Aaron Eckhart

Aaron Eckhart

Infobox actor



imagesize = 215px
caption = Aaron Eckhart, March 2008
birthname = Aaron Edward Eckhart
birthdate = birth date and age|mf=yes|1968|3|12
birthplace = Cupertino, California, United States
deathdate =
deathplace =
othername =
yearsactive = 1992–present
spouse =
homepage =
academyawards =
emmyawards =
tonyawards =
awards = Independent Spirit Award
Best Debut Performance
1997 "In the Company of Men"

Aaron Edward Eckhart (born March 12, 1968) is an American film and stage actor. Born in California, he moved to England at thirteen when his father relocated the family. Several years later, Eckhart began his acting career performing in school plays at Cobham Hall, leaving without graduating, and earning a diploma through a correspondence course. In 1994, he graduated from Brigham Young University (BYU) with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in film; he then spent much of the mid-1990s in New York as a struggling, unemployed actor. He closely resembles Sean Bean.

As an undergraduate at Brigham Young, Eckhart met director/writer Neil LaBute who cast him in several of LaBute's original plays. Five years later, Eckhart made a debut as an unctuous sociopathic ladies' man in LaBute’s black comedy "In the Company of Men" (1997). The following year, Eckhart acquired work in LaBute's "Your Friends & Neighbors" (1998) with further performances under the director/writer's guidance to include: "Nurse Betty" (2000) as Del Sizemore and "Possession" (2002) as Roland Michell, the romantic lead.

In 2000, he gained wide recognition as the ponytailed George in Steven Soderbergh's critically acclaimed film "Erin Brockovich". By 2006, Eckhart received a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actor for his portrayal of Nick Naylor in "Thank You for Smoking". In the 2008 film "The Dark Knight", Eckhart played district attorney, Harvey Dent, and his villainous alter-ego, Two-Face. Eckhart performs predominantly leading roles in a variety of films ranging from romantic comedies, to drama and science fiction and action thrillers.

Biography

Early life

Eckhart was born March 12, 1968 in Cupertino, California, and is the youngest of three sons born to Mary Eckhart (née Lawrence), a poet and children's author, and James C. Eckhart "Jim Senior", a computer executive.cite web|url=http://movies.yahoo.com/movie/contributor/1800022565/bio|title=Aaron Eckhart Biography|accessdate=2008-07-20|publisher=Yahoo!|work=Yahoo! Movies] His brothers are James Lawrence Eckhart (born 1963) and Adam Eckhart (born 1966).cite news|url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/theobserver/2007/aug/19/features.magazine77|title=Learning to smile|last=Illey|first=Chrissy|date=2007-08-19|work=The Guardian|publisher="guardian.co.uk"|accessdate=2008-09-23] Eckhart was raised as a Mormon in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in France and Switzerland.cite news|last=Caddell|first=Ian|title=Edgy, smedgy–Eckhart just wants you to laugh|work=The Georgia Straight|date=2007-07-19|url=http://www.straight.com/article-102056/edgy-smedgy-eckhart-just-wants-you-to-laugh|accessdate=2007-08-07] [cite web|accessdate=2008-05-13|url=http://www.straight.com/article/devout-eckhart-prays-his-new-film-is-a-hit|title=Devout Eckhart Prays His New Film Is a Hit|work=The Georgia Straight|date=2004-08-26|author=McArthur, Beth] In an interview with "Entertainment Weekly", in regards to his Mormon faith, Eckhart revealed: "I'm sure people think I'm a Mormon, but I don't know that I'm a Mormon anymore, you know? To be honest, to be perfectly clear, I'd be a hypocrite if I did say that I was, just because I haven't lived that lifestyle for so many years." [cite news|url=http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,1174151_2,00.html|title=Aaron Eckhart Unfiltered|last=Kirschling|first=Gregory|date=2006-03-17|work=Entertainment Weekly|publisher="ew.com"|accessdate=2008-09-23]

