It’s really tough news to share – Tom Wilkinson, you know, the fantastic British actor from The Full Monty, Shakespeare in Love, and The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, passed away at 75.
Can you believe it? He had this epic career for nearly 50 years, starring in countless films and shows, making him one of the absolute greats in British acting. Not only that, but he also banked a pretty impressive net worth over the years.
His family let us in on the sad news through a note to the BBC, saying, “It is with great sadness that the family of Tom Wilkinson announce that he died suddenly at home on December 30. His wife and family were with him. The family asks for privacy at this time.”
He’s left his mark, though, with his wife, the awesome actress Diana Hardcastle, and their two daughters. And let me tell you, Tom’s acting journey was nothing short of amazing.
Two Academy Award nominations, two Emmy nods, and an Emmy win for HBO’s John Adams. He even scored six BAFTA nominations, bagging a win for Best Supporting Actor for The Full Monty, not to mention a bunch of other honors.
If you’re wondering how this legend got his start and what he earned along the way, keep reading. It’s a story worth diving into.
How Did Tom Wilkinson Get His Start?
Wilkinson came into this world on February 5, 1948, in Yorkshire. As a kid, he made a pitstop in Canada before heading back to the UK. It was at the age of 18, while directing a play, that he had this lightbulb moment – maybe a career in the arts could be his thing.
He once said, “For the first time in my life, I started doing something I knew how to do. I realized it wasn’t necessarily just these southern middle-class types that got to be actors; it could possibly be people like me. And once I knew, I never changed my mind.”
After getting his degree in English and American literature, he hit up the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London. The acting journey kicked off in 1976, with several British TV gigs, until he hit the jackpot in 1994 with the BBC’s Martin Chuzzlewit adaptation. And then, of course, there was The Full Monty three years later.
Now, this guy’s been hailed left and right for his seriousness, adaptability, and the wholehearted way he tackled every role in his decades-long career.
From cracking jokes to diving into dramas, indie films, and big blockbusters, Wilkinson had this knack for owning every part he played and making it uniquely his.
In his own words to The New York Times in 2002, “I see myself as a utility player, the one who can do everything. I’ve always felt that actors should have a degree of anonymity about them.” And boy, did he prove it throughout his remarkable journey.
Tom Wilkinson to the Top of His Television Career
Tom Wilkinson, you know, the guy from the movies, was not just doing his thing on the big screen. He also hopped onto the TV train back in the 1980s, starting with British shows and movies. But what really got folks talking was his later gigs on American TV.
On the TV box, Wilkinson showed off his acting skills by trying out all sorts of shows and characters. Remember when he played Benjamin Franklin in that HBO thing called “John Adams” in 2008?
That was somethin’ else. And get this, he even bagged an Emmy for it, showing he could really get into the shoes of those old-timey folks.
But there is more – check out his roles in “The Kennedys” (2011) and “The Escape Artist” (2013). These are not just TV shows; they are him showing off his acting talent in different ways. Wilkinson had this thing where he could bring characters to life, no matter what kind of show or when it was happening.
Tom Wilkinson Net Worth
Tom Wilkinson, rest his soul, was sitting on an estimated 12 million dollars, according to the folks at Celebrity Net Worth, when he passed away.
Now, he did not just stumble upon that kind of cash – he worked hard for it, putting in the hours in the film and TV biz for almost half a century. That is where the big bucks rolled in.
