Josh Hartnett
Hartnett in 2014
Born
Joshua Daniel Hartnett

(1978-07-21) July 21, 1978 (age 45)
Saint Paul, Minnesota, U.S.
EducationState University of New York at Purchase
Occupation(s)Actor, producer
Years active1997–present
Spouse
​
(m. 2021)​
Children3

Joshua Daniel Hartnett (born July 21, 1978)[1] is an American actor and producer. He first came to attention in 1997 for his role as Michael Fitzgerald in the crime drama television series Cracker. He made his feature film debut in the 1998 slasher film Halloween H20: 20 Years Later, followed by roles in films such as the sci-fi horror film The Faculty (1998) and the drama The Virgin Suicides (1999). Hartnett had starring roles in the war film Pearl Harbor, the drama O, the war film Black Hawk Down (all 2001), and the romantic comedy 40 Days and 40 Nights (2002).

In 2006, he starred in the neo-noir crime thrillers The Black Dahlia and Lucky Number Slevin. He next appeared in the drama Resurrecting the Champ (2007), the graphic novel–based vampire horror film 30 Days of Night (2007) and the atmospheric neo-noir thriller I Come with the Rain (2009). From 2014 to 2016, he starred as Ethan Chandler in the horror TV series Penny Dreadful, for which he was nominated for a Fangoria Chainsaw Award.

Hartnett acted in the Guy Ritchie films Wrath of Man (2021) and Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre (2023). He also portrayed journalist Victor Malarek in the crime drama Target Number One (2020) and Ernest O. Lawrence in the biographical thriller Oppenheimer (2023).

Early life and education

Hartnett was born in Saint Paul, Minnesota,[1] though some sources, he has said, erroneously cite San Francisco.[2] The son of Daniel Thomas Hartnett and Wendy Anne (née Kronstedt), he was raised by his father, a building manager and former guitarist for Al Green, and his stepmother, Molly, an artist.[3] He has three younger siblings named Jake, Joe, and Jessica.[4] Hartnett was raised Roman Catholic,[5] attending Nativity of Our Lord Catholic School.[6] At Minneapolis South High School, he played football, but a knee injury forced him off the team when he was 16. He went on to try youth theater, where he acted in productions of The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and Guys and Dolls and attracted attention from a talent scout. Originally interested in becoming a painter, he decided to become a film actor while working in a video rental shop, where he became acquainted with films such as Trainspotting, 12 Monkeys, and The Usual Suspects.[7][8]

After Hartnett graduated from high school in 1996, he moved to New York state to attend the Conservatory of Theatre Arts & Film at the State University of New York at Purchase. He was expelled after writing a letter to the dean saying that the college's evaluation system stifled students' creativity.[7] At the age of 19, Harnett moved to Los Angeles at the recommendation of his manager, Nancy Kremer, who had previously helped him book television commercials.[9][10]

Career

1997–2008

Shortly after arriving to Los Angeles, he caught an improbable break, landing a part in the short-lived drama series Cracker on ABC. His first feature film was Halloween H20: 20 Years Later, in which he played the son of character Laurie Strode. Released on August 5, 1998, it performed well at the box office.

Hartnett then developed a successful film career, appearing in the major films The Faculty, Black Hawk Down, Lucky Number Slevin and Pearl Harbor. During this period, he was marketed as a teen idol and a potential megastar; his unease with this public image eventually led to his disillusionment from pursuing roles in high-profile films.[7] He was originally scheduled to play the role of Tino in Deuces Wild but dropped out to star in Pearl Harbor. In 2002, he starred in O, an adaptation of William Shakespeare's Othello set in an American high school, as Hugo, the film's version of Iago. In the early 2000s, Hartnett was approached several times to play the role of Clark Kent / Superman for a project originally helmed by Brett Ratner but always turned it down, not wanting to commit to a predicted ten-year role.[11][12] Hartnett said of his decision, "It just wasn't the kind of movie I wanted to do. I turned down other superhero roles as well." He also turned down the role of Batman in Christopher Nolan's Batman Begins, which ultimately went to Christian Bale.[7]

