From the age of 11 he studied in boarding schools, where the stick was used to punish students; Already in his school days he decided that he wanted to be an actor and as soon as he could, he began his acting studies at the Academy of Music and Arts in the city of London.
His first work before the cameras was in the feature film “Poor Cow“(1967), in which he had a performance that lasted two minutes, but, unfortunately, his scenes were cut in the final edition. Shortly after, the then-new actor, caught the director’s attention Lindsay anderson, who selected him to play the rebellious student Mick travis, protagonist of the film “If …“(1968). The film catapulted Malcolm to the peak of fame in England, however it did not obtain the same repercussion worldwide.
McDowell he was so enthusiastic about its success that he immediately began to write what would become his semi-autobiography “Or Lucky Man!“, released in 1973 and also directed Anderson. Meanwhile he was chosen by the director Stanley kubrick to star in his controversial film “A clockwork orange“(1971); a role from which he began to be labeled as an interpreter of villainous and lunatic characters.
In early 1976, McDowell he spent almost a year working on what would be one of the most infamous films of all time, the semi-pornographic “Caligula“(1979), funded by Penthouse magazine founder Bob Guccione. Around this time, the British film industry collapsed, forcing Malcolm to emigrate to the United States to try his luck in Hollywood.
His first American feature film was “Time After Time“(1979), followed by”The kiss of the panther“(1982). That same year, he returned to work with the director Lindsay anderson on “Britannia Hospital“, last part of the trilogy about the working class, beginning with”If …“.
In the mid-80’s his career began to decline, due to drug and alcohol abuse; her appearance changed and her hair turned gray. Looking older than his actual age, it was not easy for him to land roles for his age, and he was left with no choice but to work on numerous B-class films.
The 90’s were more benevolent and, in 1994, he got the role of the Dr. Soran, the man who murdered the Captain Kirk on “Star Trek: Generations“: McDowell was back in the ring, again playing villains.
His numerous credits in recent years include the tapes “Halloween – The Origin“(2007),”Bolt“(2008),”Halloween II“(2009),”The book of Eli“(2010) and”Rumors and lies“(2010), among others.
Currently, with more than 100 feature films to his credit, McDowell he is considered one of the greatest actors in the United States, even though he does not yet have American citizenship.
His face and his work are also recognized in numerous television series, as a guest artist, in recurring roles or protagonists, beginning with his first leading role in 1967 in the British series “Sat’day while sunday“Other roles for which he is recognized were those of Geoffrey tolwyn on “Wing Commander Academy“, the Professor Stephen Pynchon on “Pearl“, Mr. Roarke on “Fantasy island“, Prince bolkonsky in the miniseries “War and peace“, Daniel linderman on “Heroes“, Vater Orlaag on “Metalocalypse“, Terrance McQuewick on “Entourage” Y Stanton Infeld who is currently playing in the TNT series, “Franklin & Bash“.
His first wife was an actress Margot bennett, with whom he was married between 1975 and 1980. Two weeks after their divorce, he married the actress Mary Steenburgen, with whom he had his children, the actress today, Lilly mcdowell and the producer Charlie Mc Dowell. After ten years of marriage, Malcolm Y Steenburgen They got divorced.
A year later, in 1991, the actor remarried with his current wife, the actress. Kelley Mc Dowell and mother of his children Beckett taylor, Finnian anderson Y Seamus Hudson Mc Dowell.