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Ryan Thomas Gosling ( ; born November 12, 1980) is a Canadian actor. His work includes both
independent film An independent film, independent movie, indie film, or indie movie is a feature film or short film that is film production, produced outside the Major film studios, major film studio system in addition to being produced and distributed by independ ...
s and major studio features, and his accolades include a
Golden Globe Award The Golden Globe Awards are awards presented for excellence in both international film and television. It is an annual award ceremony held since 1944 to honor artists and professionals and their work. The ceremony is normally held every Janua ...
, in addition to nominations for three
Academy Awards The Academy Awards, commonly known as the Oscars, are awards for artistic and technical merit in film. They are presented annually by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) in the United States in recognition of excellence in ...
, a
Primetime Emmy Award The Primetime Emmy Awards, or Primetime Emmys, are part of the extensive range of Emmy Awards for artistic and technical merit for the American television industry. Owned and operated by the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (ATAS), the P ...
, and two British Academy Film Awards. Gosling began his acting career when he was 13 on
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's '' The All New Mickey Mouse Club'' (1993–1995), and went on to appear in other family entertainment programs, including ''
Are You Afraid of the Dark? ''Are You Afraid of the Dark?'' is a children's horror anthology television series created by D. J. MacHale and Ned Kandel. The original series aired on Nickelodeon in the United States from August 15, 1992 to February 3, 1996, and also o ...
'' (1995) and '' Goosebumps'' (1996). His breakthrough role was that of a Jewish
neo-Nazi Neo-Nazism comprises the post–World War II militant, social, and political movements that seek to revive and reinstate Nazism, Nazi ideology. Neo-Nazis employ their ideology to promote hatred and Supremacism#Racial, racial supremacy (ofte ...
in '' The Believer'' (2001), and he gained stardom in the 2004 romantic drama '' The Notebook''. He starred in the critically acclaimed independent dramas '' Half Nelson'' (2006), for which he was nominated for the
Academy Award for Best Actor The Academy Award for Best Actor is an award presented annually by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS). It has been awarded since the 1st Academy Awards to an actor who has delivered an outstanding performance in a leading ...
; '' Lars and the Real Girl'' (2007); and '' Blue Valentine'' (2010). In 2011, Gosling had three mainstream successes in the romantic comedy '' Crazy, Stupid, Love'', the political drama '' The Ides of March'', and the action thriller '' Drive''. After making his directorial debut with '' Lost River'' (2014), he starred in the financial satire '' The Big Short'' (2015), the action comedy '' The Nice Guys'' (2016), and the romantic musical '' La La Land'' (2016), the latter won him a
Golden Globe The Golden Globe Awards are awards presented for excellence in both international film and television. It is an annual award ceremony held since 1944 to honor artists and professionals and their work. The ceremony is normally held every Januar ...
and a second Academy Award nomination for Best Actor. Further acclaim followed with the science fiction film '' Blade Runner 2049'' (2017) and the biopic '' First Man'' (2018). In 2023, he played Ken in the fantasy comedy ''
Barbie Barbie is a fashion doll created by American businesswoman Ruth Handler, manufactured by American toy and entertainment company Mattel and introduced on March 9, 1959. The toy was based on the German Bild Lilli doll, Bild Lilli doll which Hand ...
'', which emerged as his highest-grossing release and earned him a nomination for the
Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor The Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor is an award presented annually by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS). It has been awarded since the 9th Academy Awards to an actor who has delivered an outstanding performance in ...
. Gosling's band, Dead Man's Bones, released their self-titled debut album and toured North America in 2009. He is a co-owner of Tagine, a Moroccan restaurant in
Beverly Hills, California Beverly Hills is a city located in Los Angeles County, California, United States. A notable and historic suburb of Los Angeles, it is located just southwest of the Hollywood Hills, approximately northwest of downtown Los Angeles. Beverly Hills ...
. He is a supporter of PETA, Invisible Children, and the Enough Project and has traveled to
Chad Chad, officially the Republic of Chad, is a landlocked country at the crossroads of North Africa, North and Central Africa. It is bordered by Libya to Chad–Libya border, the north, Sudan to Chad–Sudan border, the east, the Central Afric ...
,
Uganda Uganda, officially the Republic of Uganda, is a landlocked country in East Africa. It is bordered to the east by Kenya, to the north by South Sudan, to the west by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, to the south-west by Rwanda, and to the ...
and eastern Congo to raise awareness about conflicts in the regions. He has been involved in peace promotion efforts in Africa for over a decade. He is in a relationship with actress Eva Mendes, with whom he has two daughters.


