Happy Birthday, Idris Elba! His Epic Life In Film

From the gritty streets of London in "Luther" to the vast Marvel Cinematic Universe as Heimdall, Idris Elba has paved an extraordinary path in cinema. On his birthday, we look back at the roles that have defined his illustrious career.

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The U.K. born actor/DJ celebrates his 51st birthday today (Sept. 6), and we are looking back at an illustrious, still ascending career. From The Wire to making us all swoon as a leading man, this powerful actors lights up the screen. (Photo: Courtesy of HBO via IMDB)

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Belle maman - Before The Wire, there was what he descibes as his most "terrifying" on screen kiss in this 1999 French comedy about a dysfunctional family. Elba's first movie role. (Photo: Arena Films)

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Belle maman - Before The Wire, there was what he describes as his most "terrifying" on screen kiss in this 1999 French comedy about a dysfunctional family. Elba's first movie role. (Photo: Arena Films)

The Wire - Idris Elba will always be remembered for his role as Stringer Bell on HBO’s The Wire.  Bell’s character is named after two Baltimore drug lords (Stringer Reed and Roland Bell) and his life is similar to businessman Kenneth A. Jackson.\r(Photo: Courtesy of HBO via IMDB)

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The Wire - Elba will always be remembered for his role as Stringer Bell on HBO’s The Wire, where he indelibly brought to life the tragedy and promise of real life Baltimore drug lords (Stringer Reed and Roland Bell), and businessman Kenneth A. Jackson. (Photo: Courtesy of HBO via IMDB)

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The Gospel - Idris Elba was nominated for a Black Reel Award for Best Actor in a Film for his performance in the 2005 film The Gospel, a story about the prodigal son.(Photo: Courtesy of Columbia TriStar via IMDB)

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The Gospel - For the 2005 flick The Gospel, a story about the prodigal son, Idris Elba changed into Reverend Charles Frank and was nominated for a Black Reel Award for Best Actor in a Film. (Photo: Courtesy of Columbia TriStar via IMDB)

Sometimes in April - Idris Elba returned to HBO in 2005 to take part in a gripping film on the genocide in Rwanda titled Sometimes in April.  The movie focuses on two brothers, played by Elba and Oris Erhuero.(Photo: Albert L. Ortega/PictureGroup)

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Sometimes in April - Idris Elba returned to HBO in 2005 to take part in this gripping film on the genocide in Rwanda. The movie focuses on two brothers, played by Elba and Oris Erhuero. (Photo: Albert L. Ortega/PictureGroup)

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28 Weeks Later - Director Juan Carlos Fresnadillo cast Idris Elba in 28 Weeks Later, the 2007 horror science fiction sequel to 28 Days Later.  Elba played the role of Brigadier General Stone.(Photo: Courtesy of 20th Century Fox via IMDB)

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28 Weeks Later - Director Juan Carlos Fresnadillo cast Elba in this 2007 horror science fiction sequel to 28 Days Later. He played the role of Brigadier General Stone. (Photo: Courtesy of 20th Century Fox via IMDB)

American Gangster - Idris Elba a.k.a. DJ Big Driis not only appeared in this 2007 sure-to-be-cult-classic, but he broke the mold when he also co-produced and appeared on the unofficial soundtrack, Jay Z's album of the same name. (Photo: Universal Pictures)

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American Gangster - Idris Elba a.k.a. DJ Big Driis not only appeared in this 2007 film, but he broke the mold when he also co-produced and appeared on the unofficial soundtrack, Jay Z's album of the same name. (Photo: Universal Pictures)

Daddy's Little Girls - Tyler Perry cast Idris Elba in his 2007 romantic drama, Daddy’s Little Girls.  Elba played Monty James, a single father raising three daughters who eventually falls for Gabrielle Union’s character, attorney Julia Rossmore.(Photo: Courtesy of Lionsgate via IMDB)

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Daddy's Little Girls - Tyler Perry cast Idris Elba in his 2007 romantic drama. Elba played Monty James, a single father raising three daughters who eventually falls for Gabrielle Union’s character, attorney Julia Rossmore. (Photo: Courtesy of Lionsgate via IMDB)

