Justin Theroux

Justin Paul Theroux (; born August 10, 1971) is an American actor and filmmaker. He gained recognition for his work with director David Lynch in the mystery film ''Mulholland Drive'' (2001) and the thriller film ''Inland Empire'' (2006). He also appeared in films such as ''Romy and Michele's High School Reunion'' (1997), ''American Psycho'' (2000), '' Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle'' (2003), '' Strangers with Candy'' (2005), ''Miami Vice'' (2006), '' Wanderlust'' (2012), '' The Girl on the Train'' (2016), '' The Spy Who Dumped Me'' (2018), '' On the Basis of Sex'' (2018), and ''Lady and the Tramp'' (2019).

Theroux was a screenwriter for films such as the action comedy ''Tropic Thunder'' (2008), the superhero film ''Iron Man 2'' (2010), and the musical comedy drama ''Rock of Ages'' (2012). He made his directorial debut with the romantic comedy film ''Dedication'' (2007).

Theroux starred as Kevin Garvey in the HBO mystery drama series '' The Leftovers'' (2014–2017), for which he received widespread praise and was nominated for the Critics' Choice Television Award for Best Actor in a Drama Series. He also starred as Dr. James Mantleray in the Netflix comedy drama miniseries ''Maniac'' (2018). In 2021, he portrayed Allie Fox in the Apple TV+ adaptation of '' The Mosquito Coast'', based on the novel by his uncle Paul Theroux.

Early life

Theroux was born on August 10, 1971, in Washington, D.C. His mother, Phyllis Grissim Theroux, is an essayist and author, and his father, Eugene Albert Theroux (born 1938), is a lawyer at Baker & McKenzie in Washington. Theroux is the nephew of the travel writer and novelist Paul Theroux, novelist and poet Alexander Theroux, author Peter Theroux, and novelist and educator Joseph Theroux; he is the cousin of British journalists and documentary filmmakers Louis and Marcel Theroux. His father is of half French-Canadian and half Italian descent. Through his mother, Theroux is a great-great-grandson of financier, banker and railroad magnate H. B. Hollins, and of music critic and author Gustav Kobbé.

Theroux took the name Jesus as his Catholic Confirmation name.

Theroux attended Lafayette Elementary School, Annunciation School, and the Field School. He first started acting while in high school at the Buxton School, in Williamstown, Massachusetts.
He graduated from Bennington College in 1993 with a B.A. in visual arts and drama.

Career

Theroux made his film debut in 1996 in Mary Harron's '' I Shot Andy Warhol''. Since then he has performed both on Broadway, starring in '' Observe the Sons of Ulster Marching Towards the Somme''; in numerous off-Broadway productions; and in comedy films such as '' Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle'', '' The Baxter'', '' Romy and Michelle's High School Reunion'', '' Broken Hearts Club'', and '' Zoolander''.

He has also performed in more serious films such as ''American Psycho.'' He appeared in the film versions of the cult television shows '' Strangers With Candy'' and Michael Mann's ''Miami Vice''. He starred in David Lynch's films ''Mulholland Drive'' and ''Inland Empire''. Also in 2001 Theroux starred in The District Tv series along Craig T. Nelson

In 2003, he was featured in a music video for the British band Muse for their song "Hysteria". Theroux also has appeared on television, having starred in ''The District'' and appeared on episodes of shows such as ''Alias'', '' Ally McBeal'', ''Sex and the City'' (in which he guest starred in two episodes as different characters), and '' Six Feet Under'' (in which he played a recurring character in the third and fourth seasons).

In 2006, he directed his first film, ''Dedication'', which premiered at the 2007 Sundance Film Festival. A fan of the band Deerhoof, Theroux chose them to score ''Dedication''. Theroux also had roles in two other films at the festival, ''Broken English'' and ''The Ten'', in which he played Jesus Christ alongside Gretchen Mol. Theroux co-wrote the Ben Stiller film ''Tropic Thunder'', and also appeared in the behind-the-scenes mockumentary ''Tropic Thunder: Rain of Madness''.

In 2008, Theroux played John Hancock in the HBO miniseries ''John Adams''. In 2009, Theroux made up part of the voice cast for '' Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2''. He also played Justin in ''Parks and Recreation''. Theroux wrote the screenplay for the 2010 film ''Iron Man 2''. Following Theroux's work on ''Tropic Thunder'', actor Robert Downey Jr. recommended Theroux as a screenwriter to the film's director, Jon Favreau.

Theroux returned to acting in the film ''Your Highness'' (2011), as Leezar, an evil wizard who kidnaps a princess. He starred in the 2012 comedy '' Wanderlust'', playing the leader of a hippie commune. By August 2012, Theroux was hired to direct and rewrite the script for the comedy film ''Swear to God''.

In June 2013, Theroux was cast as the lead character in HBO's TV pilot '' The Leftovers'', which HBO ordered as a 10-episode season in September 2013. The series, which premiered June 29, 2014, is based on a book of the same name by Tom Perrotta, which follows a group of people left behind in the suburban community of Mapleton after mysterious disappearances worldwide. Theroux received widespread critical acclaim for his performance throughout the three seasons.

Theroux co-wrote the sequel '' Zoolander 2'' (2016), and reprised his role, Evil DJ, in the film.

Theroux also voiced the character The Evil Lord Garmadon in the 2017 film '' The Lego Ninjago Movie''.

In 2018, Theroux played savant neurochemist James Mantleray in the 2018 Netflix comedy drama miniseries ''Maniac'' opposite Emma Stone and Jonah Hill.

In 2019, Theroux produced the ABC television event Live in Front of a Studio Audience alongside Norman Lear, Jimmy Kimmel and Will Ferrell. Theroux received a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Variety Special (Live) for producing the event. He also voiced Tramp in the Disney+ live-action film ''Lady and the Tramp'', a remake of the 1955 film with the same name.

In 2021, Theroux portrayed brilliant inventor and stubborn idealist Allie Fox in the Apple TV+ television series ''The Mosquito Coast'', a television adaptation from the 1981 novel of the same name written by Paul Theroux, Justin Theroux's uncle. Theroux also served as executive producer for the series.

Personal life

Theroux was in a relationship with stylist and costume designer Heidi Bivens from 1997 until 2011. Theroux began dating actress Jennifer Aniston in 2011, after working with her on the film '' Wanderlust''. They became engaged in August 2012, and got married on August 5, 2015. On February 15, 2018, Theroux and Aniston announced they had separated at the end of 2017.

Filmography

Film

Television

Awards and nominations

List of awards and nominations received by Theroux.

References

External links

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Theroux, Justin
1971 births
Living people
20th-century American male actors
20th-century American writers
21st-century American male actors
21st-century American writers
American film producers
American male film actors
American male stage actors
American male television actors
American people of French-Canadian descent
American people of German descent
American people of Italian descent
American male screenwriters
Bennington College alumni
Male actors from Massachusetts
Male actors from Washington, D.C.
People from Williamstown, Massachusetts
The Field School alumni
Waldorf school alumni
Writers from Massachusetts
Justin
Screenwriters from Massachusetts
Screenwriters from Washington, D.C.
Primetime Emmy Award winners
Buxton School (Massachusetts) alumni