Josh James Brolin (/ˈbroʊlɨn/; born February 12, 1968)[2] is an American actor. He has acted in theater, film and television roles since 1985. He is known primarily for his roles in the films Thrashin', The Goonies, W., No Country for Old Men, Milk, True Grit, Men in Black 3, and Gangster Squad.
Early life [edit]
Brolin was born in Santa Monica, California, the son of Jane Cameron Agee, a wildlife activist who was a native of Corpus Christi, Texas, and actor James Brolin.[3][4] Brolin was raised on a California ranch with little exposure to his father's acting career.[5] His parents divorced when he was 16. His stepmother is singer/actress Barbra Streisand. He became interested in acting after taking an improv acting class in high school.[5]
Acting career [edit]
Brolin started his career in TV movies and guest spots on TV shows before getting a more notable role as Brand Walsh in the Richard Donner-directed movie The Goonies (1985).[5] He was considered for the role of Tom Hanson in the series 21 Jump Street; he and Johnny Depp were the finalists for the role, and at that time the two became close and remained friends even after the role was ultimately awarded to Depp.[6][7] Brolin guest-starred in an episode of the show in its first season.[8]
Brolin implied that he turned away from film acting for years after the premiere of his second film, Thrashin', where he witnessed what he called "horrendous" acting on his part.[9] For several years, he appeared in stage roles in Rochester, New York, often alongside mentor and friend Anthony Zerbe. One of Brolin's more prominent roles early in his career was that of Wild Bill Hickok in the ABC western TV series The Young Riders, which lasted three seasons (1989–92).[5] Two other TV series he was involved in include the Aaron Spelling production Winnetka Road (1994) and Mister Sterling (2003), both of which were cancelled after a few episodes.
Brolin's extensive film work consists of many villainous roles in recent films including Planet Terror (one of two feature-length segments of the Quentin Tarantino/Robert Rodriguez collaboration Grindhouse), Gus van Sant's Milk, American Gangster, and Oliver Stone's Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps.[5] He also played the lead role in the Coen brothers' Academy Award-winning film No Country for Old Men.
Brolin also starred in another Oliver Stone film in 2008 called W., a biopic about key events in the life of President George W. Bush.[5][10] Stone pursued an initially hesitant Brolin for the role. He said of his decision to cast Brolin in the leading role:[11]
It always seemed to me that he was the right person. Although classically handsome, I think he would consider himself a character actor first and foremost, and it was in this context that I thought of him as W. Josh certainly has star appeal and could be a leading man, but I don’t think he necessarily wants to be that. I think he really enjoys disappearing into a character.
Brolin received an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor for his role in Gus Van Sant's biopic Milk as city supervisor Dan White, who assassinated San Francisco Supervisor Harvey Milk and Mayor George Moscone.[12] He made news by wearing a White Knot to the Academy Awards ceremony to demonstrate solidarity with the marriage equality movement.[13] Brolin told an interviewer that costar Sean Penn, who portrayed Milk, decided to dispel any nerves the actors had about playing gay men by grabbing the bull by the horns. At the first cast dinner, which included castmates James Franco, Emile Hirsch and Diego Luna, Brolin said, "[Penn] walked right up and grabbed me and planted a huge one right on my lips."[11] Brolin has received critical acclaim for his performance and, in addition to his Oscar nomination, received NYFCC and NBR Awards for Best Supporting Actor and a nomination for a SAG Award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role.
He portrayed Jonah Hex in the film of the same name.[14] Brolin played a younger Agent K in Men in Black 3 released in May 2012.[15][16]
Josh Brolin starred in the film Gangster Squad portraying John O'Mara released in 2013 which was originally scheduled for release in September 2012. [[1]]
Writing and directing [edit]
In 2009, Brolin executive produced and performed in The People Speak a documentary feature film that uses dramatic and musical performances of the letters, diaries, and speeches of everyday Americans, based on historian Howard Zinn's A People's History of the United States.[17]
Brolin wrote and directed the short film X, as his directorial debut. The film, about an inmate who escapes prison to reunite with his daughter and search for her murdered mother, was the opening film at the first annual Union City International Film Festival in Union City, New Jersey in December 2010.[18][19][20]
Other activities [edit]
During an interview in 2010, Brolin claimed to be a member of punk rock band Rich Kids on LSD in the early 1980s.[21]
Brolin has hosted Saturday Night Live twice; once in October 2008, and again in April 2012.
