Two-Time Oscar Nominee Tom Wilkinson Dies at Age 75

Acclaimed Leading Man and Character Actor Tom Wilkinson Dies

Tom Wilkinson, who received two Academy Award nominations during the course of his career, has died at age 75.

Anyone who saw Tom Wilkinson in the startling thriller, In the Bedroom, back in 2001 knows that Wilkinson could command an audience’s attention and captivate viewers in a principal role. He received an Oscar nomination for Best Actor for that role where he starred opposite two heavy-hitters who were also nominated for their work in that same film: Sissy Spacek and Marisa Tomei. It is sad to report that Wilkinson has died at age 75 in his home with his family. He attended the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts and was one of the finest character actors of his generation.

Wilkinson really caught the public’s eye when he starred in 1997’s sleeper hit, The Full Monty, which made a splash at the box-office based on strong reviews and excellent word of mouth. That movie was the type of picture that audiences ate up and it was recently made into a Disney+ series. The premise of the 1997 film involved ordinary guys who ended up stripping to make some extra cash.

In 2007, Wilkinson starred in the dramatic thriller, Michael Clayton, which showcased another Oscar-nominated performance for the fine actor. This nod was in the category of Best Supporting Actor, however. George Clooney and Tilda Swinton also appeared in the movie and Swinton actually took home the gold in the category of Best Supporting Actress for her part.

Though he was known mostly for his prestigious roles in art-house movies and serious Oscar contenders, he also appeared in box-office hits as well. 1998’s Rush Hour featured him in a role that pitted his character against Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker’s cop characters in the picture. In 2005, Wilkinson played in the Christopher Nolan box-office smash, Batman Begins. Wilkinson was also known for playing Benjamin Franklin in “John Adams.”

It is Wilkinson’s riveting performance in In the Bedroom that is probably going to be his most renowned leading role when looking back at his career in retrospect. Look at the actors he was up against that year in the leading category at the Oscars: Denzel Washington (Training Day), Russell Crowe (A Beautiful Mind), Will Smith (Ali) and Sean Penn (I Am Sam). With company like that, it becomes absolutely crystal clear that Wilkinson played with the big boys of acting and more than proved that he was an actor who could both carry and support a film with tremendously successful results no matter what the role was that he took on.

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