Owen Wilson
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Owen Wilson | |
|---|---|
 Wilson at the London premiere of You, Me and Dupree, 2006 |
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| Born | Owen Cunningham Wilson November 18, 1968 Dallas, Texas, United States |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1994-present |
Owen Cunningham Wilson (born November 18, 1968) is an Academy Award-nominated American actor and writer. Wilson is perhaps best known for his successful comedic roles such as Roy O'bannon in Shanghai Noon, John Beckwith in Wedding Crashers and as Hansel in Zoolander as well as for his distinctively shaped nose. Wilson is considered a member of the Frat Pack.
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[edit] Early life
Wilson was born in Los Angeles, Ca to photographer Laura Wilson (née Cunningham) and Robert Andrew Wilson, an advertising executive and operator of a public television station.[1] His family is Irish American and Roman Catholic.[2][3] While living in Dallas, Wilson attended The Lamplighter School, which he revisited in 2005, and St. Mark's School of Texas, from which he was expelled when, in the tenth grade, he stole his teacher's textbook in an attempt to help him finish his math homework quicker.[4] Wilson also attended his senior year in high school at the New Mexico Military Institute.
[edit] Career
[edit] Initial success
While Wilson found some initial success as a film actor after his turn as Dignan in Bottle Rocket, he also remained a key creative collaborator in Wes Anderson's next two directorial efforts. Rushmore was the two writers' second script collaboration. Although Wilson didn't appear in the film, he and Anderson acknowledged on the Criterion Collection DVD audio commentary that Wilson has a sort of quasi-cameo as Rosemary Cross's dead husband, Edward Appleby. When Max Fischer visits Miss Cross in Appleby's boyhood bedroom, photographs of a young Owen Wilson are incorporated in the set for the scene.[5]
Wilson quickly landed roles in big-budget movies such as The Cable Guy, directed by Ben Stiller, an early admirer of Bottle Rocket. After minor appearances in action films like Anaconda, Armageddon and The Haunting, Wilson appeared in two dramatic roles: supporting actor in Permanent Midnight, which starred Stiller as a drug-addicted TV writer; and a role as a serial killer in The Minus Man.
[edit] Movie star
Wilson got his big break with the 2000 comedy action hit Shanghai Noon, starring opposite Hong Kong action star Jackie Chan. The film grossed nearly US$100 million worldwide. His fame continued to rise after starring alongside Ben Stiller and Will Ferrell in the 2001 film Zoolander.
Gene Hackman took notice of Wilson's performance in Shanghai Noon and recommended Wilson to play opposite himself in the 2001 action film Behind Enemy Lines. Also in 2001, Wilson and Anderson collaborated on their third film, The Royal Tenenbaums, which was a financial and critical success. The comedy featured an all-star cast, including Gene Hackman, Ben Stiller, Bill Murray, Anjelica Huston, Gwyneth Paltrow, Danny Glover, Seymour Cassel and brother Luke. Owen Wilson had a memorable supporting role in the film as Eli Cash, a drug-addled bon vivant who becomes a literary celebrity. It earned the writing team an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Screenplay.
Wilson returned to the buddy comedy genre in 2002 with the action comedy I Spy, co-starring Eddie Murphy. This big-screen remake of the television series flopped at the box office. He then reunited with Chan to make Shanghai Knights (2003) and the movie remake of the television series Starsky & Hutch (2004). Due to his busy schedule as an actor and his ongoing sinus malady, Wilson was unable to collaborate on the script for Wes Anderson's fourth feature, The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou. The 2004 film was ultimately co-written by filmmaker Noah Baumbach. However, Wilson did star in the film as Bill Murray's would-be son, Ned Plimpton—a role written specifically for Wilson.[6]
Wilson partnered with Vince Vaughn in the 2005 Wedding Crashers which grossed over $200 million in the US alone. Also in 2005, Owen collaborated with his brothers by appearing in The Wendell Baker Story, written by brother Luke, directed by Luke and brother Andrew.[7] In 2006, Wilson provided the voice of Lightning McQueen in the Disney/Pixar film Cars, starred in You, Me and Dupree with Kate Hudson, and appeared with Stiller in Night at the Museum.
Wilson has appeared in eight movies with Stiller (a long-time friend) to date: The Cable Guy (1996), Permanent Midnight (1998), Meet the Parents (2000), Zoolander (2001), The Royal Tenenbaums (2001), Starsky & Hutch (2004), Meet the Fockers (2004) and Night at the Museum (2006): he will also co-star with him in the sequel Night at the Museum 2: Battle of the Smithsonian (2009).
Wilson recently appeared in another Wes Anderson film, The Darjeeling Limited, which screened at the 45th annual New York Film Festival, the Venice Film Festival and opened September 30, 2007, co-starring Jason Schwartzman and Adrien Brody.[8] Wilson next starred in the Judd Apatow comedy, Drillbit Taylor, released in March 2008.
[edit] Upcoming projects
- Acted in Kyle Gulutzan and Sean George Casey's production of Roundabout, scheduled for release December 2008.
