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 |
| 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 a talented American actor, producer, director, and writer. After finishing college at Yale University in 1991, he worked in Japan for a short time. Then, he moved to Manhattan to start his acting career.
He became well-known and praised for his first movie, Primal Fear (1996). For this role, he won a Golden Globe Award and was nominated for an Academy Award. He also earned another Academy Award nomination for his role in American History X (1998). Many people also know him from the movie Fight Club (1999), which became very popular over time.
In 2003, Norton started his own film company called Class 5 Films. He has directed or produced movies like Keeping the Faith (2000) and The Painted Veil (2006). He has continued to act in many successful films, including The Italian Job (2003), Moonrise Kingdom (2012), and The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014). Some of his biggest movies include The Incredible Hulk (2008) and The Bourne Legacy (2012).
Norton has also been nominated for more Academy Awards for his roles in Birdman (2014) and A Complete Unknown (2024). Beyond acting, Edward Norton is also very active in protecting the environment and helping communities.
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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 an environmental lawyer. His mother, Lydia Robinson "Robin" Rouse, was an English teacher who passed away in 1997. Norton's grandfather, James Rouse, was a well-known real estate developer. Edward has two younger siblings, Molly and James.
When he was five, Norton saw the musical Cinderella. This sparked his interest in theater. He started acting professionally at age eight in the musical Annie Get Your Gun. He also acted in many plays at the Columbia Center for Theatrical Arts.
In 1984, Norton won an acting award at a summer camp in Hebron, New Hampshire. He was inspired by actors like Dustin Hoffman and Robert De Niro. He graduated from high school in 1987. Then, he attended Yale University, where he studied history. At Yale, he also learned Japanese, acted in school plays, and was part of the rowing team. After graduating in 1991, he worked in Japan for a few months. He also trained in aikido and krav maga.
Acting Career Highlights
Starting His Journey (1991–1994)
After his time in Japan, Norton moved to New York City. He took on various jobs to support himself while studying different acting methods. He also wrote plays and performed in Off-Broadway theater. His acting caught the attention of famous playwright Edward Albee.
Breaking Through (1995–1999)
In 1995, a casting agent discovered Norton. He was chosen for the movie Primal Fear (1996) out of thousands of other actors. His performance in the film was highly praised by critics. He won a Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor and was nominated for an Academy Award. That same year, he also appeared in the musical Everyone Says I Love You and the drama The People vs. Larry Flynt.
In 1998, Norton starred in Rounders with Matt Damon. Later that year, he gained wide recognition for his role in American History X. In this film, he played Derek Vinyard, a former neo-Nazi who changes his views after being in prison. His powerful performance earned him an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor.
In 1999, Norton starred in the David Fincher-directed film Fight Club. He played a character who feels stuck in his office job. To prepare, Norton learned boxing and other fighting styles. The film was first shown at the Venice Film Festival. While it was debated by critics at first, Norton's acting was widely applauded. Fight Club later became a cult classic after it was released on DVD.
Directing and Mainstream Success (2000–2008)
In 2000, Norton directed his first movie, the romantic comedy Keeping the Faith, where he also played a priest. The film received mixed reviews. In 2001, he starred in the heist film The Score alongside acting legends Robert De Niro and Marlon Brando. Critics praised Norton's performance, saying he stood out even next to these famous actors.
Norton appeared in four movies in 2002. He played a kids' show host in Death to Smoochy. He also portrayed Nelson Rockefeller in the movie Frida, about the artist Frida Kahlo. Norton helped rewrite the script for Frida, adding historical details and humor. His work on the script was well-received. He also starred in the horror film Red Dragon, which was very successful at the box office.
In 2003, Norton was required to star in the film The Italian Job due to an earlier contract. Despite this, his performance was praised by critics. Around this time, Norton co-founded his production company, Class 5 Films. In 2005, he played Baldwin IV, the king of Jerusalem, in the historical film Kingdom of Heaven. His performance in this movie was called "phenomenal" by reviewers.
In 2006, Norton had two major roles. He played a magician in The Illusionist and a scientist in The Painted Veil. He also co-produced The Painted Veil. Both films received positive reviews, and critics noted that his producing efforts did not affect his strong acting.