Early life

Ryan Thomas Gosling was born on November 12, 1980, at St. Joseph's Hospital in
London, Ontario London is a city in southwestern Ontario, Canada, along the Quebec City–Windsor Corridor. The city had a population of 422,324 according to the 2021 Canadian census. London is at the confluence of the Thames River (Ontario), Thames River and N ...
; he is the son of Thomas Ray Gosling, a travelling salesman for a
paper mill A paper mill is a factory devoted to making paper from vegetable fibres such as wood pulp, old rags, and other ingredients. Prior to the invention and adoption of the Fourdrinier machine and other types of paper machine that use an endless belt ...
, and Donna, a secretary. Both of his parents are of part French Canadian descent, along with some German, English, Scottish, and Irish. He and his family were members of
the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, informally known as the LDS Church or Mormon Church, is a Nontrinitarianism, nontrinitarian Restorationism, restorationist Christianity, Christian Christian denomination, denomination and the ...
, and Gosling has said that the religion influenced every aspect of their lives. Because of his father's work, they "moved around a lot" and Gosling lived in both
Cornwall, Ontario Cornwall is a city in Eastern Ontario, Canada, situated where the provinces of Central Canada, Ontario and Quebec and the U.S. state of New York (state), New York converge. It is Ontario's easternmost city. Although it is the seat of the United ...
, and
Burlington, Ontario Burlington, officially the City of Burlington, is a city and List of municipalities in Ontario#Lower-tier municipalities, lower-tier municipality in Regional Municipality of Halton, Halton Region at the west end of Lake Ontario in Ontario, Can ...
. His parents divorced when he was 13, and he and his older sister Mandi lived with their mother, an experience Gosling has credited with programming him "to think like a girl". Gosling was educated at Gladstone Public School, Cornwall Collegiate and Vocational School and Lester B. Pearson High School. As a child, he watched '' Dick Tracy'' and was inspired to become an actor. He "hated" being a child, was bullied in elementary school, and had no friends until he was "14 or 15". In grade one, having been heavily influenced by the action film ''
First Blood ''First Blood'' is a 1982 American war action film starring Sylvester Stallone as Vietnam War veteran John Rambo. Directed by Ted Kotcheff, the film was co-written by Michael Kozoll, William Sackheim, and Stallone, deriving from the 1972 no ...
'', he took steak knives to school and threw them at other children during recess. This incident led to a suspension. He was unable to read, and was evaluated for
attention deficit hyperactivity disorder Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterised by symptoms of inattention, hyperactivity, impulsivity, and emotional dysregulation that are excessive and pervasive, impairing in multiple con ...
(ADHD), but was not diagnosed with it and, contrary to false reports, never took medication. His mother left her job and home-schooled him for a year. He has said homeschooling gave him "a sense of autonomy that I've never really lost". Gosling performed in front of audiences from an early age, encouraged by his sister being a performer. He and his sister sang together at weddings; he performed with Elvis Perry, his uncle's
Elvis Presley Elvis Aaron Presley (January 8, 1935 – August 16, 1977) was an American singer and actor. Referred to as the "King of Rock and Roll", he is regarded as Cultural impact of Elvis Presley, one of the most significant cultural figures of the ...
tribute act, and was involved with a local
ballet company A ballet company is a type of dance troupe that performs classical ballet, neoclassical ballet, and/or contemporary ballet in the European tradition, plus managerial and support staff. Most major ballet companies employ dancers on a year-rou ...
. Performing boosted his self-confidence as it was the only thing for which he received praise. He developed an idiosyncratic accent because, as a child, he thought having a Canadian accent did not sound "tough". He began to model his accent on that of
Marlon Brando Marlon Brando Jr. (April 3, 1924 – July 1, 2004) was an American actor. Widely regarded as one of the greatest cinema actors of the 20th century,''Movies in American History: An Encyclopedia''
. Gosling dropped out of high school at age 17 to focus on his acting career.


Acting career


1993–1999: Career beginnings

In 1993, 12-year-old Gosling attended an open audition in
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for
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's revival of ''
The Mickey Mouse Club ''The Mickey Mouse Club'' is an American variety television show that aired intermittently from 1955 to 1996 and briefly returned to social media in 2017. Created by Walt Disney and produced by Walt Disney Productions, the program was first te ...
''. After he successfully auditioned, he was given a two-year contract as a Mouseketeer and subsequently moved to
Orlando, Florida Orlando ( ) is a city in and the county seat of Orange County, Florida, United States. The city proper had a population of 307,573 at the 2020 census, making it the fourth-most populous city in Florida behind Jacksonville, Florida, Jacksonville ...
to film the show. He has said he appeared on-screen infrequently because other children were considered more talented. Nonetheless, he has described the job as the greatest two years of his life. Fellow cast members on the show included
Britney Spears Britney Jean Spears (born December 2, 1981) is an American singer. Often referred to as the "Princess of Pop", she has sold over 150 million records worldwide, making her one of the world's best-selling music artists. Cultural impact of Brit ...
,
Christina Aguilera Christina María Aguilera ( , ; born December 18, 1980) is an American singer-songwriter, actress and television personality. Recognized as Cultural impact of Christina Aguilera, an influential figure in music and having received Public imag ...
,
Justin Timberlake Justin Randall Timberlake (born January 31, 1981) is an American singer, songwriter, actor, record producer, and dancer. Dubbed the "Honorific nicknames in popular music, Prince of Pop", ''Billboard (magazine), Billboard'' honored him as the b ...
, Keri Russell, and JC Chasez. Gosling has credited the experience with instilling in him "this great sense of focus." He was specifically close friends with Timberlake because they lived together for six months during the second year of the show. Timberlake's mother became Gosling's legal guardian after his own mother had to return to Canada for work reasons. Gosling has said that even though he and Timberlake talk infrequently, they are still supportive of each other. After the show ended in 1995, Gosling returned to Canada, where he continued to appear in family entertainment television series, including ''
Are You Afraid of the Dark? ''Are You Afraid of the Dark?'' is a children's horror anthology television series created by D. J. MacHale and Ned Kandel. The original series aired on Nickelodeon in the United States from August 15, 1992 to February 3, 1996, and also o ...
'' (1995) and '' Goosebumps'' (1996), and starred in '' Breaker High'' (1997–98) as Sean Hanlon. When he was 18, he moved to New Zealand to film the
Fox Kids Fox Kids (originally known as Fox Children's Network and later as the Fox Kids Network; stylized in all caps) was an American children's programming block and branding for a slate of international children's television channels. Originally a j ...
adventure series '' Young Hercules'' (1998–1999) as the title character. He later said that he initially enjoyed working on the series, but began to care too much about the show, so it was no longer fun for him. He wanted to spend more time sitting with and devising a character as well as play a variety of roles, so he chose to transition into film and not accept any more television work.


