Alfred Molina

Early life and education

He was born Alfredo Molina 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.

Molina grew up in a working-class district in Notting Hill 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, as well as auditioning for and becoming a member of the National Youth Theatre. Molina admitted in May 2024 that his father was disappointed in him for pursuing a career in acting.

At the age of 21, he anglicised his name to Alfred, at the urging of his first agent.

Career

1978–1989: 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' 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."

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.

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. 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).

Alfred made his Broadway debut in Yasmina Reza’s Art in 1998 and subsequently performed on Broadway as Tevye in Fiddler on the Roof and Mark Rothko in Red.

2000–2009: Established actor

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 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.

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. 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, and Spider-Man: No Way Home, 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.

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. 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. 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. The trailer came out in 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. He would also play the narrator in the film version of Harold and the Purple Crayon. Recently he voiced the character of Benjamin Franklin in BBC Radio 4's adaptation of the musical 1776.

Personal life

Molina resides in Los Angeles, California. He has been a dual U.K./U.S. citizen since 2004. In 2017, he moved to La Cañada Flintridge. In addition to English, he is fluent in French, Italian and Spanish.

Molina has a daughter, Rachel, from a previous relationship. In 1986, Molina married actress Jill Gascoine in Tower Hamlets, London. They remained married until her death on 28 April 2020 in Los Angeles from Alzheimer's disease. 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.

Molina is an advocate for people with 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. 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.