Personal life [edit]
Marriages and family [edit]
Brolin was married to actress Alice Adair from 1988 to 1994;[22] they have two children, Trevor Mansur (born June 1988) and Eden (born 1994). He was engaged to actress Minnie Driver for six months.[22] He has been married to actress Diane Lane since August 15, 2004.[23] Brolin and Lane filed for divorce in February 2013.[24]
Legal issues [edit]
On December 20, 2004, Brolin's wife, Diane Lane called the police after an altercation with Brolin and he was arrested on a misdemeanor charge of domestic battery. Lane declined to press charges and the couple's spokesperson characterized the incident as a misunderstanding.[25]
On July 12, 2008, Brolin was arrested, along with actor Jeffrey Wright and five other crew members of W., after an altercation at the Stray Cat Bar in Shreveport, Louisiana. Brolin was released after posting a cash bond of US$334.[26][27] When talking of his arrest, Brolin said to a reporter, "It was nice to be in jail knowing that I hadn’t done anything wrong. And it was maddening to be in jail knowing that I hadn’t done anything wrong."[11] Charges against all seven men were later dropped by Shreveport prosecutors.[28] He was arrested for public intoxication on New Year's Day, 2013, in Santa Monica.[29]
Business interests [edit]
When he is not acting, Brolin is an active stock trader and was co-founder of the site MarketProbability.com.[30] The site has since shut down.
Filmography [edit]
Film and television
| Year |
Title |
Role |
Notes |
| 1985 |
Goonies, TheThe Goonies |
Brandon "Brand" Walsh |
The Big Brother. |
| 1986 |
Thrashin' |
Corey Webster |
|
| 1987 |
Private Eye |
Johnny Betz |
TV series |
| 21 Jump Street |
Taylor Rolator |
Episode: "My Future's So Bright, I Gotta Wear Shades" |
| 1989 |
Young Riders, TheThe Young Riders |
James Butler Hickok |
TV series |
| 1994 |
The Road Killers |
Tom |
|
| 1995 |
Outer Limits, TheThe Outer Limits |
Jack Pierce |
TV series, episode: "Virtual Future" |
| 1996 |
Bed of Roses |
Danny |
|
| Flirting with Disaster |
Tony Kent |
|
| 1997 |
Mimic |
Josh |
|
| Nightwatch |
James Gallman |
|
| Gang in Blue |
Keith DeBruler |
TV |
| 1999 |
Mod Squad, TheThe Mod Squad |
Billy Waites |
|
| Best Laid Plans |
Bryce |
|
| It's the Rage |
Tennel |
|
| 2000 |
Picnic |
Hal Carter |
TV |
| Hollow Man |
Matt Kensington |
Nominated—Blockbuster Entertainment Award for Favorite Supporting Actor – Science Fiction |
| Slow Burn |
Duster |
|
| 2003 |
Mister Sterling |
Senator Bill Sterling |
TV series |
| 2005 |
Melinda and Melinda |
Greg Earlinger |
|
| Into the West |
Jedediah Smith |
TV miniseries |
| Into the Blue |
Derek Bates |
|
| 2006 |
Dead Girl, TheThe Dead Girl |
Tarlow |
|
| 2007 |
Grindhouse |
Dr. William Block |
Segment: Planet Terror |
| In the Valley of Elah |
Chief Buchwald |
|
| No Country for Old Men |
Llewelyn Moss |
National Board of Review Award for Best Cast
Phoenix Film Critics Society Award for Best Cast
San Diego Film Critics Society Award for Best Cast
Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture
Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association Award for Best Cast
Nominated—Broadcast Film Critics Association Award for Best Cast
Nominated—Satellite Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Drama |
| American Gangster |
