- published: 03 Nov 2012
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Alfred Molina (born Alfredo Molina; 24 May 1953) is an English-American actor, known for his roles in Raiders of the Lost Ark, Maverick, Spider-Man 2, Chocolat, The Da Vinci Code, An Education, Rango, and Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time.
He starred as DDA / Detective Ricardo Morales on the NBC police/courtroom drama Law & Order: LA and as Roger opposite Dawn French in the BBC television sitcom Roger & Val Have Just Got In.
Molina was born in Paddington, London. His mother, Giovanna (née Bonelli), was an Italian house-keeper who cleaned rooms in a hotel and worked as a cook. His father, Esteban Molina, was a Spanish immigrant from Madrid who worked as a waiter and chauffeur. Molina grew up in a working class district in Notting Hill that was inhabited by many other immigrant families. Molina decided to become an actor after seeing Spartacus at the age of nine, and attended the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. He also auditioned and was accepted as a member of National Youth Theatre.