Alfred Molina

British actor (born 1953)Template:SHORTDESC:British actor (born 1953)

**Alfred Molina** (born **Alfredo Molina**; 24 May 1953) is an English actor known for his work on the stage and screen. 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 made his film debut as Satipo in *Raiders of the Lost Ark* and his Broadway debut as Yvan in a production of *Art* from 1998 to 1999. His other Broadway roles include Tevye in the musical *Fiddler on the Roof* from 2004 to 2005 and Mark Rothko in the play *Red* from 2009 to 2010.

On screen, his best known roles include Kenneth Halliwell in *Prick Up Your Ears* (1987), Sayyed Bozorg Mahmoody in *Not Without My Daughter*, (1991), Mellersh Wilkins in *Enchanted April* (1992), Rahad Jackson in *Boogie Nights* (1997), Comte de Reynaud in *Chocolat* (2000), Diego Rivera in *Frida* (2002), Johann Tetzel in *Luther* (2003), Bishop Aringarosa in *The Da Vinci Code* (2006), Jack Mellor in *An Education* (2009), and George in *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 the superhero films *Spider-Man 2* (2004) and *Spider-Man: No Way Home* (2021).

Molina's work has brought him widespread acclaim. For his portrayal of Robert Aldrich in the miniseries *Feud* (2017), he was nominated for a Golden Globe Award and a Primetime Emmy Award. He received a BAFTA Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor for his performance in *Frida*, and has also been nominated for an Independent Spirit Award, a British Independent Film Award, five Screen Actors Guild Awards, and three Tony Awards.

## Early life

He was born Alfredo Molina on 24 May 1953 in Paddington, London. His father, Esteban Molina, was a Spanish immigrant from Murcia, who came to England in 1939, and worked as a waiter and chauffeur. His mother, Giovanna (née Bonelli), was an Italian immigrant who moved to Britain after World War II, and who cleaned rooms in a hotel, and worked as a cook and housekeeper. Molina grew up in a working class district in Notting Hill that was inhabited by many other immigrant families. He decided to become an actor after seeing *Spartacus* at the age of nine, and attended the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, as well as auditioning for and becoming a member of the National Youth Theatre. At the age of 21, he changed his name to Alfred, at the urging of his first agent.

## Career

### Early work

Molina appeared with Leonard Rossiter in the sitcom *The Losers* (1978). 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' 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."

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.

### 1990s

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 1999–2001. 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. 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. Marjorie Baumgarten praised Molina as attaining "the right mixture of gentle honor and baffled stupefaction" to portray his character, although Peter Rainer of *Los Angeles Times* called Molina "so intensely sodden that he’s like a great big scowling dark cloud." Molina has worked twice with Paul Thomas Anderson, first in *Boogie Nights* (1997) and then in *Magnolia* (1999).

### 2000s

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), 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*.

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 *'Art'*, for which he received a Tony nomination in 1998. In 2004, Molina returned to the stage, starring as Tevye in the Broadway production of *Fiddler on the Roof*. For his performance he once again received a Tony Award nomination, this time for Best Actor in a Musical. He received his third Tony Award nomination for *Red* in 2010, for Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Play.

In 2007, Molina narrated a 17-part original audiobook for Audible.com called *The Chopin Manuscript*. This serialized 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 form Audio Publishers Association.

### 2010s

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. 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.

In 2010, Molina starred opposite Dawn French in the six-part BBC sitcom *Roger & Val Have Just Got In*, with a second series in 2012.

Molina has three Lego Minifigures modelled after him, namely Doctor Octopus from *Spider-Man 2*, Satipo from *Raiders of the Lost Ark* and Sheik Amar from *Prince of Persia*.

In July 2010, it was announced that Molina had joined the cast of *Law & Order: LA* as Deputy District Attorney Morales. 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*.

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.

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.

### 2020s

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* in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, set to premiere on 17 December 2021. 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.

## Personal life

Molina married actress Jill Gascoine in Tower Hamlets, London. They were married from 1986 until her death on 28 April 2020 in Los Angeles from Alzheimer's disease.

Molina resides in Los Angeles, California. In 2004, he announced that he had become a U.S. citizen. He is fluent in English, Spanish, and Italian. In 2017, he moved to La Cañada Flintridge.

In addition to acting, 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 (who has been HIV+ and paraplegic since his birth, c. 1989) about Kibler's life titled *Walk On*, first screened in 2013.

Molina endorsed Senator Bernie Sanders for President in the 2016 U.S. presidential election.

In November 2019, director Jennifer Lee confirmed that she is in a relationship with Molina. They were married in August 2021.

For his portrayal of Sayyed Bozorg Mahmoody in *Not Without My Daughter*, Molina was once assaulted on his way to a rehearsal by a man who mistook him for Mahmoody.

