Alfred Molina was born in 1953, in London, UK, of a Spanish father and an Italian mother. He studied at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, London. His stage work includes two major Royal National Theatre productions, Tennessee Williams' "The Night of the Iguana" (as Shannon) and David Mamet's "Speed the Plow" (as Fox), plus a splendid performance in Yasmina Reza's "Art" (his Broadway debut), for which he received a Tony Award nomination in 1998. He made his film debut in Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981) and got a good part in Letter to Brezhnev (1985) (as a Soviet sailor who spends a night at Liverpool), but his movie breakthrough came two years later when he played - superbly - Kenneth Halliwell, the tragic lover of Joe Orton, in Stephen Frears' Prick Up Your Ears (1987). He was also outstanding in Enchanted April (1992), _The Perez Family (1995)_ (as a Cuban immigrant), Anna Karenina (1997) (as Levin), and Chocolat (2000) (as the narrow-minded mayor of a small French town circa 1950s, who tries to shut down a chocolate shop). Nominated for the Tony for best actor in 1998 for "Art". Although he himself is fully an Englishman, Alfred's father was a Spanish waiter and his mother was an Italian housekeeper. His mixed background has allowed him to play characters of almost any heritage. He gained a good amount of weight to play the huge Diego Rivera in 'Frida' (2002) and then slimmed down to play Dr. Octopus in 'Spider-Man 2' (2004). Alfred regretted that due to his part as Tevye in "Fiddler on the Roof", he again was forced to regain his bulk. Was chosen to play Doc Ock after 'Spiderman 2' Director Sam Raimi and his wife watched Frida. Was twice nominated for Broadway's Tony Award: in 1998 as Best Actor (Play) for "Art," and in 2004 as Best Actor (Musical) for portraying Tevye in a revival of "Fiddler on the Roof." Auditioned for the part of Rimmer in "Red Dwarf" (1988). Educated at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, he started out as a busker specializing in stand-up comedy and doing odd jobs to supplement his welfare cheque, before being accepted by the Royal Shakespeare Company in 1977. Was nearly cast as Al Capone in Road to Perdition (2002).