Obsessed - In what turned out to be a surprise box office hit, Idris Elba played alongside Beyoncé Knowles in the 2009 thriller Obsessed. Despite mixed reviews, it opened at the top of the box office.(Photo: Courtesy of Screen Gems via IMDB)

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Obsessed - In what turned out to be a commercial hit, Idris Elba played alongside Beyoncé Knowles in this 2009 thriller. The movie opened at the top of the box office and has lived on in memes. (Photo: Courtesy of Screen Gems via IMDB)

RocknRolla - English screenwriter and filmmaker Guy Ritchie cast Idris Elba in the 2008 crime film RocknRolla.  Alongside Gerard Butler and Ludacris, the film was a hit. In addition, Elba had a chance to return home to London and speak in his native accent on camera.(Photo: Courtesy of Warner Bros. via IMDB)

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RocknRolla - English screenwriter and filmmaker Guy Ritchie cast Idris Elba in the 2008 crime film RocknRolla. Alongside Gerard Butler and Ludacris, the film was a hit. In addition, Elba had a chance to return home to London and speak in his native accent on camera. (Photo: Courtesy of Warner Bros. via IMDB)

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The Office - Idris Elba had a short stint on the hit NBC comedy The Office for six episodes in 2009. Elba was brought on to play Charles Miner, a rival to Dunder Mifflin regional manager Michael Scott, played by actor Steve Carell.\r(Photo: Michael Underwood/PictureGroup)

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The Office - Idris Elba had a short stint on the hit NBC comedy The Office for six episodes in 2009. Elba was brought on to play Charles Miner, a rival to Dunder Mifflin regional manager Michael Scott, played by actor Steve Carell. (Photo: Michael Underwood/PictureGroup)

Takers - Idris Elba co-starred in Takers, which starred the rapper T.I.  Elba played Gordon Jennings, the leader of a group of professional bank robbers.  The film opened at number one opening weekend and a sequel is in the works. \r\r(Photo: Courtesy of Screen Gems via IMDB)

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Takers - Back on the crime action thriller scene, Elba co-starred alongside rapper T.I. in this 2010 movie. He played Gordon Jennings, the leader of a group of professional bank robbers. The film opened at number one opening weekend. (Photo: Courtesy of Screen Gems via IMDB)

Photo By Photo Credit: Suzanne Tenner

Thor - Earlier this year, Elba played Heimdall in the Marvel Studious film Thor.  He signed a four picture deal with Marvel, despite complaints from the Council of Conservative Citizens that a Black man shouldn't play a Nordic god. (Photo: Courtesy of Marvel)

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Thor - Elba changed the face of comic book movies when he played Heimdall in the Marvel Studious film Thor, despite complaints from the Council of Conservative Citizens that a Black man shouldn't play a Nordic god. (Photo: Courtesy of Marvel)

Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom - Taking on a challenge, Idris Elba stepped up as Nelson Mandela in this 2013 movie., and picked up a few awards nods along the way. (Photo:Keith Bernstein/The Weinstein Company)

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Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom - Taking on a challenge, Idris Elba stepped up as Nelson Mandela in this 2013 movie and picked up a few awards nods along the way. (Photo:Keith Bernstein/The Weinstein Company)

Luther\r - In the British psychological drama, Elba stars as Detective Chief Inspector John Luther.  The role has earned him two Golden Globe nominations and an Emmy nomination.  It's undecided whether Luther will get a third season, but Idris recently said, "We’ll have to see what the appetite is like for it at the end of this series. If it’s a good, healthy appetite then we’ll figure out how we’re going to do some more."\r(Photo: Courtesy of BBC)

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Luther - From 2010 to 2019, Elba starred in this British psychological drama as Detective Chief Inspector John Luther. In 2023, he also starred in the Netflix film Luther: The Fallen Sun. Elba has won and NAACP Image Award and Golden Globe for his performance. (Photo: Courtesy of BBC)

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Hijack - If you need an Elba fix now, check him out in his new Apple TV+ series Hijack. Elba plays corporate negotiator Sam Nelson who tries to use his professional skills to save people on a plane that is hijacked during its seven-hour journey from Dubai to London.

Photo By 60Forty Films