2000–2003: Independent films

Aged 19, Gosling decided to move into "serious acting". He was dropped by his agent and initially found it difficult to secure work because of the "stigma" attached to children's television. After a supporting role in the football drama ''
Remember the Titans ''Remember the Titans'' is a 2000 American biographical sports drama film produced by Jerry Bruckheimer and directed by Boaz Yakin. The screenplay by Gregory Allen Howard is loosely based on the true story of coach Herman Boone, portrayed b ...
'', he secured a lead role as a young Jewish
neo-Nazi Neo-Nazism comprises the post–World War II militant, social, and political movements that seek to revive and reinstate Nazism, Nazi ideology. Neo-Nazis employ their ideology to promote hatred and Supremacism#Racial, racial supremacy (ofte ...
in 2001's '' The Believer''. Director Henry Bean said he cast Gosling because his Mormon upbringing helped him understand the isolation of Judaism. Kevin Thomas of the ''
Los Angeles Times The ''Los Angeles Times'' is an American Newspaper#Daily, daily newspaper that began publishing in Los Angeles, California, in 1881. Based in the Greater Los Angeles city of El Segundo, California, El Segundo since 2018, it is the List of new ...
'' praised an "electrifying and terrifyingly convincing" performance while
Todd McCarthy Todd McCarthy (born February 16, 1950) is an American film critic and author. He wrote for '' Variety'' for 31 years as its chief film critic until 2010. In October of that year, he joined ''The Hollywood Reporter'', where he subsequently served ...
of '' Variety'' felt his "dynamite performance" could "scarcely have been better". The film won the Grand Jury Prize at the
Sundance Film Festival The Sundance Film Festival is an annual film festival organized by the Sundance Institute. It is the largest independent film festival in the United States, with 423,234 combined in-person and online viewership in 2023. The festival has acted ...
and Gosling has described it as "the film that kind of gift-wrapped for me the career that I have now." Because of the controversial nature of the film, it was difficult to secure financial backing for a full theatrical release,Camhi, Leslie (March 17, 2002). "In a Skinhead's Tale, a Picture of Both Hate and Love". ''
The New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''NYT'') is an American daily newspaper based in New York City. ''The New York Times'' covers domestic, national, and international news, and publishes opinion pieces, investigative reports, and reviews. As one of ...
''.
and the film was instead broadcast on Showtime. The film was a commercial failure, grossing $416,925 worldwide from a production budget of $1.5 million. In 2002, Gosling co-starred in the psychological thriller '' Murder by Numbers'' with
Sandra Bullock Sandra Annette Bullock (; born July 26, 1964) is an American actress and film producer. The List of highest-paid film actors, highest-paid actress of 2010 and 2014, Sandra Bullock filmography, Bullock's filmography spans both comedy and drama, ...
and Michael Pitt, where Gosling and Pitt portrayed a pair of high school seniors who believe they can commit the perfect murder. Bullock played the detective tasked with investigating the crime.
Lisa Schwarzbaum Lisa Schwarzbaum (born July 5, 1952) is an American film critic. She joined ''Entertainment Weekly'' as a senior writer in 1991, working as a film critic for the magazine alongside Owen Gleiberman from 1995 to 2013. Early life Lisa Schwarzbaum w ...
of ''
Entertainment Weekly ''Entertainment Weekly'' (sometimes abbreviated as ''EW'') is an American online magazine, digital-only entertainment magazine based in New York City, published by Dotdash Meredith, that covers film, television, music, Broadway theatre, books, ...
'' described him as "a phenomenal talent even in junk like this" while Todd McCarthy felt that the "strong and "charismatic" young actors were "let down by the screenplay". The film was a minor commercial success, grossing $56 million worldwide from a production budget of $50 million. His second screen appearance of 2002 was in '' The Slaughter Rule'' with David Morse which explores the relationship between a high school football player and his troubled coach in rural
Montana Montana ( ) is a landlocked U.S. state, state in the Mountain states, Mountain West subregion of the Western United States. It is bordered by Idaho to the west, North Dakota to the east, South Dakota to the southeast, Wyoming to the south, an ...
. Gosling has said that the opportunity to work with Morse made him "a better actor".
Stephen Holden Stephen Holden (born July 18, 1941) is an American writer, poet, and music and film critic. Biography Holden earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from Yale University in 1963. He worked as a photo editor, staff writer, and eventually be ...
of ''
The New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''NYT'') is an American daily newspaper based in New York City. ''The New York Times'' covers domestic, national, and international news, and publishes opinion pieces, investigative reports, and reviews. As one of ...
'' described Gosling as "major star material" with a "rawness and an intensity that recall the young
Matt Dillon Matthew Raymond Dillon (born February 18, 1964) is an American actor. He has received various accolades, including a Screen Actors Guild Award and two Independent Spirit Awards alongside nominations for an Academy Award, a Golden Globe Award, ...
" while Manohla Dargis of the ''Los Angeles Times'' was won over by his "raw talent". The film was released in just three US theatres and grossed $13,411. In 2003, Gosling starred in '' The United States of Leland'' as a teenager imprisoned for the murder of a disabled boy. He was drawn to the role because it was unusual to find a character that was "emotionally disconnected for the whole film." Critic
Roger Ebert Roger Joseph Ebert ( ; June 18, 1942 – April 4, 2013) was an American Film criticism, film critic, film historian, journalist, essayist, screenwriter and author. He wrote for the ''Chicago Sun-Times'' from 1967 until his death in 2013. Eber ...
felt that the "gifted actor does everything that can be done with Leland, but the character comes from a writer's conceits, not from life." A. O. Scott of ''The New York Times'' noted that he "struggles to rescue Leland from the clutches of cliché" while David Rooney of ''Variety'' felt that his "one-note, blankly disturbed act has none of the magnetic edge of his breakthrough work in ''The Believer''". The film grossed $343,847 in the United States and was not released overseas.


