Edward James Norton Jr. He was born in Boston, Massachusetts in the United States of America, on August 18, 1969, thanks to the union of Edward Norton and Robin Norton.
His mother, who was a teacher teaching English, died in 1997 due to a brain tumor. His father Edward is a well-known lawyer in the state of Massachusetts and his grandfather was the well-known architect James Rouse. He has two younger brothers named Molly and James.
Since childhood, Edward has been interested in the world of acting. So much so that after studying in various schools, he acted in the New York theater, participating in different plays for the Signature Theater Company. It should be noted that he has a degree in History from the prestigious Yale university.
After graduation, he went to Osaka, Japan, to work as a consultant in his grandfather’s company, Enterprise Foundation, which works to create decent and affordable homes for low-income families.
When he returned to New York, it took him less than two years as a waiter until he was summoned by Edward albee, one of the most famous playwrights of the 20th century. Albee was working with the Signature Theater Company in a new production of “Fragments”. It took only one audition for Norton to land the part, and a fixed place among the repertoire of the Signature Theater Company.
In addition to acting, James is passionate about music and even played guitar in some concerts with Hole the band of Courtney love, who was his girlfriend for two years, from 96 to 98.
He finally managed to make his film debut in 1996 thanks to his participation in the film directed by Gregory hoblit “The two faces of the truth”, starring Richard Gere Y Laura linney, in which Norton plays the character Aaron Stampler. This debut had great repercussion in Hollywood, since its interpretation would be worth an award to him Golden Globe and a nomination for Oscar for best supporting actor, which eventually ended up in the hands of Cuba Gooding Jr. for their performance in “Jerry Maguire” success with Tom cruise.
That same year he works on a film titled “The Larry Flynt Scandal”starring his girlfriend in real life Courtney love Y Woody harrelson, in which Norton plays Alan Isaacman; and also stars in the movie “They all say I love you” from the director / actor Woody Allen, in which he works together with drew Barrymore.
Two years later, he stars alongside Matt Damon The movie “Rounders” from John dahl.
In 1997 he was going to play Terry fitzgerald on “Spawn” but it was finally left out of the project.
His role in the controversial “American History X” how a rebel neo-Nazi activist led him, in 1998, to be nominated once again for the Oscar, but this time in the list of Best Actor.
That same year he rejected the role of Private Ryan in the film that was later the winner of 5 academy awards, “Saving Private Ryan”. The role was later accepted by Matt Damon.
His next film would be with Brad Pitt in the acclaimed “Fight club”, from David Fincher, another controversial film for the violence and ambiguity of its position, in which Norton plays the narrator.
Edward got this role, only because the director David Fincher he had really liked his performance in “The Larry Flynt Scandal” which was the only movie he saw of the actor.
After having played good roles in several films such as “More than friends” (2000), “The Score” (2001) and “Smoochy” (2002), would get an important role in a blockbuster film with great actors: “The Red Dragon” prequel to “The silence of the lambs”.
In this film, Norton plays Will graham, a detective capable of thinking like a madman to confront the psychopath Hannibal Lecter, played by the already established Anthony Hopkins. This role, had been played by William petersen in 1986 in the movie “Manhunter”.
In 2003 he co-stars in the film “The Italian Job” in which a group of thieves, among whom is Charlie croker interpreted by Mark Wahlberg, they will want to set up a scam. Directed by F. Gary Gray, this film brings together an interesting cast, among which we find Donald sutherland Y Jason statham.
That same year he was voted “International Man of the Year” by the magazine British GQ Magazine.
“The kingdom of heaven” from Ridley scott, would arrive two years later, in the year 2005. In this film Edward would have to play a king of Jerusalem fallen into disrepair due to his serious condition of leprosy, the king baldwin. In this epic blockbuster, he shared scenes with actors of great stature, such as Orlando Bloom, Jeremy irons, Liam Neeson And several more.
His next major movie was “The ilusionist” from Neil Burger, a film that was acclaimed by critics and by the audience, nominated for the Oscar and winner of 5 awards, in which James had to play the fantastic magician Eisenheim, sharing poster with the charismatic Paul giamatti and the beautiful Jessica biel.
Then came the winner of a Golden Globe “The other side of the world” in which he had to play Walter fane next to Naomi watts.
In 2008, he had to play his first fantastic role, in a superhero movie. This is how he embodies Bruce Banner, better known as “The incredible Hulk” from Louis Leterrier, the new installment of this Marvel character. Liv tyler was in charge of co-starring in the film.
Edward has managed to keep his private life out of the cameras. It is known that he became a boyfriend with the Mexican actress Salma Hayek, with which he is seen publicly at premieres and events. He currently lives in New York.
His characters are carefully studied and selected by himself, and thanks to this he is considered one of the best actors of recent times. One detail worth mentioning is that Edward also speaks Spanish.