman to ask him about playing Salvatore in The Name of the Rose (1986), Perlman was thinking of abandoning his career. After various minor and supporting roles in film and television, he got his breakthrough leading role as Vincent on the television series Beauty and the Beast, opposite Linda Hamilton, from 1987 to 1990. This earned him a Golden Globe Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series in 1989.[http://www.hfpa.org/browse/member/30108 Golden Globe Awards official website] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070807075830/http://www1.hfpa.org/browse/member/30108 |date=August 7, 2007 }}, last accessed October 22, 2007.
He went on to play supporting roles in many films throughout the 1990s as well as the 2000s. His most notable film appearances were in films such as Romeo is Bleeding (1993), The Adventures of Huck Finn (1993), Police Academy: Mission to Moscow (1994), The Last Supper (1995), The Island of Dr. Moreau (1996), Alien Resurrection (1997), Enemy at the Gates (2001), Blade II and Star Trek: Nemesis (both 2002) and two Stephen King adaptations, Sleepwalkers and Desperation. His appearances on television series include Highlander: The Series, The Outer Limits, The Magnificent Seven, and the Amazon series Hand of God.{{cite journal |first=Nikara |last=Johns |url=https://variety.com/2014/digital/news/dana-delany-to-star-in-amazon-pilot-hand-of-god-1201149742/ |title=Dana Delany to Star in Amazon Pilot 'Hand of God' |journal=Variety |date=March 28, 2014 |access-date=March 29, 2014 |publisher=Penske Business Media, LLC. |location=Los Angeles, California |archive-date=March 29, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140329222344/http://variety.com/2014/digital/news/dana-delany-to-star-in-amazon-pilot-hand-of-god-1201149742/ |url-status=live }}
He played his first leading film role in 1995, when he played "One" in Jean-Pierre Jeunet and Marc Caro's French-language The City of Lost Children. In 2003, Perlman starred in a commercial for Stella Artois beer. This commercial, which was called "Devil's Island",{{YouTube|id=iDkJVIsDRaE|title=Stella Artois "Devil's Island"}} won a Silver Award at the 2003 British Advertising Awards.{{cite web | url=http://www.creativecircle.co.uk/2003/silverhonours.htm | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060929234438/http://www.creativecircle.co.uk/2003/silverhonours.htm | url-status=dead | archive-date=September 29, 2006 | title = British Advertising Awards – Silver Honours 2003 | year = 2003}}{{cite web | url=http://www.perlmanpages.com/tvseries/stella1.htm | title = Ron Perlman stars in a British Advertising Award winning Stella Artois beer commercial | year = 2003}}{{Dead link|date=October 2011}} He got another leading film role in 2004 when he played the title role in the comic book adaptation Hellboy. Perlman reprised his role as Hellboy in the straight to DVD animated features Hellboy: Sword of Storms (2006) and Hellboy: Blood and Iron (2007) as well as Hellboy II: The Golden Army (2008).
In 2008, Perlman joined the cast of the television series Sons of Anarchy on FX playing Clay Morrow, the national president of the Sons of Anarchy Motorcycle Club. He also played Wes Chandler in the second and third seasons of StartUp in 2017–2018.