2004–2009: ''The Notebook'' and ''Half Nelson''

Gosling gained mainstream attention in 2004 after starring opposite fellow Canadian Rachel McAdams in the romantic drama film '' The Notebook'', a film adaptation of
Nicholas Sparks Nicholas Charles Sparks (born December 31, 1965) is an American novelist, screenwriter, and film producer. He has published twenty-three novels, all ''New York Times'' bestsellers, and two works of nonfiction, with over 115 million copies sold ...
' novel of the same name, directed by Nick Cassavetes. Gosling played Noah Calhoun and commented on the role: "It gave me an opportunity to play a character over a period of time – from 1940 to 1946 – that was quite profound and formative." He sought to imbue his character with "quiet strength" and was inspired by Sam Shepard's performance in '' Days of Heaven''. Shepard co-starred in ''The Notebook''. Filming took place in
Charleston, South Carolina Charleston is the List of municipalities in South Carolina, most populous city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. The city lies just south of the geographical midpoint of South Carolina's coastline on Charleston Harbor, an inlet of the Atla ...
, in late 2002 and early 2003. Although Gosling and McAdams became romantically involved in 2005, they had a combative relationship on the set. "We inspired the worst in each other," Gosling has said. "It was a strange experience, making a love story and not getting along with your co-star in any way." At one point, Gosling asked Cassavetes to "bring somebody else in for my off-camera shot" because he felt McAdams was uncooperative. ''The New York Times'' praised the "spontaneous and combustible" performances of the two leads and noted that, "against your better judgment, you root for the pair to beat the odds against them." Desson Thomson of ''
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'' praised Gosling's "beguiling unaffectedness" and noted that "it's hard not to like these two or begrudge them a great love together". The film grossed over $115 million worldwide. Gosling won four
Teen Choice Awards The Teen Choice Awards were an annual awards show that aired on the Fox television network between 1999 and 2019. The awards, based on a popularity vote that could be overridden by the producerswho reserved the right to choose the winnerscovered ...
and an MTV Movie Award. ''Entertainment Weekly'' has said that the movie contains the All-Time Best Movie Kiss while the ''Los Angeles Times'' has included a scene from the film in a list of the 50 Classic Movie Kisses. ''The Notebook'' has appeared on many Most Romantic Movies lists. In 2005, Gosling appeared as a disturbed young art student in ''
Stay Stay may refer to: Places * Stay, Kentucky, an unincorporated community in the US Law * Stay of execution, a ruling to temporarily suspend the enforcement of a court judgment * Stay of proceedings, a ruling halting further legal process in a tr ...
'', a psychological thriller film co-starring Naomi Watts and Ewan McGregor. In an uncomplimentary review of the film, Manohla Dargis of ''The New York Times'' stated that Gosling "like his fans, deserves better." Todd McCarthy remarked that the "capable" Gosling and McGregor "deliver nothing new from what they've shown before". The film grossed $8 million worldwide. Gosling was unfazed by the negative reaction: "I had a kid come up to me on the street, 10 years old, and he says, 'Are you that guy from ''Stay''? What the f--- was that movie about?' I think that's great. I'm just as proud if someone says, 'Hey, you made me sick in that movie,' as if they say I made them cry." Gosling next starred in 2006's '' Half Nelson'' as a drug-addicted junior high school teacher who forms a bond with a young student. To prepare for the role, Gosling moved to New York for one month before shooting began. He lived in a small apartment in Brooklyn and spent time shadowing an eighth grade teacher. Kenneth Turan of the ''Los Angeles Times'' described it as "a mesmerizing performance ... that shows the kind of deep understanding of character few actors manage." Ruthe Stein of the ''
San Francisco Chronicle The ''San Francisco Chronicle'' is a newspaper serving primarily the San Francisco Bay Area of Northern California. It was founded in 1865 as ''The Daily Dramatic Chronicle'' by teenage brothers Charles de Young and M. H. de Young, Michael H. ...
'' drew comparisons with
Marlon Brando Marlon Brando Jr. (April 3, 1924 – July 1, 2004) was an American actor. Widely regarded as one of the greatest cinema actors of the 20th century,''Movies in American History: An Encyclopedia''
and asserted that "nobody who cares about great acting will want to miss his performance". Roger Ebert believed that his performance "proves he's one of the finest actors working in contemporary movies." Gosling garnered a nomination for the
Academy Award for Best Actor The Academy Award for Best Actor is an award presented annually by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS). It has been awarded since the 1st Academy Awards to an actor who has delivered an outstanding performance in a leading ...
. The film grossed $4 million at the worldwide box office. In 2007, he was invited to join the
Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS, often pronounced ; also known as simply the Academy or the Motion Picture Academy) is a professional honorary organization in Beverly Hills, California, U.S., with the stated goal of adva ...
. Gosling played an introvert who falls for a sex doll in the 2007 film '' Lars and the Real Girl''. He drew inspiration from
James Stewart James Maitland Stewart (May 20, 1908 – July 2, 1997) was an American actor and military aviator. Known for his distinctive drawl and everyman screen persona, Stewart's film career spanned 80 films from 1935 to 1991. With the strong morali ...
's performance in '' Harvey''. Roger Ebert felt "a film about a life-sized love doll" had been turned into "a life-affirming statement of hope" because of "a performance by Ryan Gosling that says things that cannot be said". Ann Hornaday of ''The Washington Post'' described his performance as "a small miracle ... because he changes and grows so imperceptibly before our eyes." However, Manohla Dargis of ''The New York Times'' felt "the performance is a rare miscalculation in a mostly brilliant career." He was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy and a Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role. The film was a box office failure, failing to recoup its $12 million production budget. Gosling starred opposite
Anthony Hopkins Sir Philip Anthony Hopkins (born 31 December 1937) is a Welsh actor. Considered one of Britain's most recognisable and prolific actors, he is known for List of Anthony Hopkins performances, his performances on the screen and stage. Hopkins ha ...
in the 2007 courtroom thriller ''
Fracture Fracture is the appearance of a crack or complete separation of an object or material into two or more pieces under the action of stress (mechanics), stress. The fracture of a solid usually occurs due to the development of certain displacemen ...
''. He originally turned down the role, but changed his mind when Hopkins signed on. Gosling noted that he was drawn to his character, Willie, because he had flaws and seemed like a real person. He spent time shadowing lawyers and observing courtroom proceedings in preparation for the role. Claudia Puig of ''
USA Today ''USA Today'' (often stylized in all caps) is an American daily middle-market newspaper and news broadcasting company. Founded by Al Neuharth in 1980 and launched on September 14, 1982, the newspaper operates from Gannett's corporate headq ...
'' declared that "watching a veteran like Hopkins verbally joust with one of the best young actors in Hollywood is worth the price of admission". Manohla Dargis of ''The New York Times'' felt it was a treat to watch "the spectacle of that crafty scene stealer Anthony Hopkins mixing it up with that equally cunning screen nibbler Ryan Gosling ... Each actor is playing a pulp type rather than a fully formed individual, but both fill in the blanks with an alchemical mix of professional and personal charisma." The film grossed over $91 million worldwide. Gosling was scheduled to begin filming '' The Lovely Bones'' in 2007. However, he left the production two days before filming began because of "creative differences" and was replaced by
Mark Wahlberg Mark Robert Michael Wahlberg (born June 5, 1971), formerly known by his stage name Marky Mark, is an American actor, producer, and former rapper. Mark Wahlberg filmography, His work as a leading actor, leading man spans the Comedy film, come ...
. Gosling was cast as the father of the murdered teenage girl and initially felt he was too young for the role. The director Peter Jackson and the producer Fran Walsh persuaded him that he could be aged with hair and make-up changes. Before shooting began, Gosling gained 60 pounds (27 kilograms) in weight and grew a beard to appear older. Walsh then "began to feel he was not right. It was our blindness, the desire to make it work no matter what." Gosling later said, "We didn't talk very much during the preproduction process, which was the problem ... I just showed up on set, and I had gotten it wrong. Then I was fat and unemployed." He has said the experience was "an important realisation for me: not to let your ego get involved. It's OK to be too young for a role."