When he was thirteen, his father's computer firm moved to England.cite news|url=http://www.theage.com.au/news/film/smoke-and-mirrors/2006/08/10/1154803022834.html?page=3|title=Smoke and mirrors|first=The Sunday Telegraph|date=2006-08-10|work=The Age|publisher="theage.com.au"|accessdate=2008-09-30] [cite web|url=http://www.pbs.org/kcet/tavissmiley/archive/200409/20040906_eckhart.html|title=Archives - Aaron Eckhart|date=2004-09-06|work=The Tavis Smiley Show|publisher=Public Broadcasting Service|accessdate=2008-09-30] The family resided in Walton-on-Thames, Surrey, where he attended American Community School. [cite news|url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/stage/2004/apr/04/theatre|title=Mormon becomes electric|last=Bedell|first=Geraldine|date=2004-04-04|work=The Guardian|publisher="guardian.co.uk"|accessdate=2008-09-30] After discovering acting by playing Charlie Brown in a school production,cite web|url=http://www.tribute.ca/people/Aaron+Eckhart/1796/16939|title=Aaron Eckhart Bio.|accessdate=2008-07-20|work=Tribute] cite news|url=http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=254134|title=Eckhart defined struggling actor|last=Lee|first=Luaine|date=2004-08-26|work=Milwaukee Journal Sentinel|publisher="jsonline.com"|accessdate=2008-09-30] Eckhart moved to Sydney, Australia, where he further developed his acting with productions like "Waiting for Godot". In 1986, during his senior year at Cobham Hall, Eckhart left the school, eventually earning his diploma via a correspondence course. [cite news|url=http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2003/12/26/earlyshow/leisure/celebspot/main590276.shtml|title=The Villain Of 'Paycheck'|date=2003-12-29|work=The Early Show|publisher="cbsnews.com"|accessdate=2008-09-30] This led to him taking a few years off to surf in Hawaii and France. At age seventeen, Eckhart returned to the United States and enrolled as a film major at Brigham Young University (BYU), graduating in 1994 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree.cite web|author=The Sunday Times|url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/article1171407.ece?token=null&offset=0&page=1|title=Heart of darkness|accessdate=2008-07-23|date=2002-10-20|work=Times Online]

Career

Early work

During his time at Brigham Young, Eckhart appeared in the Mormon-themed film "Godly Sorrow". At this time he met director/writer Neil LaBute, who cast Eckhart, making his theatrical debut, in several of his original plays. After graduating, Eckhart moved to New York City where he worked odd jobs ranging from bartending, driving a bus, to working in construction. [cite news|url=http://www.advocate.com/issue_story_ektid47324.asp|title=Aaron Eckhart|last=Voss|first=Brandon|date=2007-08-14|work=Advocate|publisher="advocate.com"|accessdate=2008-09-30|format=Web] Within days of landing his first agent, he appeared in several commercials and made his television debut as an extra on "Beverly Hills, 90210", [cite news|url=http://www.parade.com/celebrity/0808/in-step-with-aaron-eckhart|title=In Step With... Aaron Eckhart|last=Brady|first=James|date=2008-08-10|work=Parade|publisher="parade.com"|accessdate=2008-09-26] which he quickly followed with a substantial guest starring role on the short-lived sitcom "Aliens in the Family". He soon received guest roles on other short-lived television series, as well as the opportunity to act in documentary re-enactments and a made-for-television movie.

