Edward Norton

Biography

Early life

Norton was born in Boston, Massachusetts, and grew up in Columbia, Maryland. His mother Robin, an English teacher, died of a brain tumor in 1997; his father, Edward Sr. is an attorney and former federal prosecutor under the Carter administration who now works for the Nature Conservancy. Norton Jr. is the grandson of developer James W. Rouse (also see The Rouse Company), who designed the city of Columbia, Maryland (where Norton grew up) and who also helped develop Baltimore's Inner Harbor and Boston's Quincy Market. He has two younger siblings; his sister Molly Norton, who attended Washington and Lee University and his brother Jim with whom he has collaborated professionally.

Norton graduated from Wilde Lake High School in 1987, then from Yale University in 1991 with a B.A. in history. It was at Yale that Norton became heavily involved in theater, taking as many classes as he could although never majoring in drama. Actors Ron Livingston and Paul Giamatti were classmates and fellow collegiate actors.

Following graduation, Norton worked in Osaka, Japan, consulting for his grandfather's company, Enterprise Foundation. He also appeared in an ESL textbook, Only in America, used by NOVA, a major Japanese language school.

Injury

Edward Norton says he broke three vertebrae during a horse-riding accident on the set of his new romantic drama, The Painted Veil. Norton said a horse threw him off while he was galloping before filming a scene for the movie, directed by John Curran, which was shot entirely in China.

Career

Norton moved to New York City and began his acting career in Off-Broadway theater.

Moving into film, he was launched into the spotlight by 1996's Primal Fear, in which he played Aaron Stampler, a young man accused of a brutal murder, and for which he won a Golden Globe and a nomination for the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor.

He earned Academy Award nomination for Best Actor, for his role as a reformed neo-Nazi in 1998's American History X, then in the 1998 card playing hit Rounders with Matt Damon, and he also starred in the 1999 adaptation of Chuck Palahniuk's cult novel Fight Club. He played himself in a cameo role in the experimental comedy show Stella, and won critical acclaim for his uncredited role as the leper king of Jerusalem in Kingdom of Heaven. In 2006, he starred in the independent movie The Illusionist, which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival and later became a sleeper hit when it was released theatrically in August.

He has also done uncredited script work on some of the films he has appeared in, specifically Frida and The Score.

In 2000, he made his debut as a film director with Keeping the Faith. He will also direct his film adaptation of the novel Motherless Brooklyn.

In 2006, he ended the act of giving actors at the Academy Awards thousand-dollar gift baskets and suggested that the money be donated to a charity of the winner's choice.

Personal life

Norton is generally known for his reluctance to embrace his celebrity status.

He has put time and money toward social activist causes, including improving the quality of living in low-income communities.

He has been a particularly strong supporter of Eliot Spitzer, who was elected governor of New York in 2006. Norton has introduced Spitzer at several campaign events and also rode on his campaign bus.

He is a member of the trustees of the Enterprise Foundation, a non-profit developer of affordable housing. He is also well-known for his support for environmental causes and renewable energy projects, such as BP's Solar Neighbors program. , , , ,

He has dated actresses Salma Hayek and Drew Barrymore, as well as musician/actress Courtney Love, with whom he toured as a temporary guitarist for alternative band Hole., ,

He is a self-proclaimed Deadhead.

He is fluent in Japanese.

He has a private pilot license and discussed his flight training when interviewed on an episode of The Late Show with David Letterman.

He has premiered several of his films at Baltimore's Senator Theatre. He recently injured his back while filming the Painted Veil.

Awards and nominations

Filmography

Director credits

Producer credits

Music credits

Death to Smoochy (2002) song/ song performer ("My Stepdad's Not Mean (He's Just Adjusting)") Death to Smoochy (2002) Song Performer ("Smoochy's Methadone Song" "Smoochy's Magic Jungle Theme" "The Cookie Chant") Everyone Says I Love You (1996) Song Performer ("Just You Just Me" "My Baby Just Cares for Me" "I'm Thru With Love")

Salary