Biography for
Josh Brolin More at IMDbPro »

Date of Birth

12 February 1968, Los Angeles, California, USA

Birth Name

Josh J. Brolin

Height

5' 10½" (1.79 m)

Mini Biography

Rugged features and a natural charm have worked for Josh Brolin, the son of actor James Brolin. He has recently seen a massive surge in his career, finding well-known roles such as a policeman, a hunter, and the President of the United States.

Born February 12, 1968, Brolin was initially against the lifestyle of the entertainment business, in light of his parents' divorce, and both of them being actors. However, he fell for theatre after playing a part in a school production of "A Streetcar named Desire". His first major screen role was as the older brother in the film The Goonies (1985) based on a story by Steven Spielberg. He then immediately moved on to work on television, taking roles in such series as "Private Eye" and "The Young Riders". "Private Eye" was a chance for Brolin to play a detective. "The Young Riders" was set just before the Civil War, and was co-directed by Brolin's father, James Brolin.

After "The Young Riders", Brolin moved back to the big screen, with mediocre success. He played a supporting role in The Road Killers (1994), but the film was not a hit. He followed up with the crime film Gang in Blue (1996) (TV), the romantic film Bed of Roses (1996), the thriller film Nightwatch (1997), and appeared with his father in My Brother's War (1997). However, nothing truly stuck out, especially not the box office flop The Mod Squad (1999).

The 2000s initially brought no significant change in Brolin's career. He appeared in the independent film Slow Burn (2000), the sci-if thriller Hollow Man (2000) and starred in the television series "Mister Sterling". In 2004, he married actress Diane Lane, and as of now are still together.

It was not until 2007 that Brolin received much acclaim for his films. He took a supporting role in the Quentin Tarantino-written Grindhouse (2007) which was a two-part film accounting two horror stories. He also played two policemen that year: a corrupt officer Trupo in the crime epic American Gangster (2007), and an honest police chief in the emotional drama In the Valley of Elah (2007) which starred Tommy Lee Jones and was directed by Paul Haggis. However, it was his involvement in No Country for Old Men (2007) that truly pushed him into the limelight.

The film, directed by the Coen brothers, was about a man (Brolin) who finds a satchel containing two million dollars in cash. He is pursued by an unstoppable assassin (Javier Bardem who won an Oscar for his work) and his friend, a local sheriff (Tommy Lee Jones). The film won four Oscars, including Best Picture and Best Director.

Brolin found high-profile work the next year, being cast as Supervisor Dan White in the film Milk (2008/I). His performance as the weak and bitter politician earned him an Oscar nomination, and Brolin received more praise for his fascinating portrayal of George W. Bush in the Oliver Stone film W. (2008/I). Despite the mediocre success of W. (2008/I), he was recognized as the best part of the film, and Milk (2008/I) was another triumph critically and commercially.

Despite his mediocre success and fame, Brolin has maintained a choosiness in his films, and recently, these choices have paid off profoundly. Hopefully he continues this streak of good fortune that his talents have finally given him.

IMDb Mini Biography By: Bob Stage

Spouse

Diane Lane	(14 August 2004 - present)
Alice Adair	(1988 - 1992) (divorced) 2 children

Trade Mark

Has frequently been cast in the role of an enforcer of the law.

Trivia

Has lived on a ranch in California with his significant other and their two children. He spent five years performing in and directing plays at the Reflections Festival at the GeVa Theater in Rochester, N.Y. Brolin said, "If I'm any kind of actor now it's because of Rochester." [1996].

Father of Eden Brolin and Trevor Brolin.

Son of actor James Brolin and Jane Cameron Agee (died 1995).

He won the 24th Annual Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race in Long Beach, California in April 2000 22 years after his dad won the tournament. It took him just over 18 minutes to complete the course. He outshone 17 other celebrity and professional drivers including George Lucas, John Elway, and actresses Ashley Judd, Melissa Joan Hart, and Alyson Hannigan.

Dating British actress Minnie Driver [1999-2001].

Announced engagement to girlfriend, actress Minnie Driver [April 2001].

