Joel Edgerton
Encyclopedia
Joel Edgerton is an Australian film and television actor.
, Sydney, to a homemaker mother and a solicitor/property developer father, Michael. His brother, Nash Edgerton
, is a stuntman and filmmaker. Edgerton graduated from The Hills Grammar School
in 1991.
Edgerton attended the Nepean Drama School at the University of Western Sydney
before moving on to various stage productions, most notably at Sydney Theatre Company
– Blackrock
, Third World Blues and Love for Love – and Bell Shakespeare – Henry V
– as well as television series.
, King Arthur
, Ned Kelly
, and, most notably, Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones
and Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith
, portraying a young Owen Lars, stepbrother of Anakin Skywalker and uncle to Luke Skywalker
. Edgerton's brother Nash was the stunt double
for Ewan McGregor
, who played Obi-Wan Kenobi
in the Star Wars prequel trilogy. He is known for playing the role of Will on the series The Secret Life of Us
for which he was nominated for an AFI
award.
In 2005, he lent his voice to the title character of The Mysterious Geographic Explorations of Jasper Morello
, an Academy Award-nominated animated short film. The same year, Edgerton appeared in the British comedy Kinky Boots
, in a lead role alongside Chiwetel Ejiofor
, as the son of a deceased shoe maker who must find a niche market in the 21st century. He also had a significant role in the 2006 American film Smokin' Aces
.
Edgerton was seen in the film Whisper
with Josh Holloway
in 2007; The Square
, which he co-wrote and was directed by his brother Nash; Acolytes
, an Australian film about teenagers who get revenge on a serial killer
; and Separation City
, a comedy-drama which follows the collapse of two marriages. In 2009, he starred alongside Cate Blanchett
as Stanley in the Sydney Theatre Company's acclaimed production of A Streetcar Named Desire. Edgerton and Blanchett also appeared in a production of this play at the Brooklyn Academy of Music
in December 2009.
Edgerton had a major role in the MMA
movie Warrior, which received a 2011 release through Lions Gate Entertainment
. Edgerton played the older son of Nick Nolte
's character and older brother of Tom Hardy
's character, Joel also has a black belt in Karate. On 7 February 2010, he was cast in Matthijs van Heijningen Jr.
's 2011 prequel to The Thing, portraying helicopter pilot Sam Carter.
In 2011, Edgerton was cast as Tom Buchanan in Baz Luhrmann's 2012 remake of The Great Gatsby
.
Early life
Edgerton was born in BlacktownBlacktown, New South Wales
Blacktown is a suburb in the City of Blacktown, in Western Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Blacktown is located 34 kilometres west of the Sydney central business district and is the administrative centre of the local government area of City of Blacktown.Blacktown is the largest...
, Sydney, to a homemaker mother and a solicitor/property developer father, Michael. His brother, Nash Edgerton
Nash Edgerton
Nash Edgerton is an Australian film director and stuntman.-Life and career:Edgerton was born in Blacktown, New South Wales and is the brother of actor Joel Edgerton....
, is a stuntman and filmmaker. Edgerton graduated from The Hills Grammar School
The Hills Grammar School
The Hills Grammar School is an independent, co-educational, non-sectarian, day school located in Kenthurst, a suburb in the Hills district of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia....
in 1991.
Edgerton attended the Nepean Drama School at the University of Western Sydney
University of Western Sydney
The University of Western Sydney, also known as UWS, is a multi-campus university in the Greater Western region of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia...
before moving on to various stage productions, most notably at Sydney Theatre Company
Sydney Theatre Company
The Sydney Theatre Company is one of Australia's best-known theatre companies operating from The Wharf Theatre near The Rocks area of Sydney, as well as the Sydney Theatre and the Sydney Opera House Drama Theatre....
– Blackrock
Blackrock (play)
Blackrock is a play by Australian playwright Nick Enright. It was inspired by the real-life rape and murder of schoolgirl Leigh Leigh in Stockton, near Newcastle, Australia on 3 November 1989.It won the 1996 AWGIE Award for Best Play.-Origins:...
, Third World Blues and Love for Love – and Bell Shakespeare – Henry V
Henry V (play)
Henry V is a history play by William Shakespeare, believed to be written in approximately 1599. Its full titles are The Cronicle History of Henry the Fifth and The Life of Henry the Fifth...
