Edward Norton facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Edward Norton
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Norton in 2009
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Edward Harrison Norton
August 18, 1969 Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.
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| Alma mater | Yale University (BA) |
| Occupation | Actor, producer, director, screenwriter |
| Years active | 1993–present |
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Works
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Full list |
| Spouse(s) | |
| Children | 2 |
| Relatives | James Rouse (grandfather) |
| Awards | Full list |
Edward Harrison Norton (born August 18, 1969) is an American actor, director, and producer. He is known for playing a wide variety of characters in movies. After graduating from Yale University in 1991, he worked in Japan for a few months before moving to New York City to become an actor.
Norton quickly became famous for his first movie, Primal Fear (1996). His performance won him a Golden Globe Award and an Academy Award nomination. He received another Oscar nomination for playing a man who changes his hateful beliefs in American History X (1998). He also starred in the popular film Fight Club (1999).
He has starred in many other successful films, including The Italian Job (2003), The Illusionist (2006), and The Incredible Hulk (2008), where he played the famous superhero. He earned another Academy Award nomination for the movie Birdman (2014). More recently, he appeared in Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery (2022).
Besides acting, Norton is an environmental and social activist. He works with non-profit groups to help provide affordable housing and protect wildlife. He is also a Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Edward Harrison Norton was born in Boston, Massachusetts, on August 18, 1969. He grew up in Columbia, Maryland. His father, Edward Mower Norton Jr., was a lawyer who worked to protect the environment. His mother, Robin, was an English teacher. His grandfather, James Rouse, was a famous real estate developer who founded Enterprise Community Partners, a company that helps build affordable homes.
When he was five, Norton saw a play and became interested in acting. He started performing in local theater when he was eight years old. In high school, he was inspired by actors like Dustin Hoffman and Robert De Niro.
Norton graduated from Wilde Lake High School in 1987. He then went to Yale College and earned a degree in history in 1991. At Yale, he also studied Japanese and acted in plays. After graduating, he worked for his grandfather's company in Osaka, Japan.
Acting Career
Getting Started
After living in Japan, Norton moved to New York City to pursue acting. He studied with acting coach Terry Schreiber, who taught him to use different techniques for different roles. He also acted in off-Broadway plays. His talent was noticed by playwright Edward Albee, who cast him in one of his plays.
Breakthrough and Fame
In 1996, Norton starred in his first movie, Primal Fear. He played an altar boy accused of a serious crime. Critics loved his performance, and he won a Golden Globe Award and was nominated for an Academy Award.
In 1998, he starred in American History X. He played a character who must unlearn his hateful ideas after spending time in prison. This powerful role earned him an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor.
The next year, he starred in Fight Club (1999). He played a man who was unhappy with his office job. The movie became a cult classic, meaning it gained a large and dedicated fanbase over time.
Major Roles and Directing
In 2000, Norton directed his first movie, a romantic comedy called Keeping the Faith, which he also starred in. He continued to act in popular films, including the heist movie The Score (2001), where he acted alongside legends Robert De Niro and Marlon Brando.
In 2002, he appeared in four films. He played Nelson Rockefeller in Frida, a movie about the life of artist Frida Kahlo. He also helped rewrite the script for the film. That same year, he starred as an FBI agent in the thriller Red Dragon.
He later played a king with leprosy in the historical movie Kingdom of Heaven (2005) and a magician in The Illusionist (2006).
Playing The Incredible Hulk
In 2008, Norton starred as Bruce Banner in The Incredible Hulk. He also helped rewrite the script to make the story more like the classic "fugitive story" from the comics. The movie was a box office success.
Norton was expected to play the Hulk in The Avengers, but the role went to actor Mark Ruffalo. Norton later explained that he wanted to play a wider variety of characters instead of being known for just one role.
Continued Success
Norton continued to appear in critically acclaimed films. He worked with director Wes Anderson on movies like Moonrise Kingdom (2012), The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014), and Isle of Dogs (2018).
In 2014, he played a difficult but talented actor in the movie Birdman. His performance was highly praised and earned him his third Academy Award nomination.
In 2019, he directed and starred in the crime film Motherless Brooklyn. More recently, he played a tech billionaire in the mystery movie Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery (2022). In 2024, he played folk singer Pete Seeger in A Complete Unknown, a movie about Bob Dylan. For this role, he learned to play the banjo and earned another Golden Globe and Academy Award nomination.
Personal Life and Activism
Family and Ancestry
Norton prefers to keep his personal life private. In 2012, he married Canadian film producer Shauna Robertson. They have two children.
In 2023, on the TV show Finding Your Roots, Norton learned that he is a direct descendant of Pocahontas, the famous Native American woman from the 17th century. He also discovered that his ancestors owned slaves, which he said was "uncomfortable" and something that should be acknowledged.
Environmental and Social Work
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Inspired by his father, who is an environmental lawyer, Norton is a dedicated environmentalist. He supports the use of renewable energy like solar power. In 2003, he helped create the Solar Neighbors program to put solar panels on homes in Los Angeles.
He is also the president of the American branch of the Maasai Wilderness Conservation Trust. This group works to protect nature in East Africa while helping the local Maasai communities. In 2009, he ran the New York City Marathon and raised over $1.2 million for the trust.
In 2010, the United Nations named Norton a Goodwill Ambassador for Biodiversity. In this role, he helps raise awareness about the importance of protecting the variety of life on Earth.
Norton also works with Enterprise Community Partners, the affordable housing organization his grandparents started. He helps the organization build environmentally friendly homes for low-income families.
See also
In Spanish: Edward Norton para niños
