Ed Norton biography
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Ed Norton filmography

[h3]An Oscar Nominee in his debut film, 'Primal Fear', Edward Norton has consistently received rave reviews. [/h3]

Considered by the film industry as one of the best new actors of the 1990s, he has been likened to a young De Niro or Hoffman.

He was born in 1969 to parents Edward, a lawyer, and Robin Norton, a former foundation executive and teacher who passed away of brain cancer in 1997. Edward also has two younger siblings named James and Molly.

Norton was always interested in acting. As a precocious child of 8, he demanded of his tutor what his objective in the scene was.

A bright student, while at Yale reading History Norton took as many theatre and Japanese courses as possible. After graduation, he went to Japan and worked for his grandfather's company, Enterprise Foundation, providing housing to the poor.

Back in New York, Norton fought for two years for work, until he attracted the attention of Edward Albee, the celebrated playwright. Norton's first role was in the production 'Fragments'.

At the same time, the director of 'Primal Fear' needed a young actor to play opposite Richard Gere. Norton won the role over 2000 applicants and, before the film was even released, he was at the centre of a Hollywood frenzy from which he has yet to fall.

He actually won the Golden Globe for Best Actor in a Supporting Role and received an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor for his performance in Primal Fear.

In 1998, Norton gained 30 pounds of muscle and transformed his look into that of a monstrous skinhead for his role as a violent white supremacist in American History X (1998). This performance would earn him his second Oscar nomination, this time for Best Actor.

In 1999 came the critically acclaimed Fight Club (1999) and in 2000 came his directorial debut in Keeping the Faith (2000).

In 2004 Norton donated $1.1 million to the Enterprise Foundation - the largest non-profit developer of low-income housing in America.
Ed Norton biography



- Following graduation, he worked in Osaka, Japan, consulting for his grandfather's company, Enterprise Foundation, which works to create decent, affordable housing for low-income families.

- He played guitar with the band Hole at two gigs in Los Angeles, in December 1998.

- He and 'Rounders' co-star Matt Damon competed in the World Series of Poker at Las Vegas on May 1998 with the movie studio Miramax paying the $10,000 per person entrance fee.

- His character Worm in 'Rounders' was originally supposed to smoke but avid nonsmoker Edward Norton refused.

- He worked as a waiter, a proofreader, and a director's assistant (to try to get his foot in the door) in New York City.

- He applied to be a New York City cab driver, but he was rejected for the license because he didn't meet the age requirement.

- Speaks some Japanese, which helped when he worked, briefly, for his grandfather's company, The Enterprise Foundation. He was assigned to the Osaka, Japan branch until he decided to quit the desk job grind (at his grandfather's suggestion) and try to break into acting in New York.

- Wilde Lake High School in Columbia, MD, where Edward graduated in 1987, built a new auditorium for the performing arts several years ago. He revisited his alma mater and gave a lecture on the day of the dedication. It is named after Edward's grandfather, James Rouse.

- His babysitter, Betsy True, went on to perform as Cossette in a Broadway version of 'Les Miserables'. She was the one who originally got Edward interested in acting, taking him to see his first play ('If I Were A Princess')at age six.
Ed Norton biography



1. Fear Itself (2005) (in production) .... David Sumner
2. Motherless Brooklyn (2005) (in production) .... Lionel Essrog
3. Down in the Valley (2004) (filming) .... Harlan
4. Italian Job, The (2003) .... Steve
5. 25th Hour (2002) .... Monty Brogan
6. Red Dragon (2002) .... Will Graham
7. Frida (2002) .... Nelson Rockefeller
8. Death to Smoochy (2002) .... Sheldon Mopes/Smoochy the Rhino
9. Score, The (2001) .... Jack Teller
10. Keeping the Faith (2000) .... Father Brian Finn
11. Fight Club (1999) .... Narrator
12. American History X (1998) .... Derek Vinyard
13. Rounders (1998) .... Lester 'Worm' Murphy
14. Everyone Says I Love You (1996) .... Holden Spence
15. People vs. Larry Flynt, The (1996) .... Alan Isaacman
16. Primal Fear (1996) .... Aaron Stampler
Ed Norton biography





   

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