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Owen Cunningham Wilson (born November 18, 1968) is an American actor and writer. Wilson was nominated for an Academy Award for his work on the screenplay of The Royal Tenenbaums, but he is perhaps best known for his successful comedic roles such as John Beckwith in Wedding Crashers and as Hansel in Zoolander. Wilson was born in Dallas, Texas, the son of photographer Laura Wilson (née Cunningham), and Robert Andrew Wilson, an advertising executive and operator of a public television station. His family is Irish American and Roman Catholic. While living in Dallas, Wilson attended The Lamplighter School, which he revisited in 2005; and St. Mark's School of Texas, when in the tenth grade after stealing his teacher's textbook in an attempt to help him finish his math homework quicker, he was expelled. Owen Wilson also attended his senior year in high school at the New Mexico Military Institute. In 1991, Wilson moved to Los Angeles with brothers Luke and Andrew to pursue acting careers. Texas native Owen Wilson teamed up with college roommate Wes Anderson to help put Austin on the filmmaking map with their debut film, "Bottle Rocket" (1996). In this, he succeeded, but he would also go on to prove his talents as a comic actor – as well as writer and producer – with numerous and varied roles in both small independents and studio blockbusters. Well-known for being one of Hollywood's busiest lotharios off-screen, Wilson's amorous social life earned the actor the undying gratitude of tabloid editors and gossip columnists for years. Included among Wilson's many paramours were a string of models, as well as a "who's who" of today's hottest young starlets. His dalliances with such high-profile celebs as Kate Hudson and singer Sheryl Crow eventually earned Wilson the colorfully provocative sobriquet, "The Butterscotch Stallion" A founding member of Hollywood's comedy "Frat Pack" – a club which counted Vince Vaughn, Will Ferrell, Paul Rudd and Wilson's brother, Luke, among its proud body – Wilson starred in a number of successful stand-out films in the 21st century, among them: the delightfully quirky ensemble, “The Royal Tenenbaums” (2001), the 2005 hit romantic-comedy, "Wedding Crashers," the Pixar animated crowd-pleaser "Cars" (2005), and the absurdist three's-a-crowd romp, "You, Me & Dupree" (2006), co-starring Matt Dillon and Wilson's soon-to-be off-screen girlfriend, Kate Hudson. Born on Nov. 18, 1968 in Dallas, TX, this self-described blond troublemaker was the second child of Robert and Laura Wilson. Growing up between two brothers, Andrew (the eldest) and Luke (the youngest), young Owen – like many middle children – sought attention by acting out and getting into trouble. Expelled from St. Mark's Academy in Dallas in the tenth grade, Wilson finished his sophomore year at Thomas Jefferson School before heading to a military academy in New Mexico. He then attended the University of Texas at Austin, where he met his future mentor and friend, Wes Anderson. Together, the two collaborated on a script which would eventually become “Bottle Rocket” (1996). Wilson's entry into the industry came with the 1992 short of the same name, which he penned along with Anderson and starred in with brothers Andrew and Luke. After hooking up with James L. Brooks and Polly Platt – thanks to some championing by screenwriter L.M. 'Kit' Carson – Anderson and Wilson were given the funds to develop a full-length feature based on the well-received, festival-screened short. The curtain rose on this expanded version of "Bottle Rocket" in 1996, but failed test screenings resulted in little studio push. Revolving around a pair of friends going nowhere slowly, the film did receive critical praise for its originality – director Martin Scorsese even ranked it among his favorite films of the 1990s – and won Wilson notice, both for his keen scripting and winning performance as the enthusiastic, if misguided would-be criminal Dignan. 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. 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. Owen is considered a part of the Frat Pack, a group of actors including Steve Carell, Will Ferrell, Ben Stiller, Jack Black, Vince Vaughn, and brother Luke Wilson. In 2000, Wilson starred in "Shanghai Noon,” an Old West-set buddy film that paired him with Hong Kong action hero and Hollywood heavyweight Jackie Chan. Chan played a Chinese Imperial guard sent to rescue kidnapped Princess Pei Pei (Lucy Liu), and Wilson – who later rewrote much of his dialogue – was cast as Chan's reluctant partner Roy O'Bannon, an unlikely and emotionally expressive outlaw. His verbally adept brand of comedy proved the perfect foil for Chan's remarkable physical talents. Later that year, the actor was featured alongside Robert De Niro and frequent co-star Ben Stiller in Jay Roach's black comedy "Meet the Parents.” His hilariously droll performance as the successful, well-adjusted ex-boyfriend offered a nice counterpoint to the film's very broad antics. In 2001, Wilson played Hansel, the New Age, extreme sportsman nemesis of Stiller's "Zoolander.” The actor's unflinching portrayal of the over-the-top up-and- comer who spews garbled Eastern philosophy and makes tracks on his high-tech scooter, proving he would not let vanity get in the way of a laugh. By the end of that year, Wilson picked up the mantle of action hero, carrying the compelling war-themed adventure "Behind Enemy Lines." His vulnerable but ultimately heroic take on seemingly doomed Navy pilot Lt. Burnett brought some humanity to the genre, and the actor held his own admirably alongside legendary co-star Gene Hackman. Wilson was next featured with Hackman in "The Royal Tenenbaums" (2001), taking writing, producing and acting credits in this Wes Anderson film. An affectionate portrayal of quirky but likable characters in the tradition of their previous efforts, "The Royal Tenenbaums" focused on a splintered family of former child prodigies (Stiller, Gwyneth Paltrow and Luke Wilson) who are brought together by news of their father’s (Hackman) grave illness. Wilson got many laughs with his colorful supporting role as off-kilter novelist Eli Cash, neighbor and lifelong family friend who must face the fact that he is a misfit even among the misfit Tenenbaums. In 2002, the actor attained star status, in two action comedies – matched with Eddie Murphy in a feature adaptation of "I Spy" and reuniting with Jackie Chan for the sequel "Shanghai Knights" (2003). In both features, Wilson demonstrated both his exceptional ability to develop strong chemistry with wildly divergent co-stars with different on-screen styles, and his ability to mine throwaway lines for comedic gold by playing deconstructed versions of stereotypical movie types like the secret agent and the cowboy. 