Stepson of Barbra Streisand.

Ended engagement and relationship, with actress Minnie Driver [October 2001].

Attended the 2003 Golden Globes with Diane Lane.

July 2003: Engaged to actress Diane Lane.

Stepfather of Diane Lane's daughter Eleanor from Lane's first marriage to Christopher Lambert

Collects the art of Malcolm Liepke and Ernst Niezvestny

Has son, Trevor, sketch all his characters before filming.

Has written various stories and poems based on his mother Jane Agee (who died in 1995).

Was named after the character "Josh Randall" played by Steve McQueen in the series "Wanted: Dead or Alive" (1958).

He was co-executive director of Geva Theatre's "Reflections" (3 American plays in rotating repertory) from 1991 to 1995 with Anthony Zerbe.

Trained with Sandra Seacat and Stella Adler.

A huge John Cassavetes fan, stating that he has watched A Woman Under the Influence (1974) more than 40 times.

Once aspired to be a chef.

Attended the Film Industry Workshops until the filming of The Goonies (1985), after which he went back for private coaching from Pat George and Tony Miller. His father, James Brolin, also attended the Film Industry Workshops.

When he's not working on films he enjoys racing cars and surfing.

In May 2006, two days after being cast in the film, No Country for Old Men (2007), he crashed his motorcycle into a vehicle on Highland Avenue in Los Angeles. Luckily he only shattered his collarbone and two weeks later he showed up to start filming.

Loves playing the stock market and is an avid day trader. He's so serious about playing Wall Street, he's got the trade station with three computer screens going simultaneously in his house in Los Angeles. He also co-created marketprobability.com, a website giving investors historical stock overviews.

Good friends with Javier Bardem.

He and father James Brolin have both played U.S. Presidents. James played Ronald Reagan, and Josh played George W. Bush.

One of 105 people invited to join AMPAS in 2008.

Brother of Jess (b. 1972) and half-brother of Molly Elizabeth (b. 1987).

Hosted the highest viewed "Saturday Night Live" (1975) in 14 years on October 18th, 2008 when Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin made a guest appearance.

He was offered the part of Marcus Wright in Terminator Salvation (2009), but turned the offer down.

Brolin was concerned what reception he would have on location in San Francisco for the production of Milk (2008/I) playing Dan White, the murderer of the city's famous gay politician, Harvey Milk. However, Brolin found he was warmly welcomed by the gay community for his participation in a film about their political hero.

Was the Fox network's choice to play Officer Tom Hanson in "21 Jump Street" (1987), but producer Patrick Hasburgh preferred Johnny Depp instead.

Frequently co-stars with Marley Shelton.

Personal Quotes

(On "Mister Sterling" (2003)) I'm so glad that show didn't go, because it was more work then I ever wanna do again, and I love film.

(On his love of the stock market - 2007) I love the competitive part of stocks. A lot of fear and greed, that's all it is. All I see is green and red.

(On landing No Country for Old Men (2007)) The Coen Brothers didn't pitch the project to me, actually. I had read the book first without knowing that there was a movie being made. My agent actually called me and said they were making "No Country" and explained the script to me and said, "No, no. I read the book". She sent me a couple of scenes and then I said, "I can't get out of work". I was working with Robert Rodriguez on Grindhouse (2007) and Robert and Quentin Tarantino helped put me on tape as an audition tape and sent that to the Coens. They were smitten with the lighting and not so much for me. So that was a no. It was only through my agent, Michael Cooper, who is my good friend and a great agent. He's an old time agent; there are few and far between that actually care about their clients. He kept telling Ethan Coen, 'Just meet him. I'm not going to tell you he's the one but I'm going to tell you to just meet him'. I met them on what I found out later was their last casting call and then I got the part.

On playing George W. Bush: Why me? Why would I want to do this movie? "Why would I want to do this to my career?

[On portraying President George W. Bush] When [Oliver Stone] came to me, I was a little insulted. I had such a visceral reaction against it. But then I read the script and I thought it was amazing. I didn't love the story but as a character - following a guy from 21 to 58 - was an incredible challenge for an actor.

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