Daniel Radcliffe Biography

Daniel Radcliffe is an English actor who gained fame at age the of 12 when he starred as Harry Potter in the Harry Potter franchise from 2001 to 2011. His role in the film earned him the status among the world’s highest-paid actors.

Daniel Radcliffe Education

Radcliffe studied at Sussex House School, Redcliffe School, and the City of London School. He faced difficulties after the first Harry Potter film was released since some students had hostility towards him. As his career expanded, Radcliffe learned through on-set tutors because the schedule consumed most of his time. Further, he revealed that he wasn’t a very good student because he thought school was useless and hard.

In 2006, he attained A grades in the three AS-level exams he did. However, he decided to take a break from school and eventually decided to not join university partly because he knew what he wanted to be i.e. an actor and screenwriter. Also, he decided that because he thought that it’d be hard to experience a normal college life.

Daniel Radcliffe Career

Radcliffe gained fame at age the of 12 when he starred as Harry Potter in the Harry Potter franchise from 2001 to 2011. His role in the film earned him the status among the world’s highest-paid actors. In 2007, he started acting on stage and appeared in the West End and Broadway productions of Equus.

Radcliffe rejoined Broadway in 2011 when he appeared in the musical, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying. For his performance, he received a nomination for a Grammy award. Moreover, he has appeared in other Broadway plays like The Cripple of Inishmaan in 2014 and Merrily We Roll Along in 2023. He appeared in West End revivals of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead in 2017 and Endgame in 2020.

Radcliffe then expanded his genre in films when appeared in The Woman in Black(horror), Swiss Army Man (surreal drama), Now You See Me 2(thriller), and The Lost City(comedy). Further, he appeared in Kill Your Darlings and Weird: The Al Yankovic Story. For his role in Weird: The Al Yankovic Story, he received a Primetime Emmy Award nomination and a British Academy Television Award nomination. Since 2019, he has appeared in Miracle Workers. 

Aside from his film and stage appearances, he has contributed to numerous charities like the Trevor Project and Demelza Hospice Care for Children. The Trevor Project awarded him its Hero Award in 2011 for his advocacy with LGBTQ youth.

2019–present;

In 2019, Radcliffe starred in the role of Craig in the TBS’s Miracle Workers. Next, he provided his voice for the role of Rex Dasher in the animated film, Playmobil: The Movie. Moreover, he starred in the role of Miles in Guns Akimbo. The following year he starred in the role of Tim Jenkin in Escape from Pretoria. In the same year, he starred in the role of Prince Frederick in Netflix’s Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt.

Radcliffe reunited with several Harry Potter cast members for HBO’s Harry Potter 20th Anniversary: Return to Hogwarts. He starred opposite Sandra Bullock and Channing Tatum in The Lost City as the villain. Moreover, he starred as “Weird Al” Yankovic in the biopic, Weird: The Al Yankovic Story. In early 2022, Radcliffe started stage acting again in the New York Theatre Workshop revival of l Merrily We Roll Along where he played the role of Charley Kringas.

Stage and Broadway

In 2002, Radcliffe debuted on stage as a celebrity guest in a West End production of The Play What I Wrote. When he was 17, he appeared as Alan Strang in a West End revival of Equus at the Gielgud Theatre, to show that he was prepared for adult roles. In September 2008, the production changed to Broadway at the Broadhurst Theatre with him continuing his role as Alan in the play.

In 2011, he starred as J. Pierrepont Finch in the Broadway revival of How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre. For his performance, he received a Drama Desk Award and a Drama League Award. Also, he attained a nomination for an Outer Critics Circle Award.

Radcliffe rejoined Broadway when he appeared in The Lifespan of a Fact at Studio 54 Theatre. In early 2022, Radcliffe started stage acting again in the New York Theatre Workshop revival of l Merrily We Roll Along where he played the role of Charley Kringas.

Philanthropy

Aside from his film and stage appearances, he has supported several charitable organizations. For example, he fashioned the Cu-Bed for Habitat’s VIP Kids range and gave all the royalties from its sale bed to his favorite charity, Demelza House Children’s Hospice in Sittingbourne. He has encouraged fans to donate to the charity’s Candle for Care program instead of him receiving Christmas presents.

In 2008, Radcliffe served among the celebrities who donated their old glasses to an exhibit commemorating Holocaust victims. Additionally, he auctioned a pair of worn jeans and other items in Equus for New York-based Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. In 2011, he served as the presenter of the Gypsy of the Year competition. On top of that he donated to  Get Connected UK, a free private state helpline for troubled youth in London.

