Owen Wilson facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Owen Wilson
Wilson at the Cannes Film Festival premiere for Midnight in Paris (2011)
Born	Owen Cunningham Wilson (1968-11-18) November 18, 1968 (age 56) Dallas, Texas, U.S.
Occupation	Actor comedian producer screenwriter
Years active	1994–present
Children	3
Parent(s)	Laura Wilson Robert Wilson
Relatives	Andrew Wilson (brother) Luke Wilson (brother)
Awards	Full list

Owen Cunningham Wilson (born November 18, 1968) is an American actor and comedian. He is famous for his roles in many popular movies. You might know him as the voice of Lightning McQueen in the Cars movies. He also played Mobius M. Mobius in the Disney+ series Loki.

Owen Wilson has worked often with director Wes Anderson. They have made films like Bottle Rocket (1996) and The Royal Tenenbaums (2001). He also starred in the romantic comedy Midnight in Paris (2011). He is known for his funny roles in movies like Zoolander (2001), Wedding Crashers (2005), and Night at the Museum (2006). He has also worked with Jackie Chan in action-comedy films like Shanghai Noon (2000).

Discovering Owen Wilson's Early Life

Owen Wilson was born in Dallas, Texas, on November 18, 1968. He is the middle child of three sons. His mother, Laura Wilson, is a photographer. His father, Robert Wilson, worked in advertising. Owen has two brothers, Andrew and Luke. Both of his brothers are also actors.

Owen went to New Mexico Military Institute for school. Later, he studied English at the University of Texas at Austin. While in college, he met Wes Anderson. Wes Anderson later became a famous director and a frequent collaborator with Owen.

Owen Wilson's Acting Career

Owen Wilson started his acting career in the mid-1990s. He quickly became known for his unique voice and comedic timing.

Early Films and First Big Roles (1994–1999)

Owen Wilson's first movie was a short film called Bottle Rocket (1994). He co-wrote this film with his college friend, director Wes Anderson. This short film was later made into a full movie in 1996. Owen also acted in the feature-length Bottle Rocket alongside his brother Luke. Critics liked the movie, calling it a "marvelous debut."

In 1996, he had a supporting role in the comedy The Cable Guy, starring Jim Carrey. In 1997, he appeared in the adventure thriller Anaconda. He also helped produce the comedy As Good as It Gets.

Owen continued to get roles in the late 1990s. He was in the science fiction film Armageddon (1998). He also worked with Wes Anderson again, co-writing Rushmore (1998) and The Royal Tenenbaums (2001). These writing efforts earned them nominations for important awards.

Becoming a Movie Star (2000–2006)

Owen Wilson in 2003

The year 2000 was a big one for Owen Wilson. He starred in the action-comedy Shanghai Noon with Jackie Chan. This movie was very popular around the world. His fame grew even more when he appeared in the comedy Zoolander (2001) with Ben Stiller.

Owen also starred in the action film Behind Enemy Lines (2001). In 2001, he and Wes Anderson released The Royal Tenenbaums. This film was a big success and earned them an Oscar nomination for their writing.

He continued making buddy-comedies. In 2002, he co-starred with Eddie Murphy in I Spy. He reunited with Jackie Chan for Shanghai Knights (2003). In 2004, he starred in the movie version of the TV show Starsky & Hutch. He also played Ned Plimpton in Wes Anderson's The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou (2004). Owen and his brother Luke played the Wright brothers in Around the World in 80 Days.

In 2005, Owen teamed up with Vince Vaughn for the hit comedy Wedding Crashers. This movie made over $200 million in the U.S. alone. In 2006, he voiced Lightning McQueen in the Disney/Pixar animated film Cars. He also starred in You, Me and Dupree and appeared as the cowboy Jedediah in Night at the Museum.

Owen Wilson at the London premiere of You, Me and Dupree in 2006

Owen Wilson has worked with Ben Stiller in many movies. These include The Cable Guy (1996), Zoolander (2001), Starsky & Hutch (2004), and the Night at the Museum series.

Established Career and New Roles (2007–Present)

Owen Wilson continued to appear in Wes Anderson's films, including The Darjeeling Limited (2007). In 2008, he starred in the comedy Drillbit Taylor. He also appeared in the family film Marley & Me (2008) with Jennifer Aniston. He lent his voice to Coach Skip in Wes Anderson's animated film Fantastic Mr. Fox (2009).

Owen Wilson with Woody Allen at the Cannes Film Festival premiere of Midnight in Paris in 2011

In 2011, Owen Wilson starred in the romantic comedy Midnight in Paris. He played a writer who travels back in time. His performance was praised by critics, and he earned a nomination for a Golden Globe Award. That same year, he voiced Lightning McQueen again in Cars 2.

In 2014, Owen appeared in Wes Anderson's The Grand Budapest Hotel. He also starred in the action thriller No Escape (2015). In this film, he played a father trying to protect his family in a dangerous situation.

In 2017, he voiced Lightning McQueen for Cars 3. He also played a father in the heartwarming drama Wonder. In 2021, Owen starred in the comedy Bliss and reunited with Wes Anderson for The French Dispatch. He also appeared in Marry Me with Jennifer Lopez.

Recently, Owen Wilson joined the Marvel Cinematic Universe. He plays Mobius M. Mobius in the Disney+ series Loki, a role he also played in the movie Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania (2023). He also appeared in the family film Haunted Mansion (2023).

Owen Wilson's Personal Life

Owen Wilson has three children. He had a son in 2011 with his then-girlfriend Jade Duell. In 2014, he had another son with Caroline Lindqvist. His third child, a daughter, was born in 2018.

Filmography

Owen Wilson has appeared in many films and television shows. Here are some of his notable works:

Film

Key

Denotes films that have not yet been released

Television

Video games

Music videos

Commercials

Awards and Nominations

Owen Wilson has received many awards and nominations for his work. He was nominated for an Academy Award for writing The Royal Tenenbaums. He also received a Golden Globe nomination for his acting in Midnight in Paris.

See also

In Spanish: Owen Wilson para niños

• Frat Pack, a group of actors he has appeared in several films with