Adrien Brody biography
Adrien Brody (born April 14, 1973) is an Academy Award-winning United States actor. He received widespread recognition when he was cast as the lead in Roman Polanski's
The Pianist (2002 film) (2002). The role won him an Academy Award for Best Actor, the youngest actor ever to win the award, and a César Award for Best Actor, the only American actor to win one.
Biography
Early life
Brody was born in Woodhaven, Queens, New York, the son of Sylvia Plachy, a photojournalist, and Elliot Brody, a retired history professor and painter. Brody's father is Jewish and Brody's mother was born in Budapest, Hungary to a Catholic father and Jewish mother. As a child, Brody performed magic shows at children's birthday parties as "The Amazing Adrien". Brody attended New York's Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts (famous as the inspiration for television's
Fame (1982 TV series)). His parents enrolled him in acting classes to distance him from the dangerous kids with whom he associated.
In 1992, Brody was seriously hurt in a motorcycle accident in which he flew over a car and crashed head-first into a crosswalk. He spent months recuperating. An avid daredevil, he has broken his nose three times doing off-the-wall stunts. His nose was also broken once again during the filming of
Summer of Sam.
Career
Taking acting classes as a youth, by age thirteen, he had done an off-Broadway play and a PBS-TV-movie. Brody hovered on the brink of stardom, receiving an Independent Spirit Award nomination for his role in the 1998 film
Restaurant and later praise for his roles in Spike Lee's
Summer of Sam and Terrence Malick's
The Thin Red Line (1998 film). He received widespread recognition when he was cast as the lead in Roman Polanski's
The Pianist (2002 film) (2002). To prepare for the role, Brody withdrew for months, gave up his apartment and his car, learned how to play Frédéric Chopin on the piano, and lost 29 lbs (13 kg). The role won him an Academy Award for Best Actor, making him, at 29, the youngest actor ever to win the award. He also won a César Award for his performance, becoming the only American actor to win one. Throughout his career, Brody has been compared to Al Pacino for his unique looks and method acting. He is also widely known for giving presenter Halle Berry a back-breaking kiss after winning his Best Actor Oscar, and as the spokesman for fashion brand Ermenegildo Zegna.
Brody appeared on
Saturday Night Live on May 10, 2003, his first TV work, but he was banned from the show after giving an improvised introduction while wearing faux dreadlocks for Jamaican reggae musical guest Sean Paul (the show's producer, Lorne Michaels, is notorious for hating unscripted performances). However, the unscripted intro remains in reruns of the episode. Other TV appearances include NBC's
Today (NBC program) and on MTV's
Punk'd after being tricked by Ashton Kutcher.
After
The Pianist (2002 film) Brody has appeared in four very different movies. He played Noah Percy, a mentally disabled young man in the movie
The Village (film) by M. Night Shyamalan, shell-shocked war veteran Jack Starks in
The Jacket, writer Jack Driscoll in the 2005
King Kong (2005 film) remake, and father-to-be Peter Whitman in
The Darjeeling Limited by Wes Anderson.
King Kong was a box office success; it grossed $550 million worldwide and is Brody's most successful movie to date. He also played a detective in
Hollywoodland. He has also appeared in Diet Coke commercials and Tori Amos' music video for "A Sorta Fairytale".
On January 5, 2006, Brody confirmed speculation that he indeed was interested and very willing to play the role of The Joker (comics) in 2008's
The Dark Knight (film). However, Christopher Nolan and Warner Bros. eventually decided to cast Heath Ledger as The Joker. He was also in talks with Paramount to play Spock in J.J. Abrams
Star Trek (film), but it ultimately went to Zachary Quinto. Brody has been confirmed to star as a con man in Rian Johnson's
The Brothers Bloom, which is slated to be released on October 24, 2008. Brody will also star in
Splice, a science fiction film directed by Vincenzo Natali that is slated for a 2009 release. Brody is currently filming
Cadillac Records, directed by Darnell Martin, which is slated for a 2008 release.