In 2022, Perlman starred in Steven Brand's noir thriller Joe Baby alongside Dichen Lachman, Willa Fitzgerald and Harvey Keitel.{{cite web | last=Grobar | first=Matt | title='Severance's Dichen Lachman, Willa Fitzgerald, Ron Perlman & Harvey Keitel To Topline Noir 'Joe Baby' | website=Deadline | date=June 27, 2022 | url=https://deadline.com/2022/06/dichen-lachman-willa-fitzgerald-ron-perlman-harvey-keitel-set-for-joe-baby-1235052908/ | access-date=September 23, 2022}} In 2023, Perlman starred in the Western thriller Cottonmouth, which is set for release in 2024.{{cite web |url= https://deadline.com/2023/09/ron-perlman-martin-sensmeier-western-cottonmouth-filming-oklahoma-sag-agreement-1235558479/ |title= Martin Sensmeier, Ron Perlman, Esai Morales & Eric Nelsen Lead Western 'Cottonmouth'; Filming Underway In Oklahoma |access-date= September 28, 2023 |author= Andreas Wiseman |date= September 28, 2023 |work= Deadline Hollywood }} Perlman starred in the 2024 horror film Succubus, written and directed by R.J. Daniel Hanna.{{Cite web |last=Lang |first=Brent |date=May 14, 2024 |title=Archstone Entertainment Acquires International Rights to Ron Perlman Horror Film 'Succubus,' Vanessa Del Rio Biopic (EXCLUSIVE) |url=https://variety.com/2024/film/news/archstone-entertainment-international-rights-ron-perlman-horror-film-succubus-vanessa-del-rio-film-1236000465/ |access-date=September 26, 2024 |website=Variety |language=en-US |archive-date=July 31, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240731163600/https://variety.com/2024/film/news/archstone-entertainment-international-rights-ron-perlman-horror-film-succubus-vanessa-del-rio-film-1236000465/ |url-status=live }}
= Voice-over work =
File:Ron Perlman by Gage Skidmore 2.jpg in July 2011]]
Perlman also has a successful career as a voice actor. He has portrayed characters in numerous video games and animated series, and done voice-over work for television commercials.{{Cite web|url=https://www.ispot.tv/ad/wLa7/2018-dodge-challenger-srt-demon-the-truth|title=2018 Dodge Challenger SRT Demon TV Commercial, 'The Truth'|website=iSpot.tv|language=en|access-date=April 15, 2017}} These include Casper High English teacher and vice-principal Mr. Lancer in Danny Phantom, "Mickey Kaline" in Hey Arnold!, The Lich in Adventure Time, Kurtis Stryker in Mortal Kombat: Defenders of the Realm, Justice in Afro Samurai and various characters in DC Comics based series such as the villainous Slade, a version of DC character Deathstroke in the Teen Titans animated series and again in Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox, Clayface in Batman: The Animated Series and The New Batman Adventures, Jax-Ur in Superman: The Animated Series, Orion in Justice League and Justice League Unlimited (the former in which he reprised his role as Clayface as well as voice Orion), Sozin in Avatar: The Last Airbender, several villains (Killer Croc, Rumor and Bane) in The Batman, Doctor Double X in Batman: The Brave and the Bold, and Sinestro in Green Lantern: The Animated Series. In addition, he served as the narrator for 1000 Ways to Die from 2009 to 2012.
His video game credits include Terrence Hood in the games Halo 2 and Halo 3, Jagger Valance in The Chronicles of Riddick: Escape from Butcher Bay, and Batman in Justice League Heroes. He is well known by Fallout fans for narrating the introductory movies in the series, including uttering the famous phrase "War. War never changes." He also voices "Slade" in the 2008 Turok game, and Emil Blonsky / Abomination in Incredible Hulk: Ultimate Destruction, Conan for the PS3 and Xbox 360, and voices the fast-talking Mayor Hoodoo Brown in the Neversoft game Gun. He also made an appearance in Payday 2 as "Rust", part of the "Biker Pack" DLC.{{Cite news |url=http://www.pcgamer.com/ron-perlman-stars-in-payday-2s-biker-packs-dlc-out-this-week/ |title=Ron Perlman stars in Payday 2's Biker Packs DLC, out this week |journal=PC Gamer |access-date=December 30, 2017 |date=June 13, 2016 |first=Tom |last=Sykes |publisher=Future Publishing Limited |archive-date=September 26, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240926233835/https://www.pcgamer.com/ron-perlman-stars-in-payday-2s-biker-packs-dlc-out-this-week/ |url-status=live }} In Call of Duty: Black Ops III (2016), Perlman offered his likeness and voice to one of the lead playable characters in the game's popular Zombies mode.{{Cite news |last=O'Connor |first=Alice |date=July 10, 2015 |title=Jeff Goldblum & Ron Perlman Star In Cod Blops 3 Zombies |language=en |work=Rock, Paper, Shotgun |url=https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/cod-blops-3-zombies-jeff-goldblum-ron-perlman |access-date=July 16, 2023 |archive-date=July 16, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230716201723/https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/cod-blops-3-zombies-jeff-goldblum-ron-perlman |url-status=live }}
Perlman was the narrator of the 2013 award-winning documentary "FORGET US NOT The 5 Million Non-Jewish Victims", currently available on Amazon Prime (2025).