Eckhart was approached by Neil LaBute to star in a film adaptation of his stage play, "In the Company of Men" (1997).cite news|url=http://www.mtv.com/movies/news/articles/1548515/20061219/story.jhtml|title=Oscar File: Will Ever-Smiling Aaron Eckhart Soon Be Saying, 'Thank You'?|last=Horowitz|first=Josh|date=2006-12-21|work=MTV Movie News|publisher="mtv.com" (MTV Networks)|accessdate=2008-09-12] He played the role of a frustrated, white-collar worker who hatches a plan with a buddy to woo a deaf office worker, gain her affections, then unexpectedly dump her. [cite web|first=Lisa|last=Schwarzbaum|url=http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,288969,00.html|title=In the Company of Men|accessdate=2008-07-20|date=1997-08-08|publisher="ew.com"|work=Entertainment Weekly] Eckhart's performance was well-received by critics; Paul Tatara of CNN.com claimed that "Eckhart's Chad even has a couple of sarcastic diatribes that mock Cristine's halting, hollow-voiced way of speaking." [cite web|first=Paul|last=Tatara|url=http://www.cnn.com/SHOWBIZ/9708/18/review.companymen/|title='In the Company of Men' - don't bring a date|accessdate=2008-08-25|date=1997-08-18|work=cnn.com|publisher=CNN] "In the Company of Men" was a critical success, winning Best First Film at the 63rd annual New York Film Critics Circle Award. [cite news|url=http://www.nyfcc.com/awards.php?year=1997|title=New York Film Critics Circle: 1997 Awards|work=New York Film Critics Circle Award|publisher="nyfcc.com"|accessdate=2008-09-22] [cite news|url=http://community.seattletimes.nwsource.com/archive/?date=19980226&slug=2736576|title=Oscar Nominees On Video: `In & Out,' `Full Monty'|last=Hartl|first=John|date=1998-02-26|work=The Seattle Times|publisher="seattletimes.nwsource.com"|accessdate=2008-09-23] Eckhart's performance won him the Independent Spirit Award in the category of Best Debut Performance. [cite web|url=http://www.variety.com/profiles/people/main/29803/Aaron+Eckhart.html?dataSet=1|title=Aaron Eckhart Profile|work=Variety|publisher="variety.com"|accessdate=2008-09-23] [cite web|url=http://movies.nytimes.com/person/223098/Aaron-Eckhart/awards|title=Aaron Eckhart awards|work=New York Post|publisher="nytimes.com"|accessdate=2008-09-23]

The following year, he and LaBute collaborated once again when Eckhart starred in "Your Friends & Neighbors" (1998).cite web|first=John|last=Jurgensen|url=http://online.wsj.com/public/article/SB121581573779247183-RPfdJlaet1ewY4j2z84QcUWlJOM_20080810.html?mod=tff_main_tff_top|title=Just Asking.... Aaron Eckhart|accessdate=2008-07-22|date=2008-07-12|publisher="wsj.com"|work=Wall Street Journal Online] He gained weight for the role and was barely recognizable in the film as a result. [cite web|first=Emanuel|last=Levy|url=http://www.variety.com/review/VE1117477740.html?categoryid=31&cs=1&p=0|title=Your Friends and Neighbors Review|accessdate=2008-08-25|date=1998-08-10|publisher="variety.com"|work=Variety] In 1999, he made an appearance as the football offensive coordinator in Oliver Stone's "Any Given Sunday". [cite web|url=http://movies.nytimes.com/person/223098/Aaron-Eckhart/biography|title=Aaron Eckhart Filmography|accessdate=2008-07-23|publisher="nytimes.com"|work=The New York Times] That same year, Eckhart starred in a lead role in "Molly", in which he played the brother of an autistic woman who was cured by surgery. [cite web|first=Ken|last=Tucker|url=http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,271473,00.html|title=Molly Review|accessdate=2008-07-20|date=1999-11-05|publisher="ew.com"|work=Entertainment Weekly]

