Luke Wilson biography

Synopsis

Profile

Born on September 21, 1971, in Dallas, Texas. Known for his interesting film choices, boyish charm, and good looks, Luke Wilson is one of today's more popular actors. The youngest of three boys born to an advertising executive and a photographer, he was more interested in sports than acting growing up, especially track.

During his time at Occidental College, Wilson discovered acting. His older brother Owen recruited him for a film short entitled Bottle Rocket that he was making with Wes Anderson. Received well by film festival audiences, it was later turned into a full-length feature released in 1996. Wilson went to appear in the successful horror movie, Scream 2 (1997) among other film roles before graduating to leading man status with the romantic drama comedy Home Fries (1998) starring opposite Drew Barrymore.

Wilson took on more comedic fare with a role in 1998's Rushmore (written by brother Owen and Wes Anderson) and 1999's Blue Streak, in which he teamed up with comedian Martin Lawrence. He found success as the likeable love interest in Charlie's Angels (2000) with Cameron Diaz and Legally Blonde (2001) with Reese Witherspoon.

In 2001, Wilson received positive reviews for his role of Ritchie Tenenbaum, a faded tennis prodigy who turned into a wandering recluse, in The Royal Tenenbaums. The film explores the eccentric characters who comprise the dysfunctional Tenenbaum family and their relationships with each other. One of the most compelling relationships is between Ritchie and his adopted sister Margot played by Gwyneth Paltrow. The humorous, quirky, and yet serious film was written by Owen Wilson and Wes Anderson, and Anderson also served as its director.

Wilson tried his hand at television with a recurring role on the comedy series, That '70s Show, beginning in 2002. He also continued to make popular comedies, such as Old School (2003) and Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004), as well as appearing the sequels Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle (2003) and Legally Blonde 2: Red, White & Blonde (2003). In addition to playing the title character, Wilson went behind the scenes for The Wendell Baker Story (2005) to serve as the film's writer and co-director. The project was a family affair as his oldest brother Andrew worked as his co-director and his other brother Owen also had a part in the film. It follows a con man who goes to prison and then ends up working in a retirement hotel.

In 2007 Wilson appeared with Ben Kingsley and Téa Leoni in the crime comedy You Kill Me and with Kate Beckinsale in the horror thriller Vacancy.

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