Ron Perlman bio, age, height, wife, children, best films 2025

Ron Perlman's Biography

Ron Perlman is an American actor and voice artist. With over 200 credits under his belt, he's best known for playing Hellboy in "Hellboy" (2004) and "Hellboy II: The Golden Army" (2008), based on Dark Horse Comics, plus his role as Clarence 'Clay' Morrow in the hit series "Sons of Anarchy" (2008-2014). His rugged appearance has led many to remember him as the "actor who looks like a Maine Coon".

Childhood and Youth

Ronald Francis Perlman was born on April 13, 1950, in New York. His ancestry includes Jewish roots, with his family hailing from Poland and Hungary. His mother, Dorothy Perlman, worked for the municipality, while his father, Bertram Perlman, was a television mechanic who had a passion for jazz and played the drums in a band.

Ron always had a very close relationship with his father, who advised him to pursue a career in acting. When it came to his peers, Ron struggled to fit in. He often felt like an outcast due to his heavy build and suffered from low self-esteem.

I hated myself, a fat Jewish boy from the working class. In everything that required self-confidence, I was useless. I couldn't even simply start a conversation with a girl. I was just a fat guy.

Throughout his school years, Ron struggled with complexes. To overcome them, he started swimming in high school. It was during a swimming training session that his life took a dramatic turn.

One day, the coach stopped practice when a well-dressed boy from the school drama club walked into the pool area. The drama club had 35 girls but no boys, even though their play had plenty of male roles. Ron was one of the few swimmers who agreed to participate.

... I immediately agreed. On stage, I intuitively knew what to do. This feeling was unlike anything from my past life. It was like an awakening.

In 1967, Ron graduated from George Washington High School and enrolled in Lehman College, where he began studying fine arts and actively participated in the student drama club productions.

In 1971, the young man graduated from college and enrolled in the University of Minnesota, earning a Master's degree in Theater Arts in 1973.

There was nothing that pointed to me becoming an actor. But looking back, I think it's because I come from a very creative family. My father played jazz, his brother was a violinist, and my sister was a singer. When they got together, they just performed something. And when I finally got acquainted with acting, it fit me like a glove.

Film Career

Unlike most actors, Ron scored a leading role in a major film early in his career. This happened in 1981 when French director Jean-Jacques Annaud invited him to his film "Quest for Fire." At that point, Perlman had just a handful of TV roles under his belt.

Ron Perlman in the movie 'Quest for Fire'

The film followed primitive humans on their quest for fire and earned critical acclaim. It scored a French "Golden Cesar" nomination, while Ron earned a "Genie" nod from the Canadian Film Academy.

The director loved working with Perlman so much that he cast him in his next film, "The Name of the Rose" (1986), five years later. The film was based on a book by Italian writer Umberto Eco, and Ron played Salvatore, a supporting character who was absolutely unforgettable.

A scene from the movie 'The Name of the Rose'

The actor's next successful role was in the TV show "Beauty and the Beast" (1987-1990). The show reimagined the classic tale in modern times, where beast Vincent falls for beauty Catherine, played by Linda Hamilton. The show ran for three seasons, and Ronald's performance was recognized with a "Golden Globe." In a later interview, the actor confessed he couldn't quite believe the "Globe" was actually his.

Linda Hamilton and Ron Perlman in 'Beauty and the Beast'

Throughout the '90s, the actor took on numerous supporting and guest roles across film and television. For instance, in the TV shows "The Untouchables" (1993-1994) and "Charmed" (1998-2006), and in films like "Romeo Is Bleeding" (1993), "Fluke" (1995), "The Adventures of Huck Finn" (1993), "The City of Lost Children" (1995), and others.

A scene from the movie 'The City of Lost Children'

In 1992, the actor teamed up with then-emerging director Guillermo del Toro, taking a supporting role in his horror film "Cronos."

A young Ron Perlman and Guillermo del Toro

Despite not speaking Spanish, Perlman jumped at the chance after reading the script.

This is the weirdest vampire flick I've ever come across. But it's also the smartest. Hollywood wouldn't even think about greenlighting it. And that's exactly why I'll take on this damn job.

The film didn't connect with American audiences, though Perlman himself loved every minute of filming.

Around the same time, Ron began to actively voice characters in various animated TV shows, but more on that later.

The actor shot to stardom when Guillermo del Toro cast him as the superhero Hellboy. His character is a demon who, despite his hellish appearance, isn't so different from humans. Hellboy works for the CIA, battling supernatural evil.