2010–2012: Widespread recognition

Following a three-year absence from the screen, Gosling starred in five films in 2010 and 2011. "I've never had more energy," Gosling said. "I'm more excited to make films than I used to be. I used to kind of dread it. It was so emotional and taxing. But I've found a way to have fun while doing it. And I think that translates into the films." He has also spoken of feeling depressed when not working. In 2010, he starred opposite Michelle Williams (actress), Michelle Williams in Derek Cianfrance's directorial debut, the marital drama '' Blue Valentine''. The low-budget film was mainly improvised and Gosling has said "you had to remind yourself you were making a film". Mick LaSalle of the ''San Francisco Chronicle'' felt he "brings a preternatural understanding of people to his performance" while A.O. Scott of ''The New York Times'' found him to be "convincing as the run-down, desperate, older Dean, and maybe a bit less so as the younger version". Owen Gleiberman of ''Entertainment Weekly'' wrote that he "plays Dean as a snarky working-class hipster, but when his anger is unleashed, the performance turns powerful." However, Wesley Morris of ''The Boston Globe'' felt the performance was an example of "hipsterism misdirected". He was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Drama. The film was a box office success, grossing over $12 million worldwide from a production budget of $1 million. Gosling's second on-screen appearance of 2010 was in the mystery film ''All Good Things (film), All Good Things'' with Kirsten Dunst, based on a true story. He played the role of New York real-estate heir David Marks, who was investigated for the disappearance of his wife (played by Dunst). Gosling found the filming process to be a "dark experience" and did not undertake any promotional duties for the film. When asked if he was proud of the film, he said, "I'm proud of what Kirsten does in the movie." Peter Travers of ''Rolling Stone'' wrote that he "gets so deep into character you can feel his nerve endings." Mick LaSalle of the ''San Francisco Chronicle'' found the "chameleonic Gosling is completely convincing as this empty shell of a man". Betsy Sharkey of the ''Los Angeles Times'' felt that the film belonged to Dunst, but praised Gosling's performance. The film grossed $644,535 worldwide. Also in 2010, Gosling narrated and produced ''ReGeneration'', a documentary that explores the cynicism in today's youth towards social and political causes. 2011 saw Gosling expand his horizons by appearing in three diverse, high-profile roles. He co-starred in his first comedic role in the romantic comedy-drama '' Crazy, Stupid, Love'', with Steve Carell and Emma Stone. Gosling took cocktail-making classes at a Los Angeles bar in preparation for his role as a smooth-talking ladies' man. Ann Hornaday of ''The Washington Post'' said his "seductive command presence suggests we may have found our next George Clooney". Peter Travers declared him "a comic knockout" while Claudia Puig of ''USA Today'' felt he reveals a "surprising" "knack for comedy." He was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy. The film was a box office success, grossing over $142 million worldwide. With adjustments for inflation, it is the fourth most successful of Gosling's career. Gosling's first action role was in '' Drive'', based on a novel by James Sallis. Gosling played a Hollywood stunt performer who moonlights as a crime scene getaway, getaway driver, and he has described the film as a "violent John Hughes (filmmaker), John Hughes movie": "I always thought if ''Pretty in Pink'' had head-smashing it would be perfect". Roger Ebert compared Gosling to Steve McQueen and stated that he "embodies presence and sincerity ... he has shown a gift for finding arresting, powerful characters [and] can achieve just about anything. Joe Morgenstern of ''The Wall Street Journal'' pondered "the ongoing mystery of how he manages to have so much impact with so little apparent effort. It's irresistible to liken his economical style to that of
Marlon Brando Marlon Brando Jr. (April 3, 1924 – July 1, 2004) was an American actor. Widely regarded as one of the greatest cinema actors of the 20th century,''Movies in American History: An Encyclopedia''