– as well as television series.
Career
He has appeared in such films as Erskineville KingsErskineville Kings
Erskineville Kings was a Radical Media production made for Palace Films on a minimal budget and directed by newcomer Alan White. It was released on 1 January 1999...
, King Arthur
King Arthur (film)
King Arthur is a 2004 film directed by Antoine Fuqua and written by David Franzoni. It stars Clive Owen as the title character, Ioan Gruffudd as Lancelot, and Keira Knightley as Guinevere....
, Ned Kelly
Ned Kelly (2003 film)
Ned Kelly is an Australian drama film directed by Gregor Jordan. The film portrays the life of Ned Kelly — a legendary bushranger in northeast Victoria. Ned Kelly, his brother Dan, and two other men — Steve Hart and Joe Byrne — formed a gang of Irish Australians in response to Irish and...
, and, most notably, Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones
Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones
Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones is a 2002 American epic space opera film directed by George Lucas and written by Lucas and Jonathan Hales. It is the fifth film to be released in the Star Wars saga and the second in terms of the series' internal chronology...
and Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith
Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith
Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith is a 2005 American epic space opera film written and directed by George Lucas. It is the sixth and final film released in the Star Wars saga and the third in terms of the series' internal chronology....
, portraying a young Owen Lars, stepbrother of Anakin Skywalker and uncle to Luke Skywalker
Luke Skywalker
Luke Skywalker is a fictional character and the main protagonist of the original film trilogy of the Star Wars franchise, where he is portrayed by Mark Hamill. He is introduced in Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope, in which he is forced to leave home, and finds himself apprenticed to the Jedi master...
. Edgerton's brother Nash was the stunt double
Stunt double
A stunt double is a type of body double, specifically a skilled replacement used for dangerous film or video sequences, in movies and television , and for other sophisticated stunts...
for Ewan McGregor
Ewan McGregor
Ewan Gordon McGregor is a Scottish actor. He has had success in mainstream, indie, and art house films. McGregor is perhaps best known for his roles as heroin addict Mark Renton in the drama Trainspotting , young Jedi Obi-Wan Kenobi in the Star Wars prequel trilogy , and poet Christian in the...
, who played Obi-Wan Kenobi
Obi-Wan Kenobi
Obi-Wan Kenobi is a fictional character in the Star Wars universe. He is one of several primary characters in the Star Wars series. Along with Darth Vader, R2-D2, and C-3PO, he is one of the few major characters to appear in all six Star Wars films...
in the Star Wars prequel trilogy. He is known for playing the role of Will on the series The Secret Life of Us
The Secret Life of Us
The Secret Life of Us was a television drama series set in the beachside suburb of St Kilda, Melbourne, Australia. The series was produced by Southern Star Entertainment and screened in Australia from 2001 to 2005 on Network Ten and on Channel 4 in the UK...
for which he was nominated for an AFI
Australian Film Institute
The Australian Film Institute was founded in 1958 as a non-profit organisation devoted to developing an active film culture in Australia and fostering engagement between the general public and the Australian film industry...
award.
In 2005, he lent his voice to the title character of The Mysterious Geographic Explorations of Jasper Morello
The Mysterious Geographic Explorations of Jasper Morello
The Mysterious Geographic Explorations of Jasper Morello is a 2005 Australian short film. The first episode is labeled Jasper Morello and the Lost Airship.- Story :The First Voyage - Jasper Morello and the Lost Airship...
, an Academy Award-nominated animated short film. The same year, Edgerton appeared in the British comedy Kinky Boots
Kinky Boots (film)
Kinky Boots is a 2005 comedy film written by Geoff Deane and Tim Firth, about a traditional Northampton shoemaker, based in Earls Barton, who turns to producing fetishism footwear in order to save the failing family business and the jobs of his workers...
, in a lead role alongside Chiwetel Ejiofor
Chiwetel Ejiofor
Chiwetelu Umeadi "Chiwetel" Ejiofor, OBE is an English actor of stage and screen. He has received numerous acting awards and award nominations, including the 2006 BAFTA Awards Rising Star, three Golden Globe Awards' nominations, and the 2008 Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actor for his...
