Tom Wilkinson, one of the great British character actors of his generation, died at the age of 75.
BBC reported a family statement that Wilkinson died at his home on Saturday.
A decorated actor who won a BAFTA, an Emmy and a Golden Globe and was nominated for two Academy Awards, Wilkinson brought a stirring gravity to any role he played.
After appearances in films like In the Name of the Father and Sense and Sensibility, Wilkinson broke out to global audiences with his BAFTA-winning role in The Full Monty.
From then on, he became as recognizable a face as one could find in theaters, making memorable turns in Shakespeare in Love, Rush Hour, The Patriot, In the Bedroom (which earned him his first Oscar nomination for Best Actor), Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Girl with a Pearl Earring and Batman Begins.
However, Wilkinson’s defining role would be his Oscar-nominated performance as guilt-ridden corporate lawyer Arthur Edens in 2007’s Michael Clayton. In that film, Wilkinson delivered one of the great monologues of the 2000s opposite George Clooney that culminated in perhaps the most notable line reading of his career: “I am Shiva, the God of Death.”
He won his Emmy and Golden Globe for his HBO miniseries role on 2008’s John Adams as Benjamin Franklin. In the 2010s, Wilkinson appeared in films like The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol and Selma.
Fittingly, one of Wilkinson’s final screen credits would be reprising his role in 2023’s The Full Monty television sequel. IMDB lists one upcoming film, a drama titled Bone in the Throat, as being in post-production.
With the news of his death, many shared tributes to the actor’s striking career.
When you had Tom Wilkinson in your movie, you had a real shot at being a classic.
— Brian Duffield (@BrianDuffield) December 30, 2023
RIP Tom Wilkinson, whose best performance might've been for IN THE BEDROOM, bringing deep paternal love, intense grief, and growing anger in one turn that sank into my soul and hasn't left. One of our greatest ever character actors. He'll be so dearly missed. pic.twitter.com/rgbEien9Nv
— Brendan Hodges (@metaplexmovies) December 30, 2023
RIP Tom Wilkinson. My god, this man could do it all. Like, look at that track record from late ‘90s to early 2010s—he cranked out banger after banger! A legend 😢💔 https://t.co/fZCFplXZvM pic.twitter.com/WTdSE83rtO
— Cameron Scheetz (@cameronscheetz) December 30, 2023
Rest in peace, Tom Wilkinson. Once he broke through in Hollywood, late in life, he proved to be masterfully versatile. But for me, his vulnerable, hilarious portrait of a middle-aged, middle class Northerner at the end of his tether in The Full Monty always shone the brightest. pic.twitter.com/x0dHLex6FV
— Ali Arikan (@aliarikan) December 30, 2023
A phenomenal actor who never phoned it in. He’ll be missed. https://t.co/56IY2flIWw
— Brian Tallerico (@Brian_Tallerico) December 30, 2023
A great actor. RIP, Tom Wilkinson. https://t.co/0nV3kPXMkG
— Michael McKean (@MJMcKean) December 30, 2023
Very sad news that one of our finest has left us aged 75.
RIP TOM WILKINSON pic.twitter.com/GCG9Tqyurs
— Michael Warburton (@MichaelWarbur17) December 30, 2023
RIP Tom Wilkinson. Amazing, versatile actor gone too soon. pic.twitter.com/BJWT8HyHYB
— Little White Lies (@LWLies) December 30, 2023
RIP to Tom Wilkinson, one of our great actors and the man who initiated “Ghost Protocol.” Also, all these years later, he’s the least problematic aspect of another favorite, “The Lone Ranger.” All performers should have as rich and varied a career. He will be missed. pic.twitter.com/etSPe1NJas
— Drew Taylor (@DrewTailored) December 30, 2023
RIP Tom Wilkinson, great in absolutely everything. No skips. pic.twitter.com/DtuqEfWSK1
— Phillip Maciak (@pjmaciak) December 30, 2023
In honor of Tom Wilkinson’s passing. pic.twitter.com/H1EWLGuiZb
— Justin Fleece (@justinfleece) December 30, 2023
Tom Wilkinson is a key presence in two of my absolute top tier favorites, MICHAEL CLAYTON (of course) and BATMAN BEGINS. Will be thinking of him more than usual during this year’s New Year’s CLAYTON watch
— Patrick Monahan (@pattymo) December 30, 2023
