Edward Norton

Edward James Norton Jr. (born August 18, 1969) is an Oscar nominated American actor known for his reluctance to embrace celebrity status. Norton was born in Boston, Massachusetts, and grew up in Columbia, Maryland.

Related Topics:
August 18 - 1969 - Oscar - American - Celebrity - Boston, Massachusetts - Columbia, Maryland

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His mother Robin, an English teacher, died of a brain tumor in 1997; his father, Edward Sr. is an attorney and former federal prosecutor under the Carter administration who now works for the National Trust for Historic Preservation. He is the grandson of developer James Rouse (also see The Rouse Company), who designed the city of Columbia, Maryland (where Norton grew up) and who also helped develop Baltimore's Inner Harbor and Boston's Quincy Market.

Related Topics:
Brain tumor - 1997 - Carter administration - National Trust for Historic Preservation - James Rouse - The Rouse Company - Columbia, Maryland - Baltimore - Inner Harbor - Quincy Market

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Norton graduated from Wilde Lake High School in 1985, then Yale University in 1991 with a B.A. in history.

Related Topics:
Wilde Lake High School - Yale University - B.A. - History

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Norton was launched into the spotlight by 1996's Primal Fear, in which he played a young sociopathic convict, and for which he won a Golden Globe and a nomination for the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor. He earned numerous nominations, including a Best Actor Oscar, for his role as a reformed neo-Nazi in 1998's American History X, and starred in the 1999 adaptation of Chuck Palahniuk's cult hit novel Fight Club. More recently, he played himself in a cameo role in the experimental comedy show Stella, and won critical acclaim for his role as the leper king in Kingdom of Heaven.

Related Topics:
Primal Fear - Sociopath - Golden Globe - Oscar for Best Supporting Actor - Best Actor Oscar - Nazi - American History X - Chuck Palahniuk - Fight Club - Stella - Kingdom of Heaven

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Norton has put time and money toward social activist causes, including improving the quality of living in low-income communities.

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He has dated actresses Salma Hayek and Drew Barrymore, as well as musician/actress Courtney Love, with whom he toured as a temporary guitarist for alternative band Hole.

Related Topics:
Salma Hayek - Drew Barrymore - Courtney Love - Hole

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