For over four decades, Gary Oldman has had an illustrious career in film and television. Making his professional acting debut in theater in 1979, the English actor and filmmaker has worked on over 100 screen projects and received over 110 award nominations. Oldman is regarded as one of his generation’s most talented actors.
Known for his intense acting style and range, Gary Oldman has portrayed several iconic fictional and real-life historical characters. From Head of State, musician, playwright, and composer to portraying Count Dracula, Oldman has shown no role is too difficult for him to embody. Here are 10 historical characters Gary Oldman portrayed to perfection.
1. Sid Vicious in Sid and Nancy
One of Gary Oldman‘s earliest roles was in Alex Cox’s 1986 British biographical film Sid and Nancy. In the movie, which was the first time he was portraying a real-life person, Oldman was cast as Sid Vicious. Although Sid died young at age 21, he’s still regarded as an icon in the punk subculture. Sid Vicious was the bassist of the British punk band Sex Pistols.
Although not an original band member, Sid replaced bassist Glen Matlock. Sid and Nancy focus on Sid’s tumultuous relationship with his girlfriend, Nancy Spungen (portrayed by Chloe Webb). Its plot centered around the destructive love affair and tragic events leading to Nancy’s death. Gary Oldman’s portrayal of Sid Vicious is widely acclaimed and is considered one of his breakout roles.
2. Joe Orton in Prick Up Your Ears
The following year, Gary Oldman portrayed celebrated English playwright Joe Orton in Prick Up Your Ears (1987). Despite his short-lived life, Joe Orton was known for his darkly comedic and provocative works. Prick Up Your Ears explores Orton’s rise to fame and his tumultuous relationship with his lover and mentor, Kenneth Halliwell (portrayed by Alfred Molina). It also portrayed the tragic events leading to Orton’s murder-suicide at Halliwell’s hands on August 9, 1967. Again, Gary Oldman’s performance received special praise for its depth and authenticity.
3. Lee Harvey Oswald in JFK
In the 1991 JFK epic political thriller, Gary Oldman portrayed the infamous Lee Harvey Oswald, the alleged assassin of President John F. Kennedy. The film explores the various conspiracy theories surrounding Kennedy’s assassination, and Oldman’s performance is central to the movie’s depiction of the events leading up to and following November 22, 1963. The movie also starred Kevin Costner (who portrayed Jim Garrison), Kevin Bacon, Tommy Lee Jones, Laurie Metcalf, Michael Rooker, Joe Pesci, and Donald Sutherland. Although the movie had several controversies surrounding its plot, JFK was a commercial success. It grossed $205.4 million at the Box Office against its $40 million budget.
4. Ludwig van Beethoven in Immortal Beloved
The next time audiences watched Gary Oldman portray a real-life historical figure was in 1994. He portrayed legendary German composer Ludwig van Beethoven in Bernard Rose’s biographical film Immortal Beloved. The film explores Beethoven’s life and the mystery surrounding his Unsterbliche Geliebte (Immortal Beloved). This mysterious woman is mentioned and addressed in three letters, which were discovered after Beethoven’s death. Immortal Beloved’s plot unfolds through flashbacks and from the perspectives of people close to Beethoven. Dutch actor Jeroen Krabbé portrayed Anton Felix Schindler, Beethoven’s assistant and close friend. Gary Oldman delivered a powerful performance, capturing Beethoven’s genius, passion, and tormented personality.
5. Pontius Pilate in Jesus
Besides his recent project on Apple TV+ British spy thriller Slow Horses, Gary Oldman’s television career has mostly been guest appearances and TV movie roles. One such TV movie was the 1999 Italian-American biblical historical miniseries Jesus. In the biblical drama, directed by Roger Young, Oldman portrayed Roman governor Pontius Pilate. Jesus tells the story of Jesus Christ’s life, ministry, and crucifixion. Biblically, Pontius Pilate is best known for presiding over the trial of Jesus and ordering his crucifixion. Gary Oldman’s portrayal of the Roman governor captures the governor’s inner conflict and struggle as he faces pressure to authorize Jesus’ crucifixion. American actor Jeremy Sisto and British actress Jacqueline Bisset portrayed Jesus and his mother, Mary.
6. Winston Churchill in Darkest Hour
After playing Pontius Pilate, Gary Oldman’s next portrayal of a historical figure happened 18 years later, in 2017. However, during this period, he portrayed several fictional historical characters. These include Mason Verger (in Hannibal), Sirius Black (in Harry Potter films), James Gordon (in Batman Begins), Bob Cratchit (in A Christmas Carol), and George Smiley (in Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy).
Oldman’s 18-year hiatus from portraying real-life figures paid off in Joe Wright’s 2017 biographical war drama Darkest Hour. Oldman portrayed British Prime Minister Winston Churchill during the early days of World War II. Darkest Hour focuses on Churchill’s leadership during the critical period when the United Kingdom faced the threat of Nazi invasion.
The country had to decide between negotiating peace and continuing the fight against Adolf Hitler. Gary Oldman underwent a dramatic physical transformation for the role, aided by extensive prosthetics and makeup. His portrayal earned the actor widespread acclaim and brought Oldman his second Oscar nomination and only win.
7. Jürgen Mossack in The Laundromat
Gary Oldman joined the star-studded cast of Steven Soderbergh’s 2019 comedy-drama portraying Jürgen Mossack. The character is one of the two founders of the Panamanian law firm Mossack Fonseca, which he co-founded with Ramón Fonseca (portrayed by Antonio Banderas). Oldman and Banderas narrate parts of the film, explaining the intricacies of offshore financial systems. The Laundromat is a satirical take on the Panama Papers scandal, which exposed widespread tax evasion and money laundering through offshore accounts. Gary Oldman’s performance as the German-born Panamanian lawyer Jürgen Mossack, with a heavy German accent and comedic flair, highlighted the absurdity and corruption underlying these financial schemes.
8. Herman J. Mankiewicz in Mank
Gary Oldman played the titular and central character in David Fincher’s 2020 biographical drama Mank. Oldman portrayed American screenwriter Herman J. Mankiewicz. The movie explores Mankiewicz’s tumultuous journey as he worked on Citizen Kane’s screenplay. Gary Oldman portrayed the sharp-witted but self-destructive screenwriter with a focus on his struggles with alcoholism. It also explores his complicated relationships in Hollywood and his clash with powerful figures like William Randolph Hearst (portrayed by Charles Dance) and Marion Davies (Amanda Seyfried). Gary Oldman’s performance earned him his third Academy Awards nomination.
9. Harry S. Truman in Oppenheimer
In Christopher Nolan’s 2023 Oscar-winning biographical drama Oppenheimer, Gary Oldman makes a brief yet impactful appearance as President Harry S. Truman. In the scene, President Truman meets with J. Robert Oppenheimer (portrayed by Cillian Murphy), who’s visibly distressed over the devastating consequences of the atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. In one of the movie’s powerful statements, President Truman dismissed and berated Oppenheimer’s remorse, emphasizing that as President, the responsibility for the decision to deploy the bombs laid on his table.
10. John Cheever in Parthenope
Gary Oldman’s most recent portrayal of a real-life person in a movie is Paolo Sorrentino’s 2024 coming-of-age drama Parthenope. Oldman is cast as American short story writer and novelist John Cheever. His role, though brief, adds depth to the film’s exploration of beauty and its disruptive power. Parthenope was co-produced internationally by Italy and France. If you enjoyed reading these real-life person roles portrayed by Gary Oldman, check out all the times Will Smith portrayed real-life people.
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