Liv Tyler facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Liv Tyler
Tyler in 2016
Born	Liv Rundgren (1977-07-01) July 1, 1977 (age 47) New York City, U.S.
Occupation	Actress
Years active	1991–present
Spouse(s)	Royston Langdon ​ ​ (m. 2003; div. 2008)​
Partner(s)	David Gardner (2014–2021)
Children	3
Parent(s)	Bebe Buell (mother) Steven Tyler (biological father) Todd Rundgren (adoptive/legal father)
Relatives	Mia Tyler (paternal half-sister) Jon Foster (brother-in-law)

Liv Rundgren Tyler (born Liv Rundgren; July 1, 1977) is an American actress. She started her career as a model. Then she made her first movie, Silent Fall (1994).

Liv Tyler became very famous for her roles in many films. These include Heavy (1995), Empire Records (1995), Stealing Beauty (1996), That Thing You Do! (1996), and Armageddon (1998).

She gained worldwide fame playing Arwen Undómiel in The Lord of the Rings film trilogy (2001–2003). This series became one of the highest-grossing film series of all time.

After The Lord of the Rings, Tyler appeared in films like Jersey Girl (2004) and The Strangers (2008). She also played Betty Ross in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Outside of acting, Liv Tyler has been a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador for the United States since 2003. She is also a spokesperson for Givenchy perfumes and cosmetics. She is the daughter of Steven Tyler, the lead singer of Aerosmith, and model Bebe Buell. She also has a close bond with her adoptive father, Todd Rundgren.

Early life and family

Liv Rundgren Tyler was born on July 1, 1977, in New York City. Her mother is Bebe Buell, a model and singer. Her biological father is Steven Tyler, the lead singer of the band Aerosmith. Liv's mother named her after the Norwegian actress Liv Ullmann.

Liv has a diverse family background. Her ancestors come from places like Italy, Germany, Ukraine, England, and Africa. She has three half-siblings: Mia Tyler, Chelsea Anna Tyler Foster, and Taj Monroe Tallarico.

From 1972 to 1979, Liv's mother lived with musician Todd Rundgren. When Liv was born, her mother said Todd Rundgren was the father. He signed her birth certificate and acted as her father, even paying for her education. Liv has said, "Todd's my spiritual father. I love him."

When Liv was about 10 or 11, she met Steven Tyler. She noticed she looked a lot like his other daughter, Mia. This made her wonder if Steven was her real father. When she asked her mother, the truth was revealed. The public found out in 1991 when Liv changed her last name to Tyler. She kept Rundgren as her middle name.

Since then, Liv and Steven have become very close. They even worked together. Liv appeared in Aerosmith's music video for "Crazy" in 1993. Aerosmith also performed songs in the movie Armageddon (1998), which Liv starred in. Liv also keeps a close relationship with Todd Rundgren. She feels very grateful for him.

School days

Liv Tyler went to several schools. These included the Congressional Schools of Virginia, Breakwater School, and Waynflete School in Portland, Maine. At age 12, she moved back to New York City with her mother. She attended York Preparatory for junior high and high school. She also went to the Crossroads School for Arts & Sciences in Santa Monica, California. She finished school in 1995 to focus on her acting career.

Career highlights

Starting out in acting (1991–1997)

Liv Tyler began modeling at 14. She got her first job with help from Paulina Porizkova, who took photos of her for Interview magazine. She also appeared in television commercials. However, she quickly got bored with modeling. She decided to try acting instead, even though she never took acting classes.

Liv first became known to TV audiences in 1993. She starred with Alicia Silverstone in the music video for Aerosmith's song "Crazy".

Her first movie was Silent Fall in 1994. She played the older sister of a boy with autism. In 1995, she was in the comedy-drama Empire Records. Liv has called this movie "one of the best experiences" she ever had. Soon after, she played Callie, a kind young waitress, in the 1995 drama Heavy. Critics praised her performance.

Breakthrough roles

Liv's big breakthrough came in the film Stealing Beauty (1996). She played Lucy Harmon. Critics liked her performance, even though the movie got mixed reviews. The director, Bernardo Bertolucci, chose Liv because he saw a special quality in her. He described it as "a New York aura."

She then appeared in That Thing You Do! (1996). This movie was about a fictional one-hit wonder rock band. It was written and directed by Tom Hanks. The film was successful and received good reviews. In 1997, she was in Inventing the Abbotts. Entertainment Weekly called her performance "lovely and pliant." That same year, People magazine named her one of the 50 Most Beautiful People.

Becoming a mainstream star (1998–2000)

Tyler (center) with cast and crew at the premiere of Armageddon, at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, 1998

Liv Tyler next starred in Armageddon (1998). She played the daughter of Bruce Willis' character and the love interest of Ben Affleck's character. The movie was a huge success at the box office. It earned a lot of money worldwide. Aerosmith songs, like "I Don't Want to Miss a Thing", were featured in the film. Liv initially turned down the role. She later said she took it because she was scared of it and wanted to challenge herself.