2000–2006

In 2000, he gained his first wide exposure as the pony-tailed biker in "Erin Brockovich". [cite web|first=Peter|last=Travers|url=http://www.rollingstone.com/reviews/movie/5947601/review/5947602/erin_brockovich|title=Erin Brockovich Review|accessdate=2008-07-20|date=2001-02-09|publisher="rollingstone.com"|work=Rolling Stone] Eckhart received positive reviews on his performance; critic Owen Gleiberman wrote: "Swathed in tattoos and an overgrown foliage of goatee and sideburns, may be playing a bit of an ideal [...] but he makes goodness as palpable as he did yuppie evil in 'In the Company of Men'. [cite news|url=http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,64583,00.html|title=Erin Brockovich Movie Review|last=Gleiberman|first=Owen|date=2000-03-17|work=Entertainment Weekly|publisher="ew.com"|accessdate=2008-09-12] Before he was cast in the film, Eckhart revealed that he had not worked for nearly a year, stating: "I felt like I sort of was getting away from what I wanted to do as an actor. A lot of things fell through. I had nine months off, but it wasn't a vacation. Sure, I didn't earn any money for nine months, but every day I was reading scripts, I was producing my own material, I was taking meetings, I was working on my craft." He teamed up once again with LaBute in "Nurse Betty" (2000), which also starred Renée Zellweger. He was cast in "The Pledge", a 2001 film directed by Sean Penn, in which he played a young detective partnered with a veteran detective played by Jack Nicholson. [cite web|first=Nev|last=Pierce|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/films/2001/10/08/the_pledge_2001_review.shtml|title=BBC Films review - The Pledge|accessdate=2008-07-20|date=2001-10-08|publisher=BBC|work=BBC Films] His fourth and latest collaboration with LaBute was the 2002 film adaptation of the Man Booker Prize winning novel "Possession". [cite web|first=Owen|last=Gleiberman|url=http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,337023,00.html|title=Possession (Movie - 2002) review|accessdate=2008-07-20|date=2002-08-14|publisher="ew.com"|work=Entertainment Weekly]

In 2003, he starred in "The Core" alongside Hilary Swank, in which he played a geophysicist who tries to detonate a nuclear device and save the world from destruction. The film was met with mixed reviews, however, upon the film's release, it ranked at the number three position at the box office. [cite news|url=http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/core/numbers.php|title=The Core - Box Office|work=Rotten Tomatoes|publisher="rottentomatoes.com"|accessdate=2008-09-23] The same year, Eckhart appeared in "The Missing", in which he played Cate Blanchett's lover, [cite web|first=Roger|last=Ebert|url=http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20040730/REVIEWS/302/1023|title=The Missing Review|accessdate=2008-07-20|date=2004-07-30|publisher="rogerebert.com"|work=Chicago Sun-Times] and in the action thriller "Paycheck" opposite Ben Affleck, based on the short story of the same name by science fiction writer Phillip K. Dick. [cite web|first=Nev|last=Pierce|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/films/2004/01/09/paycheck_2004_review.shtml|title=BBC Films - Paycheck|accessdate=2008-07-20|date=2003-01-14|publisher=BBC|work=BBC Films] The film garnered negative reviews, as it did not meet the expectations of Dick's original story. [cite news|url=http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20031224/REVIEWS/312240305/1023|title=Paycheck review|last=Ebert|first=Roger|date=2003-12-24|work=Chicago Sun-Times|publisher="rogerebert.com"|accessdate=2008-09-23]

The following year, Eckhart had a recurring role on NBC's television show "Frasier", in which he played the boyfriend of Dr. Frasier Crane's love interest, Charlotte, played by Laura Linney. [cite episode |title=Miss Right Now |episodelink= |series=Frasier |serieslink= |credits=Ken Levine, David Isaacs, and Scott Ellis |network=NBC |station= |airdate=2004-04-06 |season=11 |seriesno= |number=19 |minutes= ] [cite episode |title=And Frasier Makes Three |episodelink= |series=Frasier |serieslink= |credits=Sam Johnson and Scott Ellis |network=NBC |station= |airdate=2004-04-20 |season=11 |seriesno= |number=20 |minutes= ] He starred in the thriller "Suspect Zero", in which he played an FBI agent tracking down a killer who murders serial killers. [cite web|first=Roger|last=Ebert|url=http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20040826/REVIEWS/40816003/1023|title=Suspect Zero Review|accessdate=2008-07-20|date=2004-08-27|publisher="rogerebert.com"|work=Chicago Sun-Times] [cite web|first=Todd|last=Gilchrist|url=http://movies.ign.com/articles/542/542363p1.html|title=IGN: Suspect Zero Review|accessdate=2008-07-20|date=2004-08-26|publisher=News Corporation|work=IGN Movies] "Suspect Zero" earned mixed reviews, but Eckhart's performance was well acknowledged; in the "Newsday" review of the film, critic Kevin Thomas wrote: "Eckhart is a classically handsome leading man [...] but Merhige demands of him complexity and anguish." [cite news|url=http://www.newsday.com/topic/cl-et-thomas27aug27,0,2045279.story|title='Suspect Zero'|last=Thomas|first=Kevin|date=2004-08-27|work=Newsday|publisher="newsday.com"|accessdate=2008-09-12] He starred on the London stage opposite Julia Stiles in David Mamet's "Oleanna", which ran in mid-2004. Eckhart received favorable critical reviews.cite news|url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2004/08/24/DDG7Q8C3CU1.DTL|title=His good looks landed him roles, but so what? Aaron Eckhart wanted more, and now he's got it|last=Johnson|first=G. Allen|date=2004-08-24|work=San Francisco Chronicle|publisher="sfgate.com"|accessdate=2008-09-23] [cite news|url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/stage/2004/apr/23/theatre|title=Oleanna|last=Billington|first=Michael|date=2004-04-23|work=The Guardian|publisher="guardian.co.uk"|accessdate=2008-09-23]

