Daniel Jacob Radcliffe (born 23 July 1989) is an English actor, best known for playing the wizard Harry Potter in a series of films based on the best-selling book series.
Daniel Radcliffe was born in Fulham, London, the only child of Alan Radcliffe (a literary agent) and Marcia Gresham (a casting agent, who was involved in several films for the BBC). Radcliffe's parents discouraged him from show business when, at age five, he expressed a desire to act. However, they changed their minds; in December, 1999, he made his first on-screen appearance as the title character in the BBC's televised version of the Dickens novel David Copperfield.
In 1999, Radcliffe was selected to star as the wizard Harry Potter in a big-budget version of the popular book series by J.K. Rowling, after auditions involving thousands of applicants. Radcliffe's first theatrical film appearance was in 2000, a small supporting role in The Tailor of Panama. His first starring role as Harry Potter, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (released in the United States as Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone), was released later that year and became a large financial success. It was, at the time, the second highest grossing movie of all time.
In 2001, Radcliffe reprised his role in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (his co-star was Kenneth Branagh, who that same year directed the stage production, The Play What I Wrote, in which Radcliffe made an appearance). In 2004 and 2005, Radcliffe returned to the Potter franchise in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban and Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. The films continued to produce high box office results and were considered successful worldwide.
Radcliffe is finished filming the independent Australian film, December Boys. He will be in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix as Harry, and it is currently scheduled for release in the summer of 2007.
Radcliffe, who prefers to be called "Dan", was previously educated at Sussex House School, Knightsbridge, and is currently educated at the public City of London School. He has two dogs named Binka and Nugget.
He plays bass guitar and is a rock music fan, admiring several bands including The Beatles, Mercury Rev, The Clash, The Libertines, The Strokes, The Red Hot Chili Peppers, The Sex Pistols and the Pixies. He also enjoys Bloc Party, R.E.M., U2 and Stereophonics. As well as being a fan of Fulham Football Club, Daniel was a follower of Formula One Racing
Radcliffe's personal fortune has now exceeded GB £23 million making him the richest teenager in the United Kingdom . Radcliffe has been a supporter of various charities, including the Demelza House, to which he has requested fans make donations in lieu of sending him birthday presents.
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