Hartnett was chosen as one of Teen People magazine's "21 Hottest Stars Under 21" in 1999, Teen People's "25 Hottest Stars under 25", and one of People magazine's "50 Most Beautiful People", both in 2002. He was also voted Bliss magazine's "3rd Sexiest Male", and in 2003 PETA named him the Sexiest Vegetarian Alive, as chosen by voters.[13]

One of Hartnett's next films was the 2006 drama-mystery The Black Dahlia, in which he played a detective investigating the notorious real-life murder of waitress Elizabeth Short. Hartnett had been cast in the role five years before the film was produced, remaining committed to appearing in the movie because he liked the subject matter.[14]

Among his 2007 roles were Resurrecting the Champ and the graphic novel-based 30 Days of Night, in which he played a small-town sheriff. Hartnett described the second film as "supernatural, but kind of a western". He was going to play trumpet player Chet Baker in the film The Prince of Cool but did not agree with the producer's ideas and left the project.[15]

In 2008, Hartnett played Charlie Babbit in the theater adaptation of Barry Morrow's Academy Award-winning Rain Man at the Apollo Theatre in London's West End.[16] He starred in the new campaign of the Emporio Armani fragrance, "Diamonds for Men", being featured in both print and TV ads for the fragrance, thus becoming the first male celebrity to represent Giorgio Armani Beauty.[17] He has been featured on many magazine covers, such as Cosmogirl, Details, Entertainment Weekly, Girlfriend, Seventeen, Vanity Fair, GQ and Vman, in addition to being in other magazines like Vogue, Elle, People, Glamour, In Touch and InStyle.[18][19]

2009–present

In 2009, Hartnett directed the music video for the rapper Kid Cudi's song "Pursuit of Happiness".[20] During this time Hartnett acted in several direct-to-DVD films and international films which received negative reviews, such as the martial arts action film Bunraku (2010), the comedy film Girl Walks into a Bar (2011), the romantic comedy Stuck Between Stations (2011), the time travel adventure film The Lovers (2013), the romantic drama Parts per Billion (2014), and Wild Horses (2015). In 2013, Hartnett was a guest of honor on Off Plus Camera.[21]

In 2014, he was cast in the part of Ethan Chandler in the Gothic horror series Penny Dreadful,[22] which was shot in locations around Dublin and Ireland.[23] Later, Hartnett's character was revealed to be Lawrence Talbot / the Wolfman, who had changed his name to distance himself from his family. In 2017, he performed in Atsuko Hirayanagi's critically acclaimed independent film Oh Lucy! (2017), which premiered at the Cannes Film Festival. That same year, he starred in and produced the survival film 6 Below: Miracle on the Mountain, which received negative reviews. He then continued acting in smaller films which were received negatively, such as the Turkish war film The Ottoman Lieutenant (2017), the drama She's Missing (2019), the crime film Inherit the Viper (2019), the Polish film Valley of the Gods (2019), and the crime film Ida Red (2021).

In 2020, he portrayed Canadian journalist Victor Malarek in the crime drama Target Number One. Hartnett then starred in Guy Ritchie's 2021 revenge drama film Wrath of Man in a supporting role before Ritchie cast him in his upcoming film Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre.[24] In January 2022, Hartnett was cast as Ernest Lawrence in Christopher Nolan's film Oppenheimer.[25] In July 2022, he joined the sixth season of Black Mirror.[26][27]

Activism

Hartnett has been involved in various causes. In 2007, he took time out from filming to support the green lifestyle campaign of Global Cool.[15]

In 2011, Hartnett became one of a handful of celebrities attached to USAID and Ad Council's FWD campaign, an awareness initiative tied to that year's East Africa drought. He joined Uma Thurman, Chanel Iman and Geena Davis in TV and Internet ads to "forward the facts" about the crisis.[28]

In 2012, Hartnett also joined Barack Obama in his campaign in Minnesota, appearing at such events as the Minnesota Greater Together Youth Summit before formally endorsing the President on the official campaign YouTube channel.[29] He along with Minneapolis Mayor RT Rybak also appeared at the University of Minnesota's McNamara Alumni Center for an Obama Q&A in April.[30]