Perlman has also provided narration for a number of audiobooks, including City of Thieves by David Benioff. Perlman also does narration in the UFC's cold open promos for pay-per-view events.{{Cite web|last=Okoh|first=Joseph|title=How long has Hellboy actor Ron Perlman been working with the UFC?|url=https://www.sportskeeda.com/mma/news-how-long-hellboy-actor-ron-perlman-working-ufc|access-date=September 26, 2021|website=www.sportskeeda.com|date=January 16, 2021|language=en-us|archive-date=August 11, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210811193558/https://www.sportskeeda.com/mma/news-how-long-hellboy-actor-ron-perlman-working-ufc|url-status=live}}
Personal life
Perlman married Opal Stone, an Afro-Jamaican jewelry designer, on Valentine's Day 1981 and they had two children together: daughter Blake Amanda (b. 1984) and son Brandon Avery (b. 1990).{{cite book |last=Perlman |first=Ron |date=2015 |title= Easy Street (the Hard Way) |location=Boston |publisher=Da Capo Press |isbn= 978-0306824180 |author-link=Ron Perlman}} They separated in May 2019 and Perlman later filed for divorce.{{cite news |last1=Fernandez |first1=Alexia |title=Ron Perlman Files for Divorce from Wife of 38 Years, 5 Months After He Was Seen Kissing Costar |url=https://people.com/movies/ron-perlman-files-divorce-wife-38-years/ |access-date=November 9, 2019 |work=People |date=November 5, 2019 |language=en |archive-date=November 8, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191108231705/https://people.com/movies/ron-perlman-files-divorce-wife-38-years/ |url-status=live }} In 2022, Perlman married his StartUp co-star Allison Dunbar in Italy after three years of dating.{{Cite web |date=June 28, 2022 |first=Juliana |last=Perri |title=Ron Perlman Marries Fiancée Allison Dunbar in Italy: 'Spring Has Indeed Sprung' |url=https://people.com/movies/ron-perlman-marries-fiancee-allison-dunbar-in-italy/ |access-date=June 28, 2022 |website=people.com |language=en}} His son Brandon produces electronic music under the stage name Delroy Edwards.{{cite web |url=http://interviewly.com/i/ron-perlman-apr-2014-reddit |title=Interviewly |date=April 7, 2014 |access-date=December 3, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161203130406/http://interviewly.com/i/ron-perlman-apr-2014-reddit |archive-date=December 3, 2016 |url-status=dead}}
Perlman is a lifelong Democrat.{{cite tweet|author=Ron Perlman|author-link=Ron Perlman|user=perlmutations|number=797302123700617216|date=November 11, 2016|title=I am a lifelong Democrat. Because I believe that when Government is at its best, it is meant to help the average Joe!|access-date=August 14, 2017}} He has been a vocal critic of U.S. President Donald Trump,{{Cite web|last=Moran|first=Lee|date=July 3, 2020|title=Ron Perlman Names 'Sick And Twisted' Part Of Trump Presidency That Blows His Mind|url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/ron-perlman-donald-trump-blows-mind_n_5efeff73c5b612083c5a4fef|access-date=August 20, 2021|website=HuffPost|language=en|archive-date=August 20, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210820140308/https://www.huffpost.com/entry/ron-perlman-donald-trump-blows-mind_n_5efeff73c5b612083c5a4fef|url-status=live}} whose son Donald Trump Jr. called Perlman "a coward" for allegedly being aware of Weinstein's sexual abuses on several women in the entertainment industry and staying silent about it. In 2018, Perlman claimed that he intentionally urinated on his hand prior to shaking Harvey Weinstein's hand followed by the message "I think about that every time lil Donnie opens up his KFC."{{Cite web|last=Sharf|first=Zack|date=June 26, 2018|title=Donald Trump Jr. Suggests Ron Perlman Knew About Harvey Weinstein's Sexual Abuse, Calls Him a 'Coward' For Being Silent|url=https://www.indiewire.com/2018/06/donald-trump-jr-accuses-ron-perlman-harvey-weinstein-piss-handshake-1201978877/|access-date=August 20, 2021|website=IndieWire|language=en|archive-date=August 20, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210820140308/https://www.indiewire.com/2018/06/donald-trump-jr-accuses-ron-perlman-harvey-weinstein-piss-handshake-1201978877/|url-status=live}}