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 wigged-out, drug-addled bon vivant who becomes a literary celebrity. It earned the writing team an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Screenplay; Owen is the only "Frat Pack" member to receive an Academy Award nomination. 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. Despite demonstrating his enviable timing and mastery of dialogue, the actor had less success when he starred as a beach bum-turned-heist artist in the Elmore Leonard-derived caper film, "The Big Bounce" (2004). He also re-teamed with frequent collaborator Ben Stiller to play TV cop Ken "Hutch" Hutchinson in the parody-minded big screen adaptation of the 1970s ABC cop drama "Starsky & Hutch." That same year, he enjoyed a lighthearted cameo with his brother Luke, playing the flying brothers Wilbur and Orville Wright, respectively, in "Around the World in 80s Days" (2004). In the sequel “Meet the Fockers” (also 2004), Wilson revived the role of Teri Polo’s too-perfect ex-boyfriend, and just like its predecessor, the movie became a box office hit, despite lukewarm reviews. His hot streak continued with the roundly hilarious comedy "Wedding Crashers" (2005) in which he and Vince Vaughn played a pair of lovable cads who invade strangers' weddings to pick up lonely, vulnerable women. It was with this latter film that Wilson proved he could hold his own comedically, as well as touch hearts with his tender, believable love scenes with co-star Rachel McAdams. By the time of “Wedding Crashers,” Wilson was clearly established as a central figure in what many characterized as a comedic Rat Pack-style clique of comic actors who frequently teamed up and/or cameoed in each other's films – the group also including brother Luke, Stiller, Vaughn, Will Ferrell and Steve Carrell. That same year Wilson inked a deal to write and executive produce "Bert & Dickie," a half-hour comedy for HBO which followed an odd-couple stand-up comedy team who discover success is always elusive. Meanwhile, Wilson continued his steady and successful presence on the big screen, providing the voice of Lightning McQueen, a hotshot race car stuck in a sleepy Route 66 town in Pixar’s eye-popping CGI-animated hit, “Cars” (2006). He then starred in the comedy “You, Me and Dupree” (2006), playing a homeless slacker taken in by his best friend, Carl (Matt Dillon), only to become a permanent fixture while winning over Carl’s wife (Kate Hudson) and family with his carefree charm, frustrating his friend to no end. It was after the film’s release that rumors he had fallen for his recently separated co-star Hudson began to pop up in tabloids. By early 2007, the towheaded pair – though not officially announcing their coupledom – was photographed around the country in various states of romantic bliss. Wilson’s brother Luke even began acknowledging their romance during interviews. In 2007, Owen earned ink for more than just the Hudson romance when he appeared in a supporting role in “The Wendell Baker Story.” Actually filmed in 2005, this independently financed comedy was written by and starred younger brother, Luke, and was co-directed by his older brother, Andrew. Shot entirely on location in the Lone Star State, “Wendell Baker” received a belated wide release that summer – a full two years after it had been filmed. In an unexpected turn of events, Wilson was hospitalized on Aug. 26, 2007 after police were called by brother Luke to his Santa Monica, CA home due to an attempted suicide report. Wilson was taken by ambulance to Saint John’s Health Center in Santa Monica, then later transferred to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Beverly Hills. After being listed in good condition the following day, Wilson’s publicist, Ina Treciokas, released a statement from the actor that said in part, "I respectfully ask that the media allow me to receive care and heal in private during this difficult time." Wilson was involved in two new comedies at the time, “Marley & Me,” co-starring Jennifer Aniston, and “Tropic Thunder,” directed by pal Ben Stiller and starring Jack Black. Wilson dropped out of the latter project – in which he had a small role that had yet to be filmed – while the fate of “Marley & Me” remained unclear. 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. 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 was previously linked with actress Demi Moore, singer Sheryl Crow and, most recently, with actress Kate Hudson. Their relationship ended in May 2007. 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 home, where Wilson allegedly slashed his wrists and took an overdose of pills. 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 good and stable condition. 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." 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. 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. 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). Wilson's most recent release, another Wes Anderson film, The Darjeeling Limited, screening at the 45th annual New York Film Festival, the Venice Film Festival, opened September 30, 2007, co-starring Jason Schwartzman and Adrien Brody, in which three brothers take a train trip through India. Wilson next starred in the Judd Apatow comedy, Drillbit Taylor, released in March 2008. |
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