, as the son of a deceased shoe maker who must find a niche market in the 21st century. He also had a significant role in the 2006 American film Smokin' Aces
Smokin' Aces
Smokin' Aces is a 2006 crime film, written and directed by Joe Carnahan. It stars Jeremy Piven as a Las Vegas magician turned mafia informant and Ryan Reynolds as the FBI agent assigned to protect him...
.
Edgerton was seen in the film Whisper
Whisper (film)
Whisper is a 2007 horror film directed by Stewart Hendler and written by Christopher Borrelli. The film revolves around the kidnapping of a young boy, David, who is more than he appears and brings unexpected troubles for his kidnappers.- Plot :...
with Josh Holloway
Josh Holloway
Joshua Lee "Josh" Holloway is an American actor and model from Free Home, Georgia. He is best known for his role as James "Sawyer" Ford on the American television show Lost.-Early life:...
in 2007; The Square
The Square (2008 film)
The Square is a neo-noir thriller film directed by Nash Edgerton, written by his brother Joel Edgerton and Matthew Dabner, and starring David Roberts and Claire van der Boom. Based upon an original idea by Joel, the project was written and then shelved by the actor because he felt it was not...
, which he co-wrote and was directed by his brother Nash; Acolytes
Acolytes (film)
Acolytes is a 2008 Australian horror and thriller film about three teenagers and their sudden involvement with murder and violence over the course of a dangerous week...
, an Australian film about teenagers who get revenge on a serial killer
Serial killer
A serial killer, as typically defined, is an individual who has murdered three or more people over a period of more than a month, with down time between the murders, and whose motivation for killing is usually based on psychological gratification...
; and Separation City
Separation City
Separation City is a film starring Joel Edgerton, Rhona Mitra, Danielle Cormack, and Les Hill. It is directed by Paul Middleditch. Filming concluded in June, 2009, after 5 weeks of shooting....
, a comedy-drama which follows the collapse of two marriages. In 2009, he starred alongside Cate Blanchett
Cate Blanchett
Catherine Élise "Cate" Blanchett is an Australian actress. She came to international attention for her role as Elizabeth I of England in the 1998 biopic film Elizabeth, for which she won British Academy of Film and Television Arts and Golden Globe Awards, and earned her first Academy Award...
as Stanley in the Sydney Theatre Company's acclaimed production of A Streetcar Named Desire. Edgerton and Blanchett also appeared in a production of this play at the Brooklyn Academy of Music
Brooklyn Academy of Music
Brooklyn Academy of Music is a major performing arts venue in Brooklyn, a borough of New York City, United States, known as a center for progressive and avant garde performance....
in December 2009.
Edgerton had a major role in the MMA
Mixed martial arts
Mixed Martial Arts is a full contact combat sport that allows the use of both striking and grappling techniques, both standing and on the ground, including boxing, wrestling, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, muay Thai, kickboxing, karate, judo and other styles. The roots of modern mixed martial arts can be...
movie Warrior, which received a 2011 release through Lions Gate Entertainment
Lions Gate Entertainment
Lions Gate Entertainment Corporation is a North American entertainment company. The company was formed in Vancouver, British Columbia in 1997, and is headquartered in Santa Monica, California...
. Edgerton played the older son of Nick Nolte
Nick Nolte
Nicholas King "Nick" Nolte is an American actor whose career has spanned over five decades, peaking in the 1990s when his commercial success made him one of the most popular celebrities of that decade.-Early life:...
's character and older brother of Tom Hardy
Tom Hardy
Edward Thomas "Tom" Hardy is an English actor. He is best known for playing the title character in the 2008 British film Bronson, the character of Eames in Inception, and the villain Praetor Shinzon in Star Trek Nemesis...
's character, Joel also has a black belt in Karate. On 7 February 2010, he was cast in Matthijs van Heijningen Jr.
Matthijs van Heijningen Jr.
Matthijs van Heijningen Jr. is a Dutch filmmaker, writer and producer best known for his work on Red Rain, The Thing prequel and Army of the Dead.-Biography:Matthijs van Heijningen Jr...
's 2011 prequel to The Thing, portraying helicopter pilot Sam Carter.