Political and Social Views

Radcliffe supports the Labour Party and was previously a supporter of the Liberal Democrats. As part of Liberal Democrats, he supported Nick Clegg, then-Lib Dem leader, in the 2010 general election. He changed his political alignment because of dissatisfaction with Clegg’s performance and the Liberal Democrats while in government. Further, endorsed then-Labour leader Ed Miliband.

 In 2015, he supported the Labour Party leadership campaign of Jeremy Corbyn. Moreover, he supports the idea of replacing the British monarch with a republic. Additionally, he endorses British unionism and resisted the Scottish independence referendum in 2014 because he likes how the UK is the way it is.

Daniel Radcliffe Age

Radcliffe was born Daniel Jacob Radcliffe on July 23, 1989, at Queen Charlotte’s and Chelsea Hospital in Hammersmith, London, England. He is 34 years old as of 2023. Radcliffe celebrates his birthday every July 23rd annually.

Daniel Radcliffe Height

Radcliffe stands at an approximate height of 5 feet and 5 inches

Daniel Radcliffe Family

Radcliffe was born to Marcia Jeannine Gresham Jacobson and Alan George Radcliffe. Jeannine is a Jewish woman born in South Africa with ancestry to Jewish emigrants from Germany, Lithuania, Poland, and Russia. She grew up in Westcliff-on-Sea in Essex. Moreover, she works as a casting agent and has worked in several BBC productions including The Inspector Lynley Mysteries. On the other hand, George is of Northern Irish descent and grew up in a Protestant family in Banbridge, County Down. He works as a literary agent. Both his parents were child actors. Radcliffe is an only child.

Daniel Radcliffe Wife(Erin Drake)

Radcliffe is in a relationship with Erin Drake. They started dating in 2012 after they met on the set of Kill Your Darlings. He splits his time living in the Fulham area of London and the West Village neighborhood of New York City’s Manhattan borough. Erin gave birth to their son in April 2023. Further, he has two border terriers named Binka and Nugget.

Daniel Radcliffe Gay/Sexual Orientation

Radcliffe is not gay as suggested by his marital status as he is a married man with a son. However, he avidly supports the LGBTQ community. He spoke against homophobia and started filming public service statements for The Trevor Project in 2009. He learned of the organization when he appeared in Equus on Broadway in 2008. Apart from making public statements, he has donated to the charity.

He said that he hated anyone who did not tolerate gay men, lesbians, or bisexuals during an interview in 2010. Also, he emphasized the significance of public figures advocating for equal rights. After J. K. Rowling remarked on gender identity in June 2020, he said that he felt sad that her statement ruined fans’ experience of the Harry Potter books. Moreover, he wrote an essay published by The Trevor Project where he showed his support for the transgender community 

Daniel Radcliffe Net Worth

Radcliffe has an estimated net worth of £95 million which he has earned through being an actor. In 2006, he was mentioned on the Sunday Times Rich List with an estimated £14 million, making him achieve the status as one of the richest young people in the UK. Forbes ranked him number one in its “Most Valuable Young Stars” list in March 2009. The Daily Telegraph estimated him to be worth t £30 million by April of that year, earning him the 12th UK richest young person. Later that year, he was regarded as the richest teenager in England. Forbes ranked him 5th in its December list of Hollywood’s highest-grossing actors in 2010.

Daniel Radcliffe Harry Potter

Radcliffe gained fame at age the of 12 when he starred as Harry Potter in the Harry Potter franchise from 2001 to 2011. His role in the film earned him the status among the world’s highest-paid actors. For the first Harry Potter film, he earned £1 million, and about £15 million for the sixth film.

Filming the second and third Harry Potter was delayed because his parents wanted him to go to a normal school for a while. He finally read the Harry Potter series when he secured the lead role after his prior attempt before securing the role. Radcliffe reunited with several Harry Potter cast members for HBO’s Harry Potter 20th Anniversary: Return to Hogwarts.

Potter is an orphan who learns that he is a wizard on his 11th birthday. As a result, he joins Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, a boarding school of magic for students aged eleven to eighteen. While there, he learns magic under Albus Dumbledore, the headmaster, and other school professors. Also, he makes friends with Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger.

Upon joining the school, Potter finds out that he’s famous in the magical community because of his tied fate to Lord Voldemort, a feared Dark Wizard. Moreover, he discovers that his parents, James and Lily Potter, were killed by Lord Voldemort due to a prophecy. The film follows his efforts to adjust to the magic world and beat Voldemort. Radcliffe has portrayed Potter in

• Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone
• Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
• Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
• Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
• Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
• Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
• Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1
• Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2

Harry Potter Eyes/Daniel Radcliffe Allergy

During the casting of Harry Potter, the filmmakers attempted to use contact lenses so that Radcliffe could have the green eyes described in the book. However, he suffered an allergic reaction when he tried them on so they decided to leave the idea. Moreover, they thought of digitally changing his eyes in post-production but found the process tedious. They then approached  J.K. Rowling, the book’s author, who said that it was not required for him to have green eyes but rather that he had the same eyes as his mother.