Personal life

Hartnett began a relationship with English actress Tamsin Egerton in 2012.[31] They have a daughter (born 2015), a second child (born 2017), and a third child (born 2019).[32] In 2022, he revealed he had married Egerton in November 2021.[33] They reside in the Surrey–Sussex border region, in southeast England.[34]

Regarding fame, Hartnett has said, "I know what it's like to be in that whole world. I was up there for a couple of years, and it was uncomfortable. I think trying to stay at the top is a shortcut to unhappiness." Hartnett took a 15-month break from acting, saying "I spent a bit of time really thinking about whether this was the right thing for me."[35]

Filmography

Key
† Denotes works that have not yet been released

Film

Year Title Role Notes
1998 Halloween H20: 20 Years Later John Tate Nominated – Blockbuster Entertainment Award for Favorite Male Newcomer
Nominated – MTV Movie Award for Best Breakthrough Male Performance
1998 The Faculty Zeke Tyler Nominated – Saturn Award for Best Performance by a Younger Actor
1999 The Virgin Suicides Trip Fontaine
2000 Here on Earth Jasper Arnold Nominated – Teen Choice Award for Choice Breakout Star
2001 Black Hawk Down SSG Matt Eversmann Nominated – Phoenix Film Critics Society Award for Best Acting Ensemble (shared with the cast)
Nominated – Teen Choice Award for Choice Action Movie Actor
2001 Blow Dry Brian Allen
2001 O Hugo Goulding
2001 Pearl Harbor Danny Walker Nominated – MTV Movie Award for Best Male Performance
Nominated – Teen Choice Award for Choice Movie Actor
Nominated – Razzie Award for Worst Screen Couple (with Ben Affleck)
2001 Short6 Gianni A compilation of six cinematic shorts
2001 Town & Country Tom Stoddard
2002 40 Days and 40 Nights Matt Sullivan Nominated – Teen Choice Award for Choice Chemistry (shared with Shannyn Sossamon)
2003 Hollywood Homicide K. C. Calden
2003 Zéro Un The Neighbor A compilation of ten cinematic shorts produced by Luc Besson
2004 Wicker Park Matthew Simon
2005 Mozart and the Whale Donald Morton
2005 Sin City The Salesman / The Lady Killer
2005 Stories of Lost Souls The Neighbor
2006 The Black Dahlia Dwight "Bucky" Bleichert
2006 Lucky Number Slevin Slevin Kelevra Won – Best Acting Performance Male (tied with Peter Falk) – 2006 Milan International Film Festival[36]
2007 Resurrecting the Champ Erik Kernan
2007 Stories USA Gianni
2007 30 Days of Night Eben Oleson Nominated – Teen Choice Award for Choice Horror Movie Actor
2008 August Tom Sterling Also producer
Spectrum – 2008 Sundance Film Festival[37]
Contemporary World Cinema – 2008 Seattle International Film Festival[38]
Narrative Feature Films – 2008 Brooklyn International Film Festival[39]
Horizons – 2008 Karlovy Vary International Film Festival[40]
International Section – 2008 Oldenburg International Film Festival
World Cinema – 2008 Flanders International Film Festival Ghent
Spirit of Freedom: Dramatic – 2008 Bahamas International Film Festival[41]
2009 I Come with the Rain Kline
2010 Bunraku The Drifter
2011 Girl Walks into a Bar Sam Salazar
2011 Stuck Between Stations Paddy
2013 The Lovers James Stewart / Jay Fennel
2014 Parts per Billion Len
2015 Wild Horses KC Briggs
2017 Oh Lucy! John Woodruff
2017 The Ottoman Lieutenant Jude
2017 6 Below: Miracle on the Mountain[42] Eric LeMarque Also producer
2019 She's Missing Ren
2020 Inherit the Viper Kip Riley
2020 Target Number One Victor Malarek Also known as Most Wanted
2020 Valley of the Gods John Ecas
2021 Wrath of Man Dave "Boy Sweat" Hancock
2021 Ida Red Wyatt Walker
2021 The Long Home Filmed in 2015
2023 Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre Danny Francesco
2023 Oppenheimer Ernest Lawrence Won — Critics' Choice Movie Award for Best Acting Ensemble
Won — Satellite Award for Best Cast – Motion Picture
Pending — Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture
2024 Trap TBA Post-production