." The film was a box office success, grossing $81 million worldwide from a production budget of $15 million. In his final appearance of 2011, Gosling co-starred with Philip Seymour Hoffman in the political drama '' The Ides of March'' directed by George Clooney, in which he played an ambitious press secretary. Gosling partly decided to do the film to become more politically aware: "I'm Canadian and so American politics aren't really in my wheelhouse." Joe Morganstern stated that Gosling and Hoffman "are eminently well equipped to play variations on their characters' main themes. Yet neither actor has great material to conjure with in the script." In a generally tepid review, Kenneth Turan of the ''Los Angeles Times'' asserted that it was "certainly involving to see the charismatic Gosling verbally spar with superb character actors like Hoffman and [Paul] Giamatti." Mick LaSalle of the ''San Francisco Chronicle'' felt there was "one aspect to the character that Gosling can't quite nail down, that might simply be outside his sphere, which is idealism." He was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Drama. The film grossed $66 million worldwide. In 2012, Gosling filmed Terrence Malick's ''Song to Song'', but the film would not be released until 2017.


2013–2014: Mixed critical reception and directorial debut

In 2013's crime thriller ''Gangster Squad (film), Gangster Squad'', Gosling portrayed Sgt. Jerry Wooters, a 1940s Los Angeles Police Department, LAPD officer who attempts to outsmart mob boss Mickey Cohen (played by Sean Penn). He was reunited with Emma Stone as his love interest, after their earlier pairing in ''Crazy, Stupid, Love''. Stone has said she hopes they will find more projects to work together on. A.O. Scott of ''The New York Times'' described the film as an excuse for the cast "to earn some money trying out funny voices and suppressing whatever sense of nuance they might possess." Christy Lemire of ''The Boston Globe'' criticized Gosling's "weird, whispery voice" and his "barely developed, one-note" character. However, Betsy Sharkey of the ''Los Angeles Times'' felt that there was "a seductive power" in the scenes shared by Gosling and Stone: "But like too much else in the film, it's a scenario that is only half played out." In ''The Place Beyond the Pines'', a generational drama directed by ''Blue Valentine''s Derek Cianfrance, Gosling played Luke, a motorcycle stunt rider who robs banks to provide for his family. The shoot was described by Gosling as "the best experience I have ever had making a film." A. O. Scott of ''The New York Times'' praised his performance, writing: "Mr. Gosling's cool self-possession — the only thing he was allowed to display in "Drive" — is complicated, made interesting, by hints of childlike innocence and vulnerability." Scott Foundas of ''The Village Voice'' was unimpressed: "Gosling's character verges on parody ... Gosling uses a soft, wounded half-whisper that tells us this is all some kind of put-on ... It's a close variation on the role Gosling played to stronger effect in Nicolas Winding Refn's existential Hollywood thriller, ''Drive'', where it was clear the character was meant to be an abstraction." David Denby of ''The New Yorker'' remarked that he "reprises his inexorable-loner routine". The film grossed $35 million worldwide from a production budget of $15 million. Later in 2013, Gosling starred in the violent revenge drama ''Only God Forgives'', directed by ''Drive''s Nicolas Winding Refn. Gosling undertook Muay Thai training in preparation for the role, and has described the script as "the strangest thing I've ever read". Both the film and his performance drew negative reviews. David Edelstein of ''New York'' magazine stated, "Gosling looked like a major actor as a skinhead in ''The Believer'' and a star in ''Half Nelson''. Then he stopped acting and started posing. His performance in ''Only God Forgives'' (would God forgive that title?) is one long, moist stare". Stephen Holden of the ''New York Times'' criticized Gosling's inability "to give his automaton any suggestion of an inner life". Peter Travers of ''Rolling Stone'' commented that Gosling, while "meant to be a blank page for us to write on, often looks merely blank". In early 2013, Gosling announced that he was taking a break from acting, stating, "I've lost perspective on what I'm doing. I think it's good for me to take a break and reassess why I'm doing it and how I'm doing it. And I think this is probably a good way to learn about that." Gosling's directorial debut '' Lost River'' competed in the Un Certain Regard section at the 2014 Cannes Film Festival. The "fantasy noir", written by Gosling, stars Christina Hendricks, Ben Mendelsohn, and Matt Smith (actor), Matt Smith. The film received largely unfavorable reviews. Peter Bradshaw of ''The Guardian'' found it "insufferably conceited" and remarked that Gosling had lost "any sense of proportion or humility." Robbie Collin of ''The Daily Telegraph'' described ''Lost River'' as "mind-bogglingly pleased with itself", while ''Variety''s Justin Chang dismissed the "derivative" film as a "train-wreck."