In 2006, he appeared in "The Black Dahlia", a film noir in which he played Sergeant Leland "Lee" Blanchard, as he, along with Josh Hartnett's character, investigate the murder of Elizabeth Short (later dubbed the Black Dahlia). The film is based on the real 1947 crime. [cite web|first=Todd|last=McCarthy|url=http://www.variety.com/review/VE1117931413.html?categoryid=31&cs=1|title=The Black Dahlia Review|accessdate=2008-07-22|date=2006-08-30|publisher="variety.com"|work=Variety] [cite news|url=http://movies.ign.com/articles/724/724997p2.html|title=IGN: Interview: Aaron Eckhart|last=Otto|first=Jeff|date=2006-08-11|work=IGN Movie|publisher=News Corporation|accessdate=2008-09-18] David Jenkins of "Time Out" in his review of the film credited Eckhart and co-star Hillary Swank for their performances in the film, citing that "both [are] great in their secondary roles." [cite news|url=http://www.timeout.com/film/newyork/news/1375/venice-diary-the-black-dahlia-review.html|title=Venice diary - 'The Black Dahlia' review|last=Jenkins|first=David|date=2006-09-01|work=Time Out|publisher="timeout.com"|accessdate=2008-09-23] Later that year Eckhart, along with Helena Bonham Carter, starred in "Conversations with Other Women". [cite web|first=A.O.|last=Scott|url=http://movies.nytimes.com/2006/08/11/movies/11conv.html|title=Conversations With Other Women (2005) Review|accessdate=2008-07-22|date=2006-08-11|publisher="nytimes.com"|work=The New York Times]