- Film adaptation of John Grogan's best-selling memoir, Marley & Me, co-starring Jennifer Aniston, currently in post-production.[9]
[edit] Personal life
[edit] Relationships
Wilson was previously linked with actress Demi Moore, singer Sheryl Crow and, most recently, with the actress Kate Hudson. His relationship with Hudson ended in May 2007.[10]
[edit] Suicide attempt
Wilson was taken to St. John's Hospital in Santa Monica, California on August 26, 2007, after a reported suicide attempt at his Santa Monica abode, where Wilson allegedly slashed his wrists and took an overdose of pills.[11][12] Once stabilized at St. John's, Wilson was transferred to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, where his condition was initially described as serious, then later upgraded to stable. His lawyer later confirmed that he had been undergoing treatment for depression at the time of his suicide attempt.[13]
The New York Post wrote that English actor Steve Coogan was being "blamed" by singer Courtney Love in a story following the suicide attempts for allegedly supplying the actor with hard drugs. Steve Coogan responded through Access Hollywood, denying Love's accusations and offering support to Wilson.
On August 27, 2007, Wilson issued a statement: "I respectfully ask that the media allow me to receive care and heal in private during this difficult time."[14] On August 29, 2007, Wilson withdrew from filming in Tropic Thunder, produced by and starring friend and frequent collaborator, Ben Stiller. He was later replaced by Matthew McConaughey.[15]
On October 4, 2007, Wilson made a public appearance at the Los Angeles premiere of The Darjeeling Limited. He also made an appearance at the 2008 Oscars.[16]
[edit] Filmography
| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | Bottle Rocket | Dignan | Also short from 1994 of the same name |
| The Cable Guy | Robin's date | ||
| 1997 | Anaconda | Gary Dixon | |
| Permanent Midnight | Nicky | ||
| Armageddon | Oscar Choi | ||
| 1999 | Heat Vision and Jack | Heat Vision/Doug (voice) | TV |
| The Haunting | Luke Sanderson | ||
| Breakfast of Champions | Monte Rapid | ||
| The Minus Man | Vann Siegert | ||
| 2000 | Meet the Parents | Kevin Rawley | |
| Shanghai Noon | Roy O'Bannon | ||
| 2001 | Behind Enemy Lines | Lt. Chris Burnett | |
| The Royal Tenenbaums | Eli Cash | Oscar nomination (writing) | |
| Zoolander | Hansel McDonald | ||
| 2002 | I Spy | Alex Scott | |
| 2003 | Shanghai Knights | Roy O'Bannon | |
| Yeah Right! | Owen Wilson | Cameo | |
| 2004 | The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou | Ned Plimpton | |
| Meet the Fockers | Kevin Rawley | Cameo | |
| Around the World in 80 Days | Wilbur Wright | Cameo | |
| Starsky & Hutch | Detective Ken "Hutch" Hutchinson | ||
| The Big Bounce | Jack Ryan | ||
| 2005 | The Wendell Baker Story | Neil King | |
| Wedding Crashers | John Beckwith | ||
| 2006 | Night at the Museum | Jedediah Smith | Uncredited |
| You, Me and Dupree | Randolph Dupree | Also Produced | |
| Cars | Lightning McQueen | Voice | |
| 2007 | The Darjeeling Limited | Francis Whitman | |
| 2008 | Drillbit Taylor | Drillbit Taylor | |
| Marley & Me | John Grogan | post-production | |
| 2009 | Night at the Museum 2: Battle of the Smithsonian | Jedediah Smith | post-production |
| 2011 | Cars 2 | Lightning McQueen | Voice |
[edit] References
- ^ filmreference.com biography
- ^ Stuever, Hank. "The Brothers Grin." The Washington Post, 19 July, 1988.
- ^ Fischer, Paul. "Owen Wilson/ Royal Tenenbaums, Behind Enemy Lines Interview", Femail magazine. Retrieved on 2008-02-27.
- ^ AskMen.com - Owen Wilson
- ^ "Trivia for Rushmore (1998)". Internet Movie Database. Retrieved on 2006-09-29.
- ^ Fred Topel (2004-12-23). "Interview: Wes Anderson". CHUD.com. Retrieved on 2006-09-29.
- ^ Rebecca Murray. "The Wendell Baker Story is a Real Wilson Family Affair". About.com. Retrieved on 2007-08-27.
- ^ Staff writers (2007-08-19). "The Darjeeling Limited to premiere in NYC", Business of Cinema. Retrieved on 2007-08-27.
- ^ Michael Fleming (2007-08-19). "Wilson, Aniston fetch Fox feature Pair to star in 'Marley & Me'", Variety. Retrieved on 2007-08-27.
- ^ "Does Kate Hudson have a new main squeeze?", MSNBC Access Hollywood (2007-08-07). Retrieved on 2007-08-27.
- ^ Lew Irwin (2007-08-29). "Police Report Confirms Wilson Attempted Suicide", World Entertainment News Network, Internet Movie Database. Retrieved on 2008-02-27.
- ^ "Owen Wilson Hospitalized After Suicide Attempt", Trans World News (2007-08-27). Retrieved on 2008-02-27.
- ^ "Owen Wilson: Depression", Newsweek (2007-10-14). Retrieved on 2008-06-14.
- ^ Bob Tourtellotte (2007-08-27). "Owen Wilson asks to "heal in private"". Reuters. Retrieved on 2008-02-27.
- ^ "Owen Wilson drops out of movie", Yahoo News (2007-08-29). Retrieved on 2008-02-27.
- ^ "Wilson Makes First Public Appearance", The Internet Movie Database (2007-10-05). Retrieved on 2007-10-06.
[edit] External links
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