On November 9, 2016, Perlman announced via Facebook his intention to run for U.S. President in the 2020 election.{{Cite news|first=Karen|last=Brill|url=http://www.vulture.com/2016/11/ron-perlman-announces-2020-presidential-run.html|title=Ron Perlman Announces Intention to Run for President in 2020, Seemingly Beats You to Being Able to Laugh About Any of This|website=Vulture|date=November 9, 2016|access-date=February 19, 2017|language=en|archive-date=February 20, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170220102705/http://www.vulture.com/2016/11/ron-perlman-announces-2020-presidential-run.html|url-status=live}} In January 2019, he endorsed the candidacy of Kamala Harris.{{cite web|first=Aris|last=Folley|url=https://thehill.com/blogs/in-the-know/in-the-know/426885-ron-perlman-says-kamala-harris-already-has-his-vote-for-2020|title=Ron Perlman Says Kamala Harris Already Has His Vote For 2020|newspaper=The Hill|date=January 24, 2019|access-date=March 23, 2019|archive-date=April 14, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190414150357/https://thehill.com/blogs/in-the-know/in-the-know/426885-ron-perlman-says-kamala-harris-already-has-his-vote-for-2020|url-status=live}} Perlman spoke in support of the 2023 SAG-AFTRA and WGA strikes and criticized an executive from the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers who said that the association should delay negotiations with striking workers until they began to lose their homes.{{Cite web |last=Travis |first=Emlyn |date=July 15, 2023 |title=Ron Perlman clarifies remarks warning studio exec about their home |url=https://ew.com/celebrity/ron-perlman-clarifies-remarks-warning-studio-exec-about-home-sag-wag-strikes/ |access-date=July 16, 2023 |website=EW.com |language=en |archive-date=July 16, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230716192711/https://ew.com/celebrity/ron-perlman-clarifies-remarks-warning-studio-exec-about-home-sag-wag-strikes/ |url-status=live }}
Filmography
{{main|List of Ron Perlman performances}}
Books
References
{{Reflist|30em}}
External links
- {{IMDb name|579}}
- {{IBDB name|55942}}
- {{iobdb name|20269}}
- {{TCMdb name}}
{{GoldenGlobeBestActorTVDrama 1969–1989}}{{Sons of Anarchy}}{{Authority control}}
{{Subject bar|portal1=Biography|commons=y|q=y|d=y}}
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Category:20th-century American Jews
Category:20th-century American male actors
Category:21st-century American male actors
Category:21st-century American Jews
Category:American Ashkenazi Jews
Category:American male film actors
Category:American male television actors
Category:American male video game actors
Category:American male voice actors
Category:American people of Hungarian-Jewish descent
Category:American people of Polish-Jewish descent
Category:Best Drama Actor Golden Globe (television) winners
Category:Comedians from Manhattan
Category:Jews from New York (state)
Category:George Washington Educational Campus alumni
Category:Jewish American male actors
Category:Jewish American comedians
Category:Jewish male comedians
Category:Lehman College alumni
Category:Male actors from Manhattan
Category:New York (state) Democrats
Category:People from Washington Heights, Manhattan
Category:University of Minnesota College of Liberal Arts alumni