Stage credits

Filmography

Film

Feature films

Short films

Direct-to-video films

Television

TV series

TV films and miniseries

Radio and audiobooks

Video games

Awards and nominations

Main article: List of awards and nominations received by Alfred Molina

References

References

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2. 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]].
3. (25 April 2018). "Alfred Molina – actor – interview".
4. Henderson, Kathy. (26 February 2007). "Broadway Buzz: Q&A: Alfred Molina".
5. Hattenstone, Simon. (15 July 2004). "I give good foreign". The Guardian.
6. (2004). "Current biography yearbook, Volume 65". H. W. Wilson Co..
7. Antón, Jacinto. (29 September 2024). "From Republican soldiers to 'Tommies': The Spaniards who wore British uniforms to fight in World War II". El Pais.
8. "Alfred Molina scales new heights in ''Fiddler on the Roof''".
9. (24 May 1953). "Alfred Molina Biography".
10. Daniel, Alex. (18 September 2016). "On my radar: Alfred Molina's cultural highlights". The Guardian.
11. Sharf, Zack. (1 May 2024). "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'".
12. Thomas, Carly. (2 May 2024). "Alfred Molina Fights Tears Recalling His Father Rejecting His Acting Career: "I Did Disappoint My Dad"".
13. (28 April 2018). "Alfred Molina interview: 'All men are raised to talk down to women'". The Telegraph.
14. Lewishohn, Mark. (2003). "Radio Times Guide to TV Comedy". [[BBC Worldwide]].
15. Bobbin, Jay. (7 January 2013). "'Raiders of the Lost Ark's' Alfred Molina: How Indiana Jones 'saved my bacon'".
16. Pelley, Rich. (5 March 2019). "How we made Red Dwarf". [[The Guardian]].
17. Richmond, Ray. (16 September 1999). "Ladies Man". [[Variety (magazine).
18. Hilsman, Hoyt. (18 March 1993). "A Year in Provence Winter". Variety.
19. (12 May 1995). "A Story Of Cuban Immigrants, 'Perez Family' Transcends Its Plot". The Spokesman-Review.
20. Baumgarten, Marjorie. (12 May 1995). "The Perez Family". Austin Chronicle.
21. Rainer, Peter. (12 May 1995). "MOVIE REVIEW : 'The Perez Family': Saga in Need of a Thermostat". Los Angeles Times.
22. Wilmington, Michael. (7 January 2000). "'MAGNOLIA' TELLS ITS TALES WITH ORIGINALITY AND DARING". [[Chicago Tribune]].
23. https://www.lct.org/shows/people/alfred-molina/
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25. (26 June 2008). "Comics Continuum cast list". Comicscontinuum.com.
26. Jones, Kenneth. (14 June 2010). "Just the Winners: 2010 Tony Awards List". [[Playbill]].
27. (2008). "The Audies 2008 Winners".
28. Baluch, Lalayn. (17 April 2009). "West to appear in Donmar's Life is a Dream". [[The Stage]].
29. Michael Billington. (15 May 2018). "''Red'' review – Alfred Molina's portrait is as layered as a Rothko canvas". [[The Guardian]].
30. (15 September 2009). "Molina stars opposite Dawn French".
31. Frost, Vicky. (9 March 2012). "Have you been watching … Roger & Val Have Just Got In?". The Guardian.
32. (6 March 2016). "Which actor has the most minifigures?".
33. Stanhope, Kate. (24 July 2010). "Alfred Molina Signs on to Law & Order: Los Angeles".
34. Boedeker, Hal. (10 September 2005). "Emmy, she hopes, on 18th try". [[Orlando Sentinel]].
35. "Testimonials".
36. (8 December 2020). "'Spider-Man 3': Alfred Molina Returning as Doctor Octopus".
37. Aurthur, Kate. (16 April 2021). "Alfred Molina Details Doc Ock's Return in 'Spider-Man: No Way Home': 'The Tentacles Do All the Work' (Exclusive)".
38. (2 September 2021). "Alfred Molina To Star In Amazon Police Drama Series 'Three Pines' From 'The Crown' Producer Left Bank".
39. (18 October 2022). "Three Pines – Official Teaser {{!}} Prime Video".
40. "Steve Carell Will Make Broadway Debut as Uncle Vanya Alongside Alison Pill".
41. Walsh, Katie. (2 August 2024). "Review: 'Harold and the Purple Crayon' draws a perplexing adaptation". Seattle Times.
42. "Drama on 4: 1776 (Story of America) - Episode 1".
43. "Drama on 4: 1776 (Story of America) - Episode 2".
44. Kirkland, Bruce. (27 June 2004). "Alfred Molina set for big-time recognition". [[Canoe Inc.]].
45. Leitereg, Neal J.. (25 July 2017). "'Feud' star Alfred Molina snaps up view-house in La Cañada Flintridge". [[Los Angeles Times]].
46. (2 December 2022). "Alfred Molina champions indigenous people in telling their own stories".
47. (20 November 2015). "'Secret in Their Eyes' Star Alfred Molina Talks Diversity in Casting and the Hollywood Industry".
48. (29 April 2020). "The Gentle Touch star Jill Gascoine dies aged 83".
49. (29 April 2020). "Jill Gascoine: Pioneering British actress dies at 83". BBC News.
50. (7 November 2019). "Jennifer Lee, Queen of the 'Frozen' Franchise". The New York Times.
51. (December 2010 – January 2011). "Alfred Molina – Interview". [[Ability (magazine).
52. Mahbubani, Rhea. (27 April 2013). "Walking with pride, support and strength". [[Los Angeles Times]].
53. (2014). "Walk On". [[Santa Fe Film Festival]].
54. Molina, Alfred. (14 March 2010). "The Hot Seat: Alfred Molina".
55. "Alfred Molina (visual voices guide)". Behind The Voice Actors.
56. Luchies, Adam. (May 24, 2023). "A Classic {{'}}''Spider-Man''{{'}} Villain Appears in New {{'}}''Across the Spider-Verse''{{'}} TV Spot".
57. Goldberg, Lesley. (5 May 2016). "Ryan Murphy Anthology 'Feud,' Starring Jessica Lange and Susan Sarandon, Set at FX". Hollywood Reporter.
58. Foertsch, Rachel. (21 July 2023). "Petey Meets Her New Human Shih Tzu In Praise Petey Clip [EXCLUSIVE]". [[Screen Rant]].
59. Eakin, Marah. (13 June 2016). "Exclusive: Hey Arnold! movie gets a name, hefty slate of returning voice actors".
60. (13 October 2018). "20 Crazy Details Behind The Making Of Spider-Man 2".
61. "The Elder Scrolls Online: Elsweyr – Alfred Molina as Abnur Tharn Video".