2015–present: Established actor

In 2015, Gosling played a bond salesman in the ensemble financial satire '' The Big Short'', a Best Picture nominee at the 88th Academy Awards, 2016 Academy Awards. David Sims of ''The Atlantic'' felt that he was "smarmily funny, somehow simultaneously magnetic and repulsive; after years wandering the halls of mediocre art cinema, it's wonderful to see him cut loose again." Peter Travers of ''Rolling Stone'' said: "Gosling, a virtuoso of verbal sleaze, talks directly to the camera, and he's volcanically fierce and funny." The following year, Gosling starred in the black comedy '' The Nice Guys'', opposite Russell Crowe, and in Damien Chazelle's musical '' La La Land'', for which he won the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy and received his second
Academy Award for Best Actor The Academy Award for Best Actor is an award presented annually by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS). It has been awarded since the 1st Academy Awards to an actor who has delivered an outstanding performance in a leading ...
nomination. Robbie Collin praised his chemistry with co-star Emma Stone, writing: "Both stars are so attuned to each other's pace and flow that their repartee just seems to tumble out, perfectly formed." It emerged as one of his most commercially successful films, with earnings of over $440 million against its $30 million budget. Gosling was signed on to work with Terrence Malick in 2004 on the biographical film ''Che (2008 film), Che'', but later dropped out. He later starred in Malick's ''Song to Song'' (2017), which had been filmed in 2012, and co-starred Rooney Mara, Michael Fassbender, and Natalie Portman. Also in 2017, he starred in '' Blade Runner 2049'', a sequel to the 1982 science fiction film ''Blade Runner'', directed by Denis Villeneuve and co-starring Harrison Ford, who reprised his role as Rick Deckard. Gosling's role was as Officer K, a "blade runner" working for the LAPD whose job it is to kill rogue bioengineered humans known as replicants. A. O. Scott found him to be perfectly cast, adding that his "ability to elicit sympathy while seeming too distracted to want it – his knack for making boredom look like passion and vice versa – makes him a perfect warm-blooded robot for our time". Despite being Gosling's largest box office opening, grossing $31.5 million domestically, the film generally underperformed at the box office. In 2018, Gosling portrayed Neil Armstrong, the astronaut who became the first man to walk on the Moon in 1969, in Chazelle's biopic '' First Man'', based on the book ''First Man: The Life of Neil A. Armstrong''. Writing for IndieWire, Michael Nordine commended him for bringing "quiet charisma" and "grace" to his role, while Nicholas Barber of the BBC hailed him as the "best deadpan actor in the business". He received a nomination for the Critics' Choice Movie Award for Best Actor. After a four-year break from film, Gosling returned starring in the 2022 spy-action thriller The Gray Man (2022 film), ''The Gray Man'', opposite Chris Evans (actor), Chris Evans and Ana de Armas. The film had a limited theatrical release and was distributed by Netflix. Despite negative reviews from critics, who described the film as "mediocre" and full of cliches, a sequel has been announced and is in development. In the following year, Gosling starred as Ken in Greta Gerwig's fantasy comedy ''
Barbie Barbie is a fashion doll created by American businesswoman Ruth Handler, manufactured by American toy and entertainment company Mattel and introduced on March 9, 1959. The toy was based on the German Bild Lilli doll, Bild Lilli doll which Hand ...
'', opposite Margot Robbie in the Barbie, title role. He also sang the song "I'm Just Ken" for the film's Barbie the Album, accompanying soundtrack as well as a cover of Push (Matchbox Twenty song), "Push" by Matchbox Twenty. His performance was acclaimed, with Anthony Lane of ''The New Yorker'' lauding his comedic performance as "peak Gosling", and ''Vulture (website), Vulture'' Alison Willmore wrote that he "comes close to stealing the movie". He received Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture, Golden Globe, Critics' Choice Movie Award for Best Supporting Actor, Critics' Choice, Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role, SAG, BAFTA Award for Best Supporting Actor, BAFTA, and Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor, Academy Award nominations for his performance. He performed "I'm Just Ken" live at the 96th Academy Awards, where it was nominated for Academy Award for Best Original Song, Best Original Song. Gosling next starred in the action comedy film ''The Fall Guy (2024 film), The Fall Guy'' alongside Emily Blunt. It received positive reviews from critics but did not perform well commercially. Gosling will next produce and star in ''Project Hail Mary (film), Project Hail Mary'', based on Andy Weir's science fiction Project Hail Mary, novel of the same name.


