wilkinson was born on 5 february 1948 in wharfedale, west riding of yorkshire, england to thomas wilkinson sr. a farmer. wilkinson was trained at the royal academy of dramatic arts and university of kent. wilkinson is married to diana hardcastle since 1998 and have two daughters, alice and mollie. both wilkinson and hardcastle both played the real life couple joe and rose kennedy in the 2011 miniseries "the kennedys".