Despite low expectations, "Hellboy" (2004) performed well at the box office and won over fans of the original comics. The makeup work was particularly praised — the film won a Saturn Award for Best Makeup.

Ron Perlman's makeup in the movie 'Hellboy'

Interestingly, del Toro had his heart set on Ron Perlman for Hellboy from day one, even though the studio wanted a bigger name. For instance, Vin Diesel or Dwayne Johnson. But del Toro stood his ground and insisted on Ron — and he was absolutely the perfect choice.

HELLBOY Himself Speaks: Personal Interview with the Demon Hero

In 2008, the sequel titled "Hellboy II: The Golden Army" was released. Del Toro was again in the director's chair, and Ron Perlman was in the leading role. Like the first part, this film was very well received. It won a Saturn Award for Best Horror Film and an Oscar for Best Makeup.

Photos from the filming of 'Hellboy 2: The Golden Army'

That same year, Perlman joined the cast of FX's biker drama "Sons of Anarchy," which ran from 2008 to 2014 and became one of the network's biggest hits. Ron played Clarence Morrow, who over time went from protagonist to one of the main antagonists of the series. The actor appeared in 6 out of 7 seasons.

Ron Perlman in the TV series 'Sons of Anarchy'

The 2010s kept Perlman busy. He appeared in many TV shows and films. For example, he played Nino in the crime drama "Drive" (2011) with Ryan Gosling, portrayed Hannibal Chau in the film "Pacific Rim" (2013) with Charlie Hunnam, and appeared in TV shows like "The Blacklist," "Startup," "Capture."

In 2014, Perlman landed the lead in Amazon's "Hand of God" (2014-2017). In it, he played a corrupt judge who starts hearing a divine voice. The series got mixed reviews and was axed after two seasons.

In 2019, a "Hellboy" reboot was released with David Harbour in the leading role and Neil Marshall as director. Perlman was offered the chance to reprise his iconic role in the new film, but he turned it down. He said he couldn't betray Guillermo del Toro. Perlman also said he'd be open to returning for a sequel to the original Hellboy films, but only if del Toro was behind the camera.

Hellboy portrayed by Ron Perlman VS David Harbour

Voice Acting

Since the early 1990s, Perlman has brought over 20 animated characters to life. In various Batman series, he has voiced Clayface, Killer Croc, and Bane, as well as providing the voice for the baseball coach in the cartoon "Hey Arnold!" (1996-2004), the Lich from "Adventure Time", and Slade from "Teen Titans Go!".

The Many Voices of Ron Perlman In Animation and Video Games

He's also voiced Hellboy in several feature-length animated films.

Ron Perlman has voiced dozens of cartoons

Beyond cartoons, Perlman has also tackled video game voice work. His most iconic gaming role is as the narrator in the "Fallout" series. He has also voiced characters in the games "Halo 2" (2004), "Halo 3" (2007), and "Turok" (2008).

Personal Life of Ron Perlman

Ron Perlman married jewelry designer Opal Stone in 1981.

Ron Perlman with his first wife Opal Stone

The couple had two children: a daughter, Blake, born in 1984, and a son, Brandon, born in 1990. Both of them are musicians, and Blake has also appeared in several films.

Ron Perlman's children – Brandon and Blake

In 2019, Ron and Opal filed for divorce after 38 years of marriage. Reports suggested the split came after Perlman was spotted with his "StartUp" (2016-2018) co-star Allison Dunbar.

The divorce was officially finalized in 2021. Under the settlement, Opal received their Los Angeles home and a Mercedes. Ron also pays Opal $12,500 monthly until her death or remarriage.

Meanwhile, Ron didn't hide his relationship with Allison. In 2021, he proposed to her, and in December of the same year, he and his new fiancée attended the premiere of the film "Don't Look Up" together.

Ron Perlman Now

Perlman's career continues to thrive. In 2021, the movie "Don't Look Up" was released, featuring a truly star-studded cast. In this satire of modern American society, Ron plays Benedict Drask. His character serves as an ironic take on American heroes, patriots, and action stars. He volunteers for a space mission to destroy the comet threatening Earth.

In 2021, the actor also collaborated again with Guillermo del Toro, starring in his movie "Nightmare Alley".

In addition, he participated in the voiceover for the adventure cartoon "Heroes of the Golden Masks" (2021) and the dark version of the well-known fairy tale "Pinocchio" by del Toro.

Interesting Facts

In 2014, Ron released his autobiography "Easy Street (The Hard Way)". In it, he revealed things that even his wife Opal didn't know, despite their nearly 35-year marriage at the time. For instance, he wrote about a suicide attempt, which fortunately was unsuccessful.