2006–present

His next project was "Thank You for Smoking", in which he played Nick Naylor, a tobacco lobbyist whose stated purpose is to research the links between smoking cigarettes and lung cancer. Eckhart stated that he had challenges when 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. At one point, I'm doing a talk show with a kid who's dying of cancer, and he's going through chemotherapy and the whole thing, and I spin it so the anti-smoking people are the bad guys and I'm the good guy, and I'm this guy's best friend. I mean, it's whacked out." [cite news|url=http://www.mtv.com/movies/news/articles/1526373/20060316/story.jhtml|title='Thank You for Smoking' Is Funny, Serious Business|last=Carroll|first=Larry|date=2006-03-22|work=MTV Movie News|publisher="mtv.com" (MTV Networks)|accessdate=2008-09-18] The film was screened at a special presentation at the 30th annual Toronto International Film Festival in 2005. [cite news|url=http://www.mtv.com/movies/news/articles/1509827/09192005/story.jhtml|title=Is Toronto The New Sundance?|last=Carroll|first=Larry|date=2005-09-19|work=MTV Movie News|publisher="mtv.com" (MTV Networks)|accessdate=2008-09-22] [cite news|url=http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,1105458,00.html|title=The buzz from the Toronto film fest|last=Kirschling|first=Gregory|coauthors=Karen Valby and Neil Drumming|date=2005-09-16|work=Entertainment Weekly|publisher="ew.com"|accessdate=2008-09-22] It then had a limited release in March 2006, having its world wide release the following month. [cite news|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/discussion/2006/02/24/DI2006022401640_pf.html|title=Film: "Thank You For Smoking"|last=Reitman|first=Jason |coauthors=Christopher Buckley|date=2006-02-27|work=Washington Post|publisher="washingtonpost.com"|accessdate=2008-09-22] [cite news|url=http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/04/10/earlyshow/contributors/jesscagle/main1483130.shtml|title=Ice Age, Benchwarmers & Banderas|date=2006-04-10|work=Associated Press|publisher=CBS News|accessdate=2008-09-22] For his performance, Eckhart received a Golden Globe Best Actor in a Motion Picture Musical or Comedy nomination. [cite web|url=http://www.goldenglobes.org/browse/member/30941|title=HFPA - Awards Search|accessdate=2008-07-22|publisher="goldenglobes.org"|work=Golden Globes Official Website] In the "Chicago Sun-Times" review of the film, critic Roger Ebert wrote: "Eckhart has a good line in plausible corporate villains and he is smiling, optimistic, and even trusting (as when he tells girl reporter Katie Holmes things he should know will not be off the record)." [cite web|first=Roger|last=Ebert|url=http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060323/REVIEWS/60314009/1023|title=Thank You for Smoking Review|accessdate=2008-07-22|date=2006-03-24|publisher="rogerebert.com"|work=Chicago Sun-Times] Claudia Puig of "USA Today" wrote: "Eckhart gives a standout, whip-smart performance, keeping his character likable even in his cynicism." [cite news|url=http://www.usatoday.com/life/movies/reviews/2006-03-16-thank-you-smoking_x.htm|title='Thank You for Smoking' is a breath of fresh air|last=Puig|first=Claudia|date=2006-03-16|work=USA Today|publisher="usatoday.com"|accessdate=2008-09-12]

The following year, Eckhart was invited to join the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. [cite news|url=http://www.oscars.org/press/pressreleases/2007/07.06.18.html|title=Academy Invites 115 to Become Members|date=2007-06-18|work=Academy Awards Official Website|publisher="oscars.org"|accessdate=2008-09-23] He starred in the romantic comedy "No Reservations" (2007), the remake of the 2001 German film "Mostly Martha". Opposite Catherine Zeta-Jones, he starred as a hotshot up-and-comer chef. [cite web|first=Matt Zoller|last=Seitz|url=http://movies.nytimes.com/2007/07/27/movies/27rese.html|title=If You Can’t Stand the Analysis of Work and Parenthood, Get Out of the Kitchen|accessdate=2008-07-22|date=2007-07-27|publisher="nytimes.com"|work=The New York Times] The film was panned with mixed reviews and was unfavorably compared to the original. [cite news|url=http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/no_reservations/?critic=creamcrop|title=No Reservations - Review|work=Rotten Tomatoes|publisher="rottentomatoes.com"|accessdate=2008-09-23] Amy Biancolli of the "Houston Chronicle", however, in her review of the film, wrote: "Eckhart excels at these spongier roles." [cite web|url=http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ent/movies/reviews/4971768.html|title=No Reservations - Movie reviews|last=Biancolli|first=Amy|date=2007-07-26|work=The Houston Chronicle|publisher="chron.com"|accessdate=2008-09-18]

