Acclaimed actor Gary Oldman says it’s no coincidence that the “world’s gone to shit” since his longtime friend, David Bowie, died in January 2016.
Oldman opened up about his connection with Bowie during a recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter, where he emphasized the depths of their friendship: “We laughed a lot — a lot. He was very, very, very funny, David,” the Oscar-winning actor revealed. “And we sort of had similar kinds of backgrounds, grew up in similar neighborhoods” (Bowie and Oldman both grew up in South London).
The actor went on to add that Bowie was “inspiring” and “a great innovator and not afraid to try things,” among his many positive attributes. He also cited Bowie’s constant innovation as an inspiration in his own work.
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“Don’t you feel that since he died, the world’s gone to shit? It was like he was cosmic glue or something,” he mused regarding Bowie’s passing. “When he died, everything fell apart. So, yeah, I miss him.” (Editor’s note: ten days after Bowie’s death, Donald Trump was sworn in for his first term as president.)
The pair’s friendship was well documented, with Oldman delivering a heartfelt tribute while accepting Bowie’s posthumous Icon Award during the 2016 BRIT Awards shortly after the singer’s death. Watch the acceptance speech below.
In 2017, Oldman curated a special tribute to what would have been the Starman’s 70th birthday. Held at the Brixton Academy in London, Oldman performed a pair of Bowie classics (“Dead Man Walking” and “The Man Who Sold the World”) at the show, which also saw appearances from artists including Simon Le Bon of Duran Duran, Def Leppard’s Joe Elliott, members of Spandau Ballet, La Roux, and more.
Oldman performed Tin Machine’s “I Can Read” at a special celebration for Bowie’s 74th birthday in 2021.
The two also collaborated artistically over the years, with both starring in the 1996 biopic, Basquiat. In 2013, Oldman appeared alongside French actress Marion Cotillard in the music video for the title track of Bowie’s 2013 album, The Next Day, which was written and conceived by Bowie, and directed by Floria Sigismondi.