Personal life
Brody is currently dating Elsa Pataky.
Brody has been linked to famous starlet Keira Knightley, his costar in The Jacket.
Adrien Brody in the news
Adrien Brody: Chest Hair Proud! - Just Jared
Just JaredAdrien Brody: Chest Hair Proud!Just JaredAdrien Brody dares to be different and proudly shows off his chest hair at the 'BOSS Orange' fashion party during the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Berlin S/S ...and more »
read moreAdrien Brody stars in forgettable Italian thriller - Reuters
ReutersAdrien Brody stars in forgettable Italian thrillerReutersEDINBURGH (Hollywood Reporter) - Adrien Brody writes another offbeat chapter in his idiosyncratic filmography with the uneven cop-vs. ...and more »
read moreOscar winners Adrien Brody, Forest Whitaker to remake German drama ...
ScreenCrave.comOscar winners Adrien Brody, Forest Whitaker to remake German dramaEntertainment WeeklyOscar winners Adrien Brody and Forest Whitaker, as well as Lord of the Rings star Elijah Wood, have signed on for Prison Break creator Paul Scheuring's ...Adrien Brody, Cam Gigandet, Elijah Wood And Forest Whitaker Submit ...MTV.comAdrien Brody and Forest Whitaker Headed for the ClinkNew York MagazineBrody, Whitaker, Wood, and Gigandet Sign on for 'The Experiment'CinematicalMalaysia Star -ReelzChannel.com -/FILMall 26 news articles »
read moreThe Brothers Bloom - Examiner.com
The Brothers BloomExaminer.comAdrien Brody is excellent as the sulking, younger Bloom, whose first name is Bloom, curiously. Mark Ruffalo is deceptively brilliant in the sparse role of ...and more »
read moreWeisz only reason to see 'The Brothers Bloom' - Mid...
Weisz only reason to see 'The Brothers Bloom'Mid Columbia Tri City HeraldThe Brothers Bloom casts Adrien Brody (King Kong) and Mark Ruffalo as expert con artists Stephen and Bloom Bloom. Brody's Bloom wants out. ...On The Sunny Side Of DeceitSee MagazineFilm ShortsFWWeeklyall 3 news articles »
read moreAdrien Brody walks the red carpet at The Moscow International Film ...
Examiner.comAdrien Brody walks the red carpet at The Moscow International Film ...Examiner.comOn June, 19th at the "Pushkin" theatre The 31st Moscow International Film Festival opening ceremony was hosted by the "Oscar's" winner Adrien Brody, ...and more »
read moreElijah Wood, Adrien Brody, Forest Whitaker, Robin Williams, more .....
Elijah Wood, Adrien Brody, Forest Whitaker, Robin Williams, more ...DesMoinesRegister.comOscar-winning actors Adrien Brody and Forest Whitaker, along with Cam Gigandet (”The OC”) and Cedar ...and more »
read moreJamie Foxx Thanks Halle Berry For Awards Show Kiss - MTV.com
MTV.comJamie Foxx Thanks Halle Berry For Awards Show KissMTV.com"She was actually mirroring what Adrien Brody did to her on the Oscars, and she did it to me on the [Guys'] awards. So thank you for that, Halle. ...Halle Berry Jamie Foxx Kiss (Video) At Spike Awards "My Life Will ...Post Chronicleall 9 news articles »
read moreAdrien Brody Pulls The Perfect Con - Examiner.com
Examiner.comAdrien Brody Pulls The Perfect ConExaminer.comA summer comedy without flatulence, what a concept! I have to admit though, the “Brothers Bloom” took a few minutes to get in gear, but once it did the rest ...and more »
read more'Brothers Bloom' proves to be fun-filled, adventuro...
'Brothers Bloom' proves to be fun-filled, adventurous thrillerThe Daily Beacon“Bloom” tells the story of Stephen (Mark Ruffalo) and Bloom (Adrien Brody), brothers who, since discovering their calling in early childhood, have honed the ...and more »
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