Tom Wilkinson Biography 

English-born performer Tom Wilkinson is a two-time Oscar nominated actor best known for his work in Shakespeare in Love, In the Bedroom, and most recently Michael Clayton.

Thomas Jeffery Wilkinson was born December 12, 1948 in Leeds, West Yorkshire, England. His father was farmer Thomas Wilkinson Sr. The family relocated to Canada in Wilkinson’s youth, but he eventually returned to England to pursue his education. To that end, he attended the University of Kent as well as the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art.

Professionally trained, Wilkinson made his onscreen debut in 1976 with Smuga Cienia. Demonstrating his talent from the onset, Wilkinson was constantly in demand and worked steadily.

His first project that earned large critical acclaim came in the 1993 biography In the Name of the Father with Emma Thompson and Daniel Day Lewis. But his true breakout role came in 1995 with the Ang Lee directed romance Sense and Sensibility opposite Kate Winslet and Hugh Grant.

After this success, Wilkinson took more high profile roles such as The Ghost and the Darkness with Hollywood power hitters Michael Douglas, Val Kilmer, and Emily Mortimer.

He followed with a popular turn in Smilla’s Sense of Snow with leads Julia Ormond, Gabriel Byrne, and Jim Broadbent, but he really endeared himself to audiences with the highly popular comedy The Full Monty. A surprise hit with three Oscar nominations, Wilkinson shared the screen with Robert Carlyle and Mark Addy.

And 1997 just kept producing hits for Wilkinson as he appeared in Wilde and Oscar and Lucinda with Ralph Fiennes and Cate Blanchett.

Next, Wilkinson dabbled in blockbuster comedies when he took a role in Rush Hour opposite Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker.

Adding to his acclaim, he had another smash hit with the 1998 Oscar favorite Shakespeare in Love. Playing Hugh Fennyman, the all-star cast included Joseph Fiennes, Geoffrey Rush, Judi Dench, and Gwyneth Paltrow.

He had yet another hit with the Mel Gibson, Heath Ledger, and Jason Isaacs war drama The Patriot, but it wasn’t until 2001 that he finally caught the attention of the Academy. Wilkinson played the lead with Sissy Spacek and Marisa Tomei in the emotional drama In the Bedroom. Wilkinson, Spacek, and Tomei were all nominated for an Oscar.

Wilkinson received more critical acclaim for his turn in the HBO production Normal, in which he played a husband and father that announced his intention to receive a sex change operation. Jessica Lange and Hayden Panettiere costarred.

Most recently, Wilkinson earned his second Oscar nomination for his work in Michael Clayton. Both George Clooney and Tilda Swinton earned Oscar nods for their work in the film as well.

Following his role in Michael Clayton, Wilkinson successfully lined up an impressive eight projects. These included his 2008 portrayal of American patriot Benjamin Franklin in the HBO mini-series John Adams. In the HBO movie, Recount, Wilkinson also portrays legendary American Statesman and lawyer, James A. Baker. In late 2008 Tom appeared alongside Tom Cruise in the historical recounting of the attempt on the life of Nazi dictator, Adolph Hitler in Valkyrie. Tom portrays General Friedrich Fromm. Wilkinson was cast to make the treacherous Fromm sympathetic. Along with Cruise, Tom appeared with Kenneth Branagh, Eddie Izzard and David Bamber as Hitler.

In his personal life, Wilkinson married fellow actor Diana Hardcastle on January 5, 1988. They have two children, and they are currently still together.