In 2011, Edgerton was cast as Tom Buchanan in Baz Luhrmann's 2012 remake of The Great Gatsby
The Great Gatsby (2012 film)
The Great Gatsby is an upcoming drama romance film adaptation of writer F. Scott Fitzgerald's highly praised 1925 novel of the same name. It will be directed by Baz Luhrmann, starring Leonardo DiCaprio as Jay Gatsby and Carey Mulligan as Daisy Buchanan, as well as Tobey Maguire as Nick Carraway...
.
Filmography
| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | Spellbinder Spellbinder Spellbinder may refer to:*Spellbinder , an Australian-Polish science fiction television series*Spellbinder , a Batman villain*Spellbinder , the star of the 1980s Marvel Comics limited series Spellbound... |
Bazza | (2 episodes, 1995) |
| 1995 | Police Rescue Police Rescue Police Rescue was an Australian television series which originally aired on ABC TV between 1989 and 1996. It was produced by ABC and Southern Star Xanadu in association with the BBC.... |
Andy | (1 episode, 1995) |
| 1996 | Loaded Loaded Loaded may refer to:In music:* Loaded * Loaded * Loaded * "Loaded" * "Loaded" * "Loaded"... |
Frog | |
| 1996 | Race the Sun Race the Sun Race the Sun is a 1996 comedy-drama movie starring Halle Berry and James Belushi. The plot is loosely based on the true story of the Konawaena High School Solar Car Team, which finished 18th in the 1990 World Solar Challenge and first place among high school entries.-Plot:A new science teacher at... |
||
| 1996 | Water Rats | Aaron Lawrence | (2 episodes, 1996–1999) |
| 1997 | Big Sky Big Sky -Places:* large expanses of flat land, such as** Montana, U.S. state** East Anglia, UK region*Big Sky, Montana-Television, film and books:*Big Sky , an Australian televised drama that ran from 1997-1999... |
Pierce Bateman | (1 episode, 1997) |
| 1997 | Fallen Angels Fallen Angels (Australian TV series) Fallen Angels was an Australian television series screened on the ABC in 1997. There was only one series of 20 episodes produced. The series was set around a community legal centre in Endeavour Park, a fictional western suburb of Sydney... |
Scoob | (1 episode, 1997) |
| 1998 | Never Tell Me Never | Pab | |
| 1998 | Wildside | Michael Savini | (1 episode, 1998) |
| 1998 | Praise Praise Praise is the act of making positive statements about a person, object or idea, either in public or privately. Praise is typically, but not exclusively, earned relative to achievement and accomplishment... |
Leo | |
| 1998 | Bloodlock | Danny | |
| 1999 | Secret Men's Business | Baz | |
| 1999 | Dogwatch | Sparrow | |
| 1999 | Erskineville Kings Erskineville Kings Erskineville Kings was a Radical Media production made for Palace Films on a minimal budget and directed by newcomer Alan White. It was released on 1 January 1999... |
Wayne | |
| 2000 | Sample People | Sem | |
| 2000 | Tom Cosgrove | ||
| 2000 | Gate Gate A gate is a point of entry to a space enclosed by walls, or a moderately sized opening in a fence. Gates may prevent or control entry or exit, or they may be merely decorative. Other terms for gate include yett and port... |
||
| 2001 | Will McGill | (29 episodes, 2001–2002) | |
| 2001 | Saturn's Return Saturn's Return Saturn's Return is an Australian play by Tommy Murphy. The play was commissioned for the Sydney Theatre Company 2008 season by incoming co-artistic directors Cate Blanchett and Andrew Upton.It plays 15 August-6 September 2008.... |
Barney | |
| 2001 | Guy | ||
| 2002 | Dossa and Joe Dossa and Joe Dossa and Joe was a 2002, bittersweet television comedy series, written and directed by Caroline Aherne and starring Anne Charleston as Dossa and Michael Caton as Joe.... |
Robbo | (2 episodes, 2002) |
| 2002 | Shane | ||
| 2002 | Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones | Owen Lars | |
| 2003 | Rod Blue | ||
| 2003 | Ned Kelly Ned Kelly (2003 film) Ned Kelly is an Australian drama film directed by Gregor Jordan. The film portrays the life of Ned Kelly — a legendary bushranger in northeast Victoria. Ned Kelly, his brother Dan, and two other men — Steve Hart and Joe Byrne — formed a gang of Irish Australians in response to Irish and... |