She then appeared in the drama Onegin (1999). This film was based on a 19th-century Russian novel. Liv had to learn an English accent for the role. The movie was not very successful. That same year, she was in the historical comedy Plunkett & Macleane.

Liv also worked with director Robert Altman on two films: Cookie's Fortune (1999) and Dr. T & the Women (2000). In Cookie's Fortune, her acting was highly praised. Critics said her performance matched her beauty. In Dr. T & the Women, she played Marilyn, a patient of Richard Gere's character.

The Lord of the Rings and global fame (2001–2007)

In 2001, Liv Tyler starred in the comedy One Night at McCool's. She played a woman who three men were infatuated with. Liv found this role challenging because it focused so much on her physical appearance.

Tyler at the premiere of The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King in 2003

Also in 2001, she starred in The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring. This film was directed by Peter Jackson. Liv played the Elf maiden Arwen Undómiel. The filmmakers chose her after seeing her in Plunkett & Macleane. She learned to speak the Elvish language created by J. R. R. Tolkien for the role. Critics found her performance "lovely and earnest."

A year later, Liv returned as Arwen in The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers. This was the second movie in the series. She spent months learning sword fighting for battle scenes. However, these scenes were later removed from the script. The film was a huge success. In 2003, Liv appeared in the final movie of the series, The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King.

After The Lord of the Rings, Liv worked with her Armageddon co-star Ben Affleck again. They were in the romantic comedy Jersey Girl (2004). Liv played a woman who helps a widowed father find love again. She said filming Jersey Girl made her feel "scared and vulnerable" because it was so different from her Lord of the Rings role.

In 2003, Liv became the spokesperson for Givenchy perfume and cosmetics. In 2005, the brand even named a rose after her. She continued as their spokesperson for several more years. In 2012, she covered the INXS song "Need You Tonight" for a Givenchy and Sony Music collaboration.

In 2005, she was in the independent drama Lonesome Jim. She played a single mother and nurse. The film was shown at the 2005 Sundance Film Festival. Her next role was in Reign Over Me (2007). She played a therapist helping a man cope with loss.

Recent work and TV roles (2008–present)

Tyler at the premiere for The Incredible Hulk in June 2008

Tyler at the premiere of Super, 2010

In 2008, Liv Tyler starred in the home invasion horror film The Strangers. The movie was about a couple terrorized by masked attackers. It was a big success at the box office. Liv said this was the most challenging role of her career.

She also appeared in The Incredible Hulk (2008). She played Dr. Betty Ross, the love interest of the title character, played by Edward Norton. Liv was a fan of the old television show. She found filming the role "very physical." The movie was a moderate box office success.

Liv appeared in two films in 2011: Super and The Ledge. In 2013, she and her grandmother, Dorothea Johnson, released a book called Modern Manners.

In 2014, Liv was in Space Station 76 and the horror-drama Jamie Marks Is Dead. She also began a regular role in the HBO television series The Leftovers. The show ran for three seasons, ending in 2017.

In 2016, Liv starred in and produced the fantasy/horror drama film Wildling. It was released in 2018. In 2017, she played Anne Vaux in the BBC/HBO miniseries Gunpowder.

In 2019, Liv co-starred with Brad Pitt in the science fiction drama film Ad Astra. In 2020, she started a starring role in the Fox TV series 9-1-1: Lone Star. This is a spin-off of the drama series 9-1-1.

In June 2020, Liv joined her Lord of the Rings co-stars for a YouTube series called Reunited Apart. They reunited through video calls to raise money for charities. In March 2023, it was announced that she will return as Betty Ross in Captain America: Brave New World (2025).

Personal life

Liv Tyler has three children. She learned transcendental meditation in New York City. In 2012, she took part in a charity event for the David Lynch Foundation. This foundation helps provide transcendental meditation to people who need it. Liv said it helps her make better decisions and be a better mother. It also helps her deal with daily stress.

Liv bought a townhouse in Greenwich Village, New York City, in 2001. In 2019, she sold it and moved to London. She has lived there with her family since 2018. She also owns a house in Malibu, California.

Activism

Liv Tyler is a strong supporter of the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF). She was named a Goodwill Ambassador for the United States in 2003. In 2004, she hosted an event to light the UNICEF Snowflake in New York City. She also helped promote Givenchy's Mother's Day campaign. This campaign supported UNICEF's efforts to fight Maternal and Neonatal Tetanus.

Since 2004, she has given money to the Women's Cancer Research Fund. This fund supports research, education, and outreach for women's cancers. In October 2007, Liv, her mother Bebe Buell, and her grandmother Dorothea Johnson helped launch the Emergen-C Pink energy drink. This event honored Breast Cancer Awareness month.

Filmography

Accolades

See also

In Spanish: Liv Tyler para niños

Images for kids

• 

  Liv Tyler in 2016