41 Facts About Aaron Eckhart

Aaron Edward Eckhart was born on March 12, 1968 and is an American actor.

Aaron Eckhart left high school without graduating, but earned a diploma through a professional education course, and graduated from Brigham Young University in 1994 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) degree in film.

Five years later Aaron Eckhart made a debut as an unctuous, sociopathic womanizer in LaBute's black comedy film In the Company of Men.

Aaron Eckhart gained wide recognition as George in Steven Soderbergh's critically acclaimed film Erin Brockovich, and, in 2006, he received a Golden Globe nomination for his portrayal of Nick Naylor in Thank You for Smoking.

Aaron Eckhart was born on March 12, 1968 in Cupertino, California, the son of Mary Martha Lawrence, a writer, artist, and poet, and James Conrad Aaron Eckhart, a computer executive.

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Aaron Eckhart's father is of German-Russian descent, while his mother has English, German, Scots-Irish, and Scottish ancestry.

Aaron Eckhart was raised as a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and served a two-year mission in France and Switzerland.

Aaron Eckhart's family relocated to the United Kingdom in 1981, following his father's job in information technology.

Aaron Eckhart attended American Community School, where he was first introduced to acting, starring in a school production as Charlie Brown.

In 1985, Aaron Eckhart moved to Australia and settled in Sydney, where he attended American International School of Sydney for his high school senior year; he further developed his acting skills in productions like Waiting for Godot, where he admits that he gave a "terrible" performance.

Aaron Eckhart eventually earned his diploma through a professional education course.

In 1988, Aaron Eckhart returned to the United States and enrolled as a film major at Brigham Young University–Hawaii, but later transferred to Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah.

Aaron Eckhart graduated in 1994 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree.

Aaron Eckhart followed this small part with roles in documentary re-enactments, made-for-television movies, and short-lived programs like Aliens in the Family.

In 1997, Aaron Eckhart was approached by Neil LaBute to star in a film adaptation of LaBute's stage play In the Company of Men.

Aaron Eckhart played a frustrated white-collar worker who planned to woo a deaf office worker, gain her affections, then suddenly dump her.

The film, his first feature to reach theaters, was critically well received, with Desson Howe of The Washington Post reporting that Aaron Eckhart is the "movie's most malignant presence" and that he "is in chilling command as a sort of satanic prince in shirtsleeves".

Aaron Eckhart's performance won him the Independent Spirit Award in the category of Best Debut Performance.

Aaron Eckhart starred that year as a football coach, an offensive coordinator in Oliver Stone's Any Given Sunday.

Aaron Eckhart first gained wide exposure in 2000 as George, a ponytailed, goateed biker, in Steven Soderbergh's drama Erin Brockovich.

Aaron Eckhart next appeared in Sean Penn's mystery feature The Pledge, in which he played a young detective partnered with a veteran detective, played by Jack Nicholson.

In 2003, Aaron Eckhart co-starred with Hilary Swank in The Core, a film about a geophysicist who tries to detonate a nuclear device in order to save the world from destruction.

Also in 2004, Aaron Eckhart starred on the London stage, opposite Julia Stiles, in David Mamet's Oleanna at the Garrick Theatre.

In 2005, returning to film, Aaron Eckhart appeared in Neverwas as a therapist who takes a job at a rundown mental hospital that once treated his father.

Aaron Eckhart said that he felt challenged playing the role: "You have to say these words that are crazy, and yet do it with a smile on your face and have the audience like you.

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Aaron Eckhart appeared in the 2006 film noir The Black Dahlia—based on a real 1947 crime—as Sergeant Leland "Lee" Blanchard, a detective investigating the murder of Elizabeth Short, later dubbed the "Black Dahlia".

The following year, Aaron Eckhart was invited to join the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

Aaron Eckhart starred in No Reservations, a remake of the 2001 German romantic comedy Mostly Martha.

Aaron Eckhart starred opposite Catherine Zeta-Jones as an up-and-coming hotshot chef.

Aaron Eckhart starred in the 2008 comedy Meet Bill, in which he played the eponymous character, a sad executive working at his father-in-law's bank.

Also in 2008, Aaron Eckhart portrayed the comic book character Harvey Dent in Christopher Nolan's The Dark Knight, the sequel to the 2005 film Batman Begins.

Nolan's decision to cast Aaron Eckhart was based on his portrayal of corrupt characters in the films In the Company of Men, The Black Dahlia, and Thank You For Smoking.

Aaron Eckhart noted in his depiction of the character that "[he] is still true to himself.

Aaron Eckhart next co-starred with Jennifer Aniston in the romantic drama Love Happens, released in September 2009, as a motivational speaker coming to terms with his own grief.

In 2011, Aaron Eckhart starred in Jonathan Liebesman's science fiction film Battle: Los Angeles, in which he portrayed a combat veteran Marine platoon sergeant.

Aaron Eckhart starred as a U S President who is taken hostage, in the 2013 action thriller Olympus Has Fallen, opposite Gerard Butler, and reprised the role in its 2016 sequel London Has Fallen.

Aaron Eckhart met actress Emily Cline during the filming of In the Company of Men and they became engaged, but they separated in 1998.

Aaron Eckhart has always been reluctant to speak about his relationships in interviews.

Aaron Eckhart dated songwriter and member of SHeDAISY, Kristyn Osborn, from 2006 to 2007.

Aaron Eckhart appeared in the group's video for their song "I'm Taking the Wheel".

Aaron Eckhart has noted that hypnosis helped him to quit drinking, smoking, and partying, and that he undertakes amateur photography in his spare time.