Det. Reno Trupo |
Nominated—Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture |
| 2008 |
W. |
George W. Bush |
Nominated—IFTA Award for Best International Actor
Nominated—London Film Critics Circle Award for Best Actor
Nominated—Satellite Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy |
| Milk |
Dan White |
Broadcast Film Critics Association Award for Best Cast
National Board of Review Award for Best Supporting Actor
New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Supporting Actor
Phoenix Film Critics Society Award for Best Cast
Nominated—Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor
Nominated—Broadcast Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actor
Nominated—Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role
Nominated—St. Louis Gateway Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actor |
| 2009 |
People Speak, TheThe People Speak |
Himself |
Documentary |
| 2010 |
Jonah Hex |
Jonah Hex |
|
| Tillman Story, TheThe Tillman Story |
Himself |
Narrator[31] |
| You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger |
Roy |
|
| Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps |
Bretton James |
|
| True Grit |
Tom Chaney |
|
| 2012 |
Men in Black 3 |
Young Agent K |
|
| Mankind: The Story of All of Us |
Narrator |
TV series, History Channel |
| Saturday Night Live |
Himself and Various |
TV series, episode: "Josh Brolin, Gotye" |
| 2013 |
Gangster Squad |
John O'Mara |
|
| Labor Day |
Frank Wheeler |
Post-production |
| Oldboy |
Joe Doucett |
Post-production |
| Sin City: A Dame to Kill For |
Dwight McCarthy |
Filming |
References [edit]
- ^ "Today they have a son, Josh James Brolin, who will be two on Lincoln's Birthday. Jim had one previous series"
- ^ Screen World 2003, By John Willis, Barry Monush. Published by Hal Leonard Corporation, 2004. ISBN 1-55783-528-4, ISBN 978-1-55783-528-4
- ^ Pfefferman, Naomi (February 9, 2009). "Josh Brolin Mines Emotional Depths". The Jewish Journal. Retrieved February 19, 2009. [dead link]
- ^ Barnes, Michael; Elizabeth Peterman (November 15, 2007). "Josh Brolin is everywhere these days, including Austin". Austin 360. Retrieved November 17, 2007.
- ^ a b c d e f Stated on Inside the Actors Studio, 2008
- ^ Josh Brolin Really, Really Likes Johnny Depp, Says 'Thank God He Exists' Starpulse.com, September 28, 2010
- ^ Mair, George (1997). "21 Jump Street". The Barry Diller Story: The Life and Times of America's Greatest Entertainment Mogul. John Wiley and Sons. p. 148. ISBN 978-0-471-29948-6.
- ^ "My Future's so Bright, I got to Wear Shades". TV.com. Retrieved September 30, 2008.
- ^ Hirschberg, Lynn (February 26, 2010). "Tough Enough". The New York Times. Retrieved May 7, 2010.
- ^ "Stone and Brolin to make Bush biopic". RTÉ Ten. Raidió Teilifís Éireann. January 21, 2008. Retrieved September 22, 2010.
- ^ a b c Kevin West (October 2008). Josh Brolin. W magazine. Retrieved November 19, 2008.
- ^ Josh Brolin IMDb
- ^ Finke, Nikki (February 24, 2009). "White Knot Oscars and Spirit Awards Lists". Deadline.com. PMC. Retrieved December 23, 2010.
- ^ "A New Look at Josh Brolin in 'Jonah Hex'". Bloody-Disgusting.com. April 16, 2010. Retrieved September 22, 2010.
- ^ Men In Black III (2012) IMDb
- ^ Men In Black 3 Sony Pictures Australia
- ^ "Credits". The People Speak. Retrieved September 22, 2010.