The Incredible Hulk (2008)
Norton's next big role was playing Bruce Banner and the Hulk in the superhero movie The Incredible Hulk (2008). He helped rewrite parts of the script to give the story more depth. The film received good reviews and was a box office success, earning over $263 million. Although he was expected to play the Hulk again, he was later replaced by Mark Ruffalo. Norton explained that he wanted to act in a wider variety of roles and not be tied to just one character.
New Roles and Recognition (2009-2014)
In 2009, Norton produced a documentary called By the People: The Election of Barack Obama, which followed Barack Obama's journey to becoming president. In 2012, Norton starred in two films. He played a scoutmaster in the acclaimed film Moonrise Kingdom, directed by Wes Anderson. He also appeared in the action thriller The Bourne Legacy, which became his highest-grossing movie, earning over $276 million worldwide.
In 2014, Norton starred in two Academy Award-winning films: The Grand Budapest Hotel and Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance). He worked with director Wes Anderson again for The Grand Budapest Hotel. In the comedy Birdman, Norton played a talented but difficult actor. Both the film and Norton's performance were highly praised. He earned his third Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor for Birdman.
Voice Acting and Recent Work (2015-Present)
Norton has lent his voice to animated movies like Sausage Party (2016) and Isle of Dogs (2018). In 2019, he directed and starred in the crime drama Motherless Brooklyn, a project he had wanted to make for a long time. The film received mixed reviews.
In 2022, Norton played a tech billionaire in Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery, a popular mystery film released on Netflix. He also appeared in the TV series Extrapolations (2023) and reunited with Wes Anderson for the film Asteroid City (2023). He also voiced a character again in the animated series Sausage Party: Foodtopia (2024).
Norton's most recent role is playing Pete Seeger in the 2024 film A Complete Unknown, a movie about Bob Dylan. He learned to play the banjo for this role, and his performance has been highly praised, earning him further award nominations.
Personal Life
Edward Norton prefers to keep his personal life private. He believes that too much media attention can distract him from his acting.
In 2011, Norton proposed to Canadian film producer Shauna Robertson. They married in 2012 and have two children together.
Family History
In 2023, Norton appeared on a TV show called Finding Your Roots. It was confirmed that he is a distant relative of Pocahontas, a famous Native American woman from history. This was a fact his family had known about for many years.
Activism and Philanthropy
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Edward Norton is a strong supporter of environmental causes, following in his father's footsteps. He narrated a National Geographic documentary about Earth's systems. He is also a big supporter of renewable energy, especially solar energy. In 2003, he helped create a program to install solar panels on homes in Los Angeles. Many other celebrities joined this effort.
Norton supports the African Wildlife Foundation and its efforts to stop the illegal hunting of elephants and rhinoceroses. He is also the president of the American branch of the Maasai Wilderness Conservation Trust. This organization works to protect nature in East Africa and help the local Maasai communities. To raise money for this trust, Norton ran the New York City Marathon in 2009 with a team that included three Maasai tribesmen. He raised over $1.2 million.
In 2010, Norton launched an online fundraising website called Crowdrise. This platform uses social networking to help people raise money for charities. In July 2010, the United Nations (UN) named Norton a Goodwill Ambassador for Biodiversity. In this role, he travels to Africa and participates in UN programs to promote environmental protection. He also plays soccer for "Soccer Aid", an event that raises money for UNICEF to help children worldwide.
Norton is also a pilot and volunteers his time to fly people who need access to healthcare through an organization called Angel Flight West.
Community Involvement
Since 1998, Norton has been a trustee for Enterprise Community Partners, a non-profit organization that builds affordable housing. This company has invested billions of dollars to help provide homes for low-income Americans. In 2008, Norton started a plan for the company to build "green" affordable housing, combining his interest in housing with his environmental concerns.
Norton believes that celebrities should participate in discussions about politics and social issues, but in a thoughtful way. He has encouraged college students to vote and has supported candidates who focus on community building and environmental protection.
Awards and Recognition
Edward Norton has received many awards and nominations for his acting. His most praised films include Primal Fear (1996), American History X (1998), Fight Club (1999), The Illusionist (2006), Moonrise Kingdom (2012), and Birdman (2014).
He has been nominated for four Academy Awards: Best Supporting Actor for Primal Fear, Birdman, and A Complete Unknown, and Best Actor for American History X. He has also been nominated for two Golden Globe Awards for Best Supporting Actor, winning for Primal Fear.
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See also
In Spanish: Edward Norton para niños