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 <templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>Garcia, Tiffany (10 August 2021). "Alfred Molina marries 'Frozen' director Jennifer Lee". *New York Post*. Retrieved 23 August 2021.
2. ↑ Alfred Molina - actor - interview (25 April 2018).
3. ↑ Henderson, Kathy (26 February 2007). Broadway Buzz: Q&A: Alfred Molina.
4. ↑ <templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>Hattenstone, Simon (15 July 2004). "I give good foreign". *The Guardian*. London. Retrieved 23 April 2010.
5. ↑  *Current biography yearbook, Volume 65*. H. W. Wilson Co.. 2004. p. 381.
6. ↑ <templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>"Alfred Molina scales new heights in *Fiddler on the Roof*". *CNN*. Archived from the original on 4 April 2004. Retrieved 20 May 2013.
7. ↑ <templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>Power, Vicki (4 November 2016). "Alfred Molina: 'My mother and I had a few moments that were like the third act of Aida'". *The Guardian*. Retrieved 17 December 2017.
8. ↑ Alfred Molina Biography (24 May 1953).
9. ↑ <templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>Daniel, Alex (18 September 2016). "On my radar: Alfred Molina's cultural highlights". *The Guardian*. Retrieved 17 December 2017.
10. ↑ <templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>Secher, Benjamin (28 April 2018). "Alfred Molina interview: 'All men are raised to talk down to women'". *The Telegraph*. ISSN 0307-1235. Archived from the original on 10 January 2022. Retrieved 23 March 2019 – via www.telegraph.co.uk.
11. ↑ Lewishohn, Mark (2003). *Radio Times Guide to TV Comedy*. London: BBC Worldwide. ISBN 978-0-563-48755-5.
12. ↑ Bobbin, Jay (7 January 2013). 'Raiders of the Lost Ark's' Alfred Molina: How Indiana Jones 'saved my bacon'.
13. ↑ Pelley, Rich (5 March 2019). How we made Red Dwarf. *The Guardian*.
14. ↑ <templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>Richmond, Ray (16 September 1999). "Ladies Man". *Variety*. Retrieved 17 December 2017.
15. ↑ <templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>Hilsman, Hoyt (18 March 1993). "A Year in Provence Winter". *Variety*. Retrieved 17 December 2017.
16. ↑ A Story Of Cuban Immigrants, ‘Perez Family’ Transcends Its Plot. The Spokesman-Review (May 12, 1995).
17. ↑ Baumgarten, Marjorie (May 12, 1995). The Perez Family. Austin Chronicle.
18. ↑ Rainer, Peter (May 12, 1995). MOVIE REVIEW : ‘The Perez Family’: Saga in Need of a Thermostat. Los Angeles Times.
19. ↑ <templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>Wilmington, Michael (7 January 2000). "`MAGNOLIA' TELLS ITS TALES WITH ORIGINALITY AND DARING". *Chicago Tribune*. Retrieved 17 December 2017.
20. ↑ <templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>Otto, Jeff (25 June 2004). "Interview: Tobey Maguire and Alfred Molina". *IGN*. Archived from the original on 18 May 2012. Retrieved 30 April 2007.
21. ↑ Comics Continuum cast list. Comicscontinuum.com (26 June 2008).
22. ↑ <templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>Jones, Kenneth (14 June 2010). "Just the Winners: 2010 Tony Awards List". *Playbill*. Retrieved 17 December 2017.
23. ↑ The Audies 2008 Winners (2008).
24. ↑ Template:Cite journal
25. ↑ <templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>Michael Billington (15 May 2018). "*Red* review – Alfred Molina's portrait is as layered as a Rothko canvas". *The Guardian*. Retrieved 6 June 2018.
26. ↑ <templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>"Molina stars opposite Dawn French". *BBC News*. 15 September 2009. Retrieved 26 September 2009.
27. ↑ <templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>Frost, Vicky (9 March 2012). "Have you been watching … Roger & Val Have Just Got In?". *The Guardian*. Retrieved 17 December 2017.
28. ↑ Which actor has the most minifigures? (6 March 2016).
29. ↑ Stanhope, Kate (24 July 2010). Alfred Molina Signs on to Law & Order: Los Angeles.
30. ↑ <templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>Boedeker, Hal (10 September 2005). "Emmy, she hopes, on 18th try". *Orlando Sentinel*. Retrieved 17 December 2017.
31. ↑ Testimonials.
32. ↑ Couch, Aaron (December 8, 2020). 'Spider-Man 3': Alfred Molina Returning as Doctor Octopus.
33. ↑ Aurthur, Kate (April 16, 2021). Alfred Molina Details Doc Ock's Return in 'Spider-Man: No Way Home': 'The Tentacles Do All the Work' (Exclusive).
34. ↑ The Gentle Touch star Jill Gascoine dies aged 83 (29 April 2020).
35. ↑ <templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>"Jill Gascoine: Pioneering British actress dies at 83". *BBC News*. 29 April 2020. Retrieved 29 April 2020.
36. ↑ Kirkland, Bruce (27 June 2004). Alfred Molina set for big-time recognition. *JAM! Movies*. Canoe Inc..
37. ↑ <templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>Leitereg, Neal J. (25 July 2017). "'Feud' star Alfred Molina snaps up view-house in La Cañada Flintridge". *Los Angeles Times*. Archived from the original on 14 June 2018. Retrieved 30 September 2018.
38. ↑ Template:Cite journal
39. ↑ <templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>Mahbubani, Rhea (27 April 2013). "Walking with pride, support and strength". *Los Angeles Times*. Archived from the original on 12 June 2018. Retrieved 2 January 2016.
40. ↑ Walk On. *Santa Fe Film Festival* (2014).
41. ↑ <templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>Mason, Melanie; Moore, Maloy; Lauder, Thomas Suh (22 October 2015). "The Hollywood heavyweights funding the 2016 presidential fight". *Los Angeles Times*. Retrieved 9 December 2015.
42. ↑ <templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>Dowd, Maureen (7 November 2019). "Jennifer Lee, Queen of the 'Frozen' Franchise". *The New York Times*. Retrieved 25 November 2019.
43. ↑ Template:Cite interview
44. ↑ Template:Cite journal
45. ↑ Eakin, Marah (13 June 2016). Exclusive: Hey Arnold! movie gets a name, hefty slate of returning voice actors.
46. ↑ 20 Crazy Details Behind The Making Of Spider-Man 2.
47. ↑ The Elder Scrolls Online: Elsweyr - Alfred Molina as Abnur Tharn Video.

## External links

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* Alfred Molina at IMDb
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* Alfred Molina interviewed on Downstage Center XM Radio at American Theatre Wing, November 2004
* Q&A: Alfred Molina

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