In 2008, Eckhart portrayed the comic book character Harvey Dent/Two-Face in Christopher Nolan's "The Dark Knight", the sequel to the 2005 film "Batman Begins". [cite web|first=Dave|last=McNary|url=http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117959570.html?categoryid=13&cs=1|title=Eckhart set as Two-Face|accessdate=2008-07-23|date=2007-02-15|publisher="variety.com"|work=Variety] [cite web|first=Todd|last=Gilchrist|url=http://movies.ign.com/articles/884/884876p1.html|title=IGN: The Dark Knight Review|accessdate=2008-07-23|date=2008-06-30|publisher=News Corporation|work=IGN Movies] Nolan's decision to cast 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".cite news|url=http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/la-ca-echkart-2008may04,0,932553.story|title=Aaron Eckhart: Not just another pretty face in 'The Dark Knight'|last=Boucher|first=Geoff|date=2008-05-04|work=Los Angeles Times|publisher="latimes.com"|accessdate=2008-09-18] cite news|url=http://www.wizarduniverse.com/030408eckhart.html|title=(Dark Knight Exclusive) Aaron Eckhart Q&A|last=Purdin|first=Rickey|date=2008-03-04|work=wizarduniverse.com|publisher=Wizard Entertainment|accessdate=2008-09-18] Eckhart noted in his depiction of the character that " [he] is still true to himself. He's a crime fighter, he's not killing good people. He's not a bad guy, not purely", while admitting "I'm interested in good guys gone wrong." In the "Rolling Stone" review of the film, critic Peter Travers wrote: "Eckhart earns major props for scarily and movingly portraying the DA's transformation into the dreaded Harvey Two-Face, an event sparked by the brutal murder of a major character." [cite web|first=Peter|last=Travers|url=http://www.rollingstone.com/reviews/movie/16155928/review/21477208/dark_knight|title=The Dark Knight Review|accessdate=2008-08-25|date=2008-07-18|publisher="rollingstone.com"|work=Rolling Stone] Critic Mick LaSalle from the "San Francisco Chronicle" also praised Eckhart's performance, as he wrote: "The movie shifts our attention to Eckhart, who, as Gotham's idealistic young crime buster, has the movie's most involved journey." [cite web|first=Mick|last=LaSalle|url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/07/16/DDK011PHMA.DTL|title='Dark Knight': Ledger terrific|accessdate=2008-08-24|date=2008-07-17|publisher="sfgate.com"|work=San Francisco Chronicle]

The same year, Eckhart appeared in Alan Ball's "Towelhead", an adaption of Alicia Erian’s novel. [cite news|first=Roger|last=Friedman|url=http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,296376,00.html|title=Kiddie Porn Movie Rocks Toronto as 'Feel-Awful' Film of the Year|accessdate=2008-07-23|date=2007-09-11|work=Fox News|publisher="foxnews.com"] The film is about Jasira, a thirteen year old Arab American, sent to Houston, Texas to live with her Lebanese American father. During her stay, she is sexually abused by her neighbor (Eckhart's character), a profoundly troubled Army reservist, during the first Gulf War.cite news|url=http://www.nypost.com/seven/01162008/entertainment/movies/_beauty__scribe__i_m_no_beast_789997.htm|title='Beauty' Scribe: I'm no Beast|last=Lumenick|first=Lou|date=2008-01-16|work=New York Post|publisher="nypost.com"|accessdate=2008-09-23] [cite news|url=http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/movies/la-et-towelhead12-2008sep12,0,370411.story?track=rss|title=Review: 'Towelhead'|last=Goldstein|first=Gary|date=2008-09-12|work=Los Angeles Times|publisher="latimes.com"|accessdate=2008-09-23] The film was screened under the name "Nothing is Private" at the 2007 Toronto International Film Festival. [cite news|url=http://www.tiff07.ca/industry/filmsandschedules/filmdetails.aspx?id=705151524551292|title=Nothing Is Private|work=Toronto Film Festival Official Website|publisher="tiff07.ca"|accessdate=2008-09-23] When asked about the sex scenes in the film, Eckhart said: "Those were difficult times for me. The way I did it was to really trust Alan. It was in the words. I really trusted Summer [Bishil, who plays Jasira] , and I tried to get her to trust me, to build a relationship when we were doing physical scenes. We'd really rehearse them mechanically, and I'd say, 'OK, I'm going to put my hand here, I'm going to do this.' [...] I think I found it more difficult." [cite news|url=http://www.mtv.com/movies/news/articles/1594643/20080911/story.jhtml?rsspartner=rssColdFusion|title=Aaron Eckhart On His Controversial 'Towelhead' Character|last=Adler|first=Shawn|date=2008-09-12|work=MTV Movie News|publisher="mtv.com" (MTV Networks)|accessdate=2008-09-23] When first approached, Eckhart noted that he did not want to play a "pedophile".

