In just the last few months, we’ve seen Alfred Molina, one of the best Latino actors in the business, play a detective and an attorney on Law & Order: Los Angeles…then switch gears and play an accused wife-killer in a multi-episode arc of Harry’s Law. And that is just the latest in a long string of “man of a thousand faces” portrayals that began, believe it or not, with Raiders of the Lost Ark.
Molina was born in London; his mother was an Italian housekeeper and his father a Spanish waiter. But what he really is, is ethnic. There is a powerful aura around the man that signals foreigner, other, outsider, pretty much all the time. And he’s made a career of that. “I’ve given a few
good Jews,” he says about his own acting career. “I’ve given a few good Arabs, too. Good European, good South American, I give good Cuban. Generally speaking I give good foreign.” He’s got that right: he’s had Tony nomination for Tevye in Fiddler on the Roof; he’s played Doctor Octopus in Spider-Man 2 and Diego Rivera in Frida. And on September 23, he’ll appear in Taylor Lautner’s new thriller, Abduction. And after that, he’s got half a dozen other project shooting or already in the can, from Vivaldi to Poe and back again.
Always working, always unexpected, consistently excellent even in the most unexpected ways (he’s even very good in very bad films, like The Sorcerer’s Apprentice). And when it comes to recognition and awards–at least for his television and film work–all too often overlooked. Enjoy him in Harry’s Law for the next few weeks, or in the entire season of L&O: LA, now on DVD. But don’t worry: you’ll see him again. And again. And he’ll never look the same twice in a row.