Music career

In 2000, Gosling published a solo album with the misspelled title "Angel With Tatooed Wings". The track "Put Me in the Car" from this album was made available for download on the Internet in 2007. Also that year, Gosling and his friend Zach Shields formed the indie rock band Dead Man's Bones. The two first met in 2005 when Gosling was dating Rachel McAdams and Shields was dating her sister, Kayleen. They initially conceived of the project as a monster-themed musical but settled on forming a band when they realized putting on a stage production would be too expensive. They recorded their eponymous debut album with the Silverlake Conservatory of Music, Silverlake Conservatory's Children's Choir and learned to play all the instruments themselves. Gosling contributed vocals, piano, guitar, bass guitar and cello to the record. The album was released through ANTI-, ANTI- Records on October 6, 2009. ''Pitchfork Media'' was won over by the "unique, catchy and lovably weird record" while ''Prefix'' felt the album was "rarely kitschy and never inappropriate". However, ''Spin (magazine), Spin'' felt the album "doesn't reverse the rule that actors make dubious pop musicians" and ''Entertainment Weekly'' criticized its "cloying, gothic preciousness". In September 2009, Gosling and Shields had a three-night residency at LA's Bob Baker Marionette Theater where they performed alongside dancing neon skeletons and glowing ghosts. They then conducted a thirteen-date tour of North America in October 2009, using a local children's choir at every show. Instead of an opening act, a talent show was held each night. In September 2010, they performed at Los Angeles' FYF Festival. In 2011, the actor spoke of his intentions to record a second ''Dead Man's Bones'' album. No children's choir will be featured on the follow-up album because "it's not very rock 'n' roll".


Personal life

Gosling previously resided in New York City. He co-owns Tagine, a Moroccan cuisine, Moroccan restaurant in
Beverly Hills, California Beverly Hills is a city located in Los Angeles County, California, United States. A notable and historic suburb of Los Angeles, it is located just southwest of the Hollywood Hills, approximately northwest of downtown Los Angeles. Beverly Hills ...
. He bought the restaurant on an impulse; he said he spent "all [his] money" on it, spent a year doing the renovation work himself, and now oversees the restaurant's menus. Gosling dated his ''Murder by Numbers'' co-star
Sandra Bullock Sandra Annette Bullock (; born July 26, 1964) is an American actress and film producer. The List of highest-paid film actors, highest-paid actress of 2010 and 2014, Sandra Bullock filmography, Bullock's filmography spans both comedy and drama, ...
from 2002 to 2003. He then had a relationship with his ''The Notebook'' co-star Rachel McAdams from 2005 to 2007; they briefly reunited in 2008. Gosling has been in a relationship with his ''The Place Beyond the Pines'' co-star Eva Mendes since September 2011. They have two daughters, born in 2014 and 2016. When asked in a 2022 interview if she and Gosling had married, Mendes said that "I like to keep it all mysterious".


Charity work

Gosling supports various social causes. He has worked with PETA to encourage KFC and McDonald's to use improved methods of chicken slaughter, and on a campaign encouraging dairy farmers to stop de-horning cows. In 2005, Gosling volunteered in Biloxi, Mississippi, in the clean-up effort following Hurricane Katrina. He is a supporter of Invisible Children, Inc., a group that raises awareness about the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) in Central Africa. In 2005, he traveled to Darfur refugee camps in Chad. He was a speaker at Generation Progress, Campus Progress' National Conference in 2008, where he discussed Darfur. As part of his work with the Enough Project, he visited Uganda in 2007 and eastern Congo in 2010.


Accolades

Among List of awards and nominations received by Ryan Gosling, his many accolades, Gosling has received three Academy Award nominations, two British Academy Film Award nominations, one
Golden Globe Award The Golden Globe Awards are awards presented for excellence in both international film and television. It is an annual award ceremony held since 1944 to honor artists and professionals and their work. The ceremony is normally held every Janua ...
from six nominations, and six Screen Actors Guild Award nominations. In 2006, his role as a troubled history teacher in the drama film '' Half Nelson'' gained him nominations for an Academy Award for Best Actor, Academy Award and Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role, Screen Actors Guild Award for Best Actor. He received nominations for an Academy Award, British Academy Film Award, Golden Globe Award and Screen Actors Guild Award for ''La La Land'' (2016) and ''Barbie (2023 film), Barbie'' (2023) in the Best Actor and Best Supporting Actor categories respectively, winning a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor - Motion Picture Musical or Comedy, Golden Globe Award for the former. His performances in '' Lars and the Real Girl'' (2007), '' Blue Valentine'' (2010), '' The Ides of March'', and '' Crazy, Stupid, Love'' (both 2011); also earned him Golden Globe nominations.


References


Further reading

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External links

* * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Gosling, Ryan 1980 births Living people 20th-century Canadian male actors 21st-century Canadian male actors 21st-century Canadian male musicians Best Musical or Comedy Actor Golden Globe (film) winners Canadian documentary film producers Canadian expatriate male actors in the United States Canadian expatriate musicians in the United States Canadian expatriate writers in the United States Canadian folk rock musicians Canadian indie rock musicians Television male child actors Canadian male child actors Canadian male film actors Canadian male television actors Canadian male voice actors Television child actors Canadian people of English descent Canadian people of French descent Canadian people of German descent Canadian people of Irish descent Canadian people of Scottish descent Canadian actors with disabilities Canadian philanthropists Canadian restaurateurs Film producers from Ontario Former Latter Day Saints Franco-Ontarian people Independent Spirit Award for Best Male Lead winners Male actors from Burlington, Ontario Male actors from London, Ontario Male feminists Mouseketeers Musicians from London, Ontario People from Cornwall, Ontario People with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder Writers from London, Ontario Best Supporting Actor AACTA International Award winners