- ^ "UC International Film Festival to be held this weekend", The Union City Reporter, November 28, 2010, Page 4
- ^ Mestanza, Jean-Pierre. "Brolin film screening at festival", Hudson Dispatch Weekly, November 25, 2010, Page 8
- ^ "UNION CITY INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL TO OPEN WITH JOSH BROLIN’S ACCLAIMED SHORT FILM 'X'" NecioTV, November 18, 2010
- ^ "Tough Enough". New York Times. March 10, 2010. Retrieved June 21, 2012.
- ^ a b Stephen Rebello (October 2010). "Playboy Interview: Josh Brolin". Playboy.
- ^ Schneller, Johanna (January 2005). "Changing Lane". In Style.
- ^ "=Exclusive: Josh Brolin, Diane Lane Divorcing After Eight Years". Us Weekly. 21 February 2013. Retrieved 21 February 2013.
- ^ "Josh Brolin Arrested for Spousal Battery". People. 20 December 2004. Archived from the original on April 21, 2013. Retrieved 21 February 2013.
- ^ "Actor Brolin arrested after fight". BBC News. July 14, 2008. Retrieved July 14, 2008.
- ^ "Brolin, Wright, others in film crew arrested". Associated Press. July 13, 2008. Retrieved July 14, 2008. [dead link]
- ^ Attorney says charges against Brolin to be dropped[dead link] Yahoo News, January 6, 2009
- ^ Gangster Squad star Josh Brolin arrested for 'public intoxication'
- ^ Sam Allis (November 4, 2007). "Josh Brolin is more than just a familiar face". Boston Globe. Retrieved October 13, 2008.
- ^ Josh Brolin Scores Touchdown with 'The Tillman Story' Narration accessAtlanta, August 10, 2010
External links [edit]
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- Gosford Park (2001): Eileen Atkins, Bob Balaban, Alan Bates, Charles Dance, Stephen Fry, Michael Gambon, Richard E. Grant, Tom Hollander, Derek Jacobi, Kelly Macdonald, Helen Mirren, Jeremy Northam, Clive Owen, Ryan Phillippe, Maggie Smith, Geraldine Somerville, Kristin Scott Thomas, Sophie Thompson, Emily Watson, James Wilby
- Chicago (2002): Christine Baranski, Ekaterina Chtchelkanova, Taye Diggs, Denise Faye, Colm Feore, Richard Gere, Deidre Goodwin, Queen Latifah, Lucy Liu, Susan Misner, Mýa, John C. Reilly, Dominic West, Renée Zellweger, Catherine Zeta-Jones
- The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003): Sean Astin, Sean Bean, Cate Blanchett, Orlando Bloom, Billy Boyd, Bernard Hill, Ian Holm, Ian McKellen, Dominic Monaghan, Viggo Mortensen, John Noble, Miranda Otto, John Rhys-Davies, Andy Serkis, Liv Tyler, Karl Urban, Hugo Weaving, David Wenham, Elijah Wood
- Crash (2005): Christopher "Ludacris" Bridges, Sandra Bullock, Don Cheadle, Matt Dillon, Jennifer Esposito, William Fichtner, Brendan Fraser, Terrence Howard, Thandie Newton, Ryan Phillippe, Larenz Tate
- Slumdog Millionaire (2008): Rubina Ali, Tanay Chheda, Ashutosh Lobo Gajiwala, Azharuddin Mohammed Ismail, Anil Kapoor, Irrfan Khan, Ayush Mahesh Khedekar, Tanvi Ganesh Lonkar, Madhur Mittal, Dev Patel, Freida Pinto
- Inglourious Basterds (2009): Daniel Brühl, August Diehl, Julie Dreyfus, Michael Fassbender, Sylvester Groth, Jacky Ido, Diane Kruger, Mélanie Laurent, Denis Menochet, Mike Myers, Brad Pitt, Eli Roth, Til Schweiger, Rod Taylor, Christoph Waltz, Martin Wuttke
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| Persondata |
| Name |
Brolin, Josh |
| Alternative names |
|
| Short description |
|
| Date of birth |
February 12, 1968 |
| Place of birth |
California, U.S. |
| Date of death |
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| Place of death |
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