How Old Was Daniel Radcliffe in the first Harry Potter?

Radcliffe was 12 years old when he first appeared in the first Harry Potter film, Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone in 2001.

Daniel Radcliffe Wolverine

There were rumors and speculations that Radcliffe would play Wolverine after fans noticed his bulked-up body and growing facial hair. However, he repudiated the rumors saying that he bulked up for himself.

Daniel Radcliffe Miracle Workers

From 2019 to 2023, Radcliffe played the roles of Craig Bog in SN 1, Prince Chauncley The Pretty Cool in SN 2, Reverend Ezekiel Brown in SN 3, and Sid in SN 4 of TBS’s Miracle Workers.

Daniel Radcliffe Equus

When he was 17, he appeared as Alan Strang in a West End revival of Equus at the Gielgud Theatre, to show that he was prepared for adult roles. In September 2008, the production changed to Broadway at the Broadhurst Theatre with him continuing his role as Alan in the play till 2009. Alan is a stable boy who is obsessed with horses which makes him blind six horses in the stable. The play follows a psychiatrist as he tries to find the reason for his obsession and crime.

At first, he was nervous to play the role on Broadway since he thought that American audiences were more perceptive than those in London. For his performance, he won a nomination for a Drama Desk Award. In 2008, Radcliffe and Equus cast raised $203,746 for the charity, BroadwayCares/EquityFightsAids 20th Gypsy of the Year competition, and set the record for the most ever raised by a Broadway play.

Daniel Radcliffe Elijah Wood

Radcliffe and Elijah Wood resemble each other to the point of being mistaken for each other. He revealed that a fan asked him for Elijah’s autograph while he was in Japan. He then signed “I am not Elijah Wood, love, Daniel Radcliffe” on the picture. Elijah is an actor and producer known for starring in the role of Frodo Baggins in The Lord of the Rings films and The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey.

Daniel Radcliffe Guns Akimbo

 In 2020, Radcliffe appeared in the role of Miles Lee Harris in Guns Akimbo. Miles is a computer programmer who wakes up to find guns bloodily bolted into both of his hands. He is forced to fight the lethal killer, Nix after he insults fans who enjoy live-streamed real death games by Skizm, an underground fight club, and a criminal organization.

Daniel Radcliffe Weird AI/Weird: The Al Yankovic Story

In 2022, Radcliffe starred in the role of “Weird Al” Yankovic in the biopic, Weird: The Al Yankovic Story. For his performance, he received nominations for a Best Actor Emmy and BAFTA Award, a Hollywood Critics Association Award. Moreover, he won a Critics’ Choice Award.

Daniel Radcliffe Illness

Radcliffe has an allergy to Nickel and suffers from Dyspraxia which at times prevents him from doing simple activities like writing or tying his shoelaces.

Daniel Radcliffe Poetry

According to The Guardian (UK), Radcliffe published some poetry under the pen name Jacob Gershon where Jacob is his middle name, while Gershon is the original Yiddish name from which his mother’s maiden name, Gresham, emanated.

Daniel Radcliffe Alcohol

Radcliffe became teetotal in August 2010 after he became too reliant on alcohol. He talked about his alcohol addiction when he made a guest appearance on BBC Radio 4’s Desert Island Discs in March 2020. Moreover, he said that the problem started while he was filming Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. Also, he said that his performance in the film was affected by his addiction.

Daniel Radcliffe Religion

Radcliffe is an atheist. However, he said he’s proud of being Jewish. He revealed that while growing up there was no religious faith in their house during an interview in 2012. Moreover, he referred to himself as a militant atheist if religion started affecting legislation. Further, he said that his family were “Christmas tree Jews.”

He revealed that he was an atheist in 2009 and said that he does not preach his atheism but has respect for people like Richard Dawkins who are outspoken about their atheism. In 2019, he depicted himself as an agnostic leaning toward atheism.

Daniel Radcliffe Twitter

Radcliffe is not active on social media thus he does not have a Twitter account. He said that not having the platforms makes things easier because if he posts what he’s doing one moment and the next asks for privacy people would not take his request seriously.

Daniel Radcliffe Movies and TV Shows

Radcliffe has starred in a number of films and TV shows during his career

• My Boy Jack
• The Woman in Black
• Robot Chicken
• What If
• Victor Frankenstein
• The Gamechangers
• Imperium
• Beast of Burden
• Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt
• Rick and Morty
• Playmobil: The Movie
• Escape from Pretoria
• The Lost City