Robert Carlyle

Robert Carlyle is a Scottish film and television actor who portrays Mr. Gold and Rumplestiltskin on Once Upon a Time.

Biography
Robert Carlyle was raised in Maryhill, Glasgow, Scotland, by his father Joseph, after his mother left him when he was only three. At the age of 21, after reading Arthur Miller's "The Crucible," he enrolled in acting classes at the Glasgow Arts Centre. In 1991, together with four other actors, he founded the Raindog theatre company (named after Tom Waits' album "Rain Dog," one of Carlyle's favorites), a company dedicated to innovative work.

Trivia

 * Robert stated in an interview that his youngest son gave him the idea of how to do Rumplestiltskin's voice.
 * At age 17 he once worked as a butcher.