His next film was the comedy "Meet Bill" (2008), in which he plays the eponymous character, a sad executive working at his father-in-law's bank. [cite web|first=Jeannette|last=Catsoulis|url=http://movies.nytimes.com/2008/05/09/movies/09bill.html|title=Meet Bill Review|accessdate=2008-09-08|date=2008-05-09|publisher="nytimes.com"|work=The New York Times] [cite web|first=Loren|last=Lankford|url=http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20198415,00.html|title=Meet Bill (2008) Review|accessdate=2008-09-08|date=2008-05-07|publisher="ew.com"|work=Entertainment Weekly] Eckhart gained 30 pounds (14 kg) for the role. He is set to appear in the romantic drama "Traveling" (2008) alongside Jennifer Aniston. [cite web|url=http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,331251,00.html|title=Report: Jennifer Aniston, Aaron Eckhart 'Inseparable'|accessdate=2008-09-08|date=2008-02-19|publisher="foxnews.com"|work=Fox News] [cite web|first=William|last=Keck|url=http://www.usatoday.com/life/people/2008-07-28-eckhart_N.htm|title=Aaron Eckhart puts on his best acting face|accessdate=2008-09-08|date=2008-07-28|publisher="usatoday.com"|work=USA Today]

Personal life

Eckhart was engaged to actress Emily Cline, but separated from her in 1998.cite news|url=http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20213938,00.html|title=Aaron Eckhart Would Relocate for the Right Partner|last=Rubin|first=Courtney |date=2008-07-22|work=People|publisher="people.com"|accessdate=2008-09-12] He was then in a relationship with SHeDAISY's Kristyn Osborn from 2006–2007. Eckhart appears in the country group's video "I'm Taking the Wheel", and makes out with Osborn at the end of the clip. The couple has since parted ways.

Eckhart has given up the habit of drinking and smoking. [cite news|url=http://www.menshealth.com/cda/article.do?site=MensHealth&channel=guy.wisdom&category=life.lessons&conitem=7925fef0df1aa110VgnVCM10000013281eac____|title=Life Lessons From Aaron Eckhart|last=Zimmerman|first=Mike|work=Men's Health|publisher="menshealth.com"|accessdate=2008-09-23] In his spare time, he enjoys photography. While in London performing in the play "Oleanna",cite news|url=http://www.metro.co.uk/fame/interviews/article.html?in_article_id=15555&in_page_id=11|title=60 Seconds: Aaron Eckhart|last=Williams|first=Andrew|date=2006-06-19|work=Metro (Associated Metro Limited)|publisher="metro.co.uk"|accessdate=2008-09-18] Eckhart did a lot of street photography, often taking pictures of people without them acknowledging he was photographing them.

Eckhart is a fan of the Oakland Raiders. He owns a ranch in Montana. [cite news|url=http://www.filmink.com.au/feature/man-of-the-hour/|title=Man of the Hour|last=Berk|first=Phillip|date=2008-09-16|work=Filmink|publisher="filmink.com.au"|accessdate=2008-10-03|format=Web] In an interview with "Parade" magazine, Eckhart revealed that he wanted to become a songwriter, before he discovered acting. [cite news|url=http://www.parade.com/celebrity/celebrity-parade/archive/pc_0242.html|title=Aaron Eckhart: My Career Is Insane|last=Wolf|first=Jeanne|date=2008-09-10|work=Parade|publisher="parade.com"|accessdate=2008-10-03|format=Web]

Filmography

References

External links

*imdb name|id=0001173|name=Aaron Eckhart
*ymovies name|1800022565
* [http://ldsfilm.com/bio/bioE.html Brief Bio at via LDS Utah Film personalities]
* [http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5283837 2006 Terri Gross radio interview]

Persondata
NAME=Eckhart, Aaron Edward
ALTERNATIVE NAMES=
SHORT DESCRIPTION=Actor
DATE OF BIRTH=March 12, 1968
PLACE OF BIRTH=Cupertino, California
DATE OF DEATH=
PLACE OF DEATH=


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