Aaron Sherritt | |
| 2004 | King Arthur King Arthur King Arthur is a legendary British leader of the late 5th and early 6th centuries, who, according to Medieval histories and romances, led the defence of Britain against Saxon invaders in the early 6th century. The details of Arthur's story are mainly composed of folklore and literary invention, and... |
Gawain | |
| 2005 | Kinky Boots Kinky Boots (film) Kinky Boots is a 2005 comedy film written by Geoff Deane and Tim Firth, about a traditional Northampton shoemaker, based in Earls Barton, who turns to producing fetishism footwear in order to save the failing family business and the jobs of his workers... |
Charlie | |
| 2005 | Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith | Owen Lars | |
| 2005 | Jasper Morello | (voice) | |
| 2006 | Smokin' Aces Smokin' Aces Smokin' Aces is a 2006 crime film, written and directed by Joe Carnahan. It stars Jeremy Piven as a Las Vegas magician turned mafia informant and Ryan Reynolds as the FBI agent assigned to protect him... |
Hugo Croop | |
| 2006 | Open Window Open Window Open Window is an album by the American ambient musician Robert Rich. This is an album of improvised piano solos. Rich’s piano solos have been a part of his live concerts for over 20 years but this is the first time that a recording has been released in a recorded form.The material on this album... |
Peter | |
| 2007 | Spider Spider Spiders are air-breathing arthropods that have eight legs, and chelicerae with fangs that inject venom. They are the largest order of arachnids and rank seventh in total species diversity among all other groups of organisms... |
Paramedic | |
| 2007 | Crossbow Crossbow A crossbow is a weapon consisting of a bow mounted on a stock that shoots projectiles, often called bolts or quarrels. The medieval crossbow was called by many names, most of which derived from the word ballista, a torsion engine resembling a crossbow in appearance.Historically, crossbows played a... |
The Dad | |
| 2007 | Whisper Whisper -In fiction:* Whisper , fictitious character in the popular Fantasy RPG Fable* Whisper, a character created by Ian Fleming in the James Bond novel and film Live and Let Die* Whisper , a 2007 horror film... |
Vince Delayo | |
| 2007 | Dangerous (TV series) Dangerous (TV series) Dangerous is an Australian television drama series that first screened on 16 January 2007 on FOX8 and was shown in Ireland on RTÉ One. In mid-2008, it began running on The WB's online network in the US.... |
Senior Sergeant Mark Field | (8 episodes, 2007) |
| 2008 | $9.99 $9.99 $9.99 is a 2008 Australian/Israeli stop motion film written and directed by Tatia Rosenthal, with the screenplay by Etgar Keret. This film marks the third collaboration between Rosenthal and Keret... |
Ron | |
| 2008 | Billy | ||
| 2008 | Father | Narrator | |
| 2008 | Acolytes Acolytes (film) Acolytes is a 2008 Australian horror and thriller film about three teenagers and their sudden involvement with murder and violence over the course of a dangerous week... |
Ian Wright | |
| 2009 | Ben Simmons | ||
| 2009 | Separation City Separation City Separation City is a film starring Joel Edgerton, Rhona Mitra, Danielle Cormack, and Les Hill. It is directed by Paul Middleditch. Filming concluded in June, 2009, after 5 weeks of shooting.... |
Simon | |
| 2009 | Dirt Game Dirt Game Dirt Game is an Australian drama television series that screened on the ABC. It was a six part series that was announced in July 2009. It premiered on 19 April 2009 and finished on 25 May 2009... |
Shane Bevic | (6 episodes, 2009) |
| 2010 | Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole | Metalbeak | (voice) |
| 2010 | Animal Kingdom Animal Kingdom (film) Animal Kingdom is a 2010 Australian crime drama written and directed by David Michôd, and starring Ben Mendelsohn, Joel Edgerton, Guy Pearce, Luke Ford, Sullivan Stapleton, Jacki Weaver and James Frecheville... |
Barry Brown | |
| 2011 | Warrior | Brendan Conlon | |
| 2011 | Sam Carter | ||
| 2011 | Say Nothing | Dave | |
| 2012 | Tom Buchanan | ||
| 2012 | Jim Green |