Television

Year Title Role Notes
1997–1999 Cracker Michael Fitzgerald Main role
2008 T Takes Josh Web series
2014–2016 Penny Dreadful Ethan Chandler / Lawrence Talbot / the Wolfman Main role
Nominated – Fangoria Chainsaw Award for Best TV Actor (2017)[43]
2015 Drunk History Clark Gable Episode: "Miami"
2020 Die Hart Josh Hartnett 4 episodes
2020 Paradise Lost Yates Forsythe Main role
2021 Exterminate All the Brutes[44] White man Miniseries; main role
2022 The Fear Index Alexander Hoffmann Miniseries; main role
2023 Black Mirror David Ross Episode: "Beyond the Sea"

Stage

Year Title Role Notes
2008 Rain Man Charlie Babbitt Won – The Dewynters London Newcomer of the Year // WhatsOnStage Awards The Theatregoers' Choice[45]
2008 24 Hour Plays Main Man Annual fundraiser at the Old Vic theater involving actors, writers and directors joining forces to create and present a series of six plays all within a day[46]

Music videos

Year Title Artist Notes
1999 "Playground Love" Air The Virgin Suicides soundtrack
2001 "There You'll Be" Faith Hill Pearl Harbor soundtrack
2002 "Travelin' Soldier" Dixie Chicks Home
2010 "Pursuit of Happiness" Kid Cudi Producer

Awards and nominations

References

  1. ^ a b "Josh Hartnett". TVGuide.com. Archived from the original on September 12, 2015. Retrieved December 2, 2015.
  2. ^ Boehm, Kristin (October 18, 2007). "Josh Hartnett Dodges Kissing Questions". People. Retrieved December 7, 2021. And, for the record, he was born in Minnesota, not San Francisco as commonly misreported, he said.
  3. ^ "Josh Hartnett Biography (1978–)". July 23, 2008. Archived from the original on October 18, 2015. Retrieved February 5, 2012.
  4. ^ Cooke, Rachel (April 21, 2002). "Hart throb". The Observer. ISSN 0029-7712. Retrieved June 28, 2023.
  5. ^ Silverman, Stephen M. (March 4, 2002). "No Joshin': Hartnett Can't Do It". People. Archived from the original on September 14, 2011. Retrieved December 7, 2021.
  6. ^ Hrbacek, Dave (February 1, 2012). "Principal knows her kids by name – all 759". The Catholic Spirit. Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis. Archived from the original on January 5, 2016. Retrieved December 2, 2015.
  7. ^ a b c d Sanguino, Juan (May 26, 2021). "Why Josh Hartnett left Hollywood, and why he's back: "I decided to have a life"". EL PAÍS English. Retrieved June 28, 2023.
  8. ^ Cooke, Rachel (April 21, 2002). "Hart throb". The Observer. ISSN 0029-7712. Retrieved June 28, 2023.
  9. ^ Lanum, Lorelei (2002). Josh Hartnett: American Idol. Touchstone. ISBN 978-0743242738.
  10. ^ Cooke, Rachel (April 21, 2002). "Hart throb". The Observer. ISSN 0029-7712. Retrieved June 28, 2023.
  11. ^ Murray, Rebecca (June 17, 2010). "Interview with Josh Hartnett, From "Wicker Park"". movies.about.com. Archived from the original on March 30, 2012. Retrieved February 5, 2012.
  12. ^ The MovieWeb Team (April 22, 2003). "Josh Hartnett up for SUPERMAN...again?". movieweb.com. Retrieved February 5, 2012.
  13. ^ "PETA's sexiest vegetarian celebrities of 2011". peta.org. Archived from the original on May 25, 2012. Retrieved February 5, 2012.
  14. ^ Murray, Rebecca. "Exclusive Interview with The Black Dahlia Star Josh Hartnett". movies.about.com. Archived from the original on June 7, 2011. Retrieved February 5, 2012.
  15. ^ a b "Global Cool is hot on carbon emissions". The Times. London. May 12, 2007. Retrieved February 1, 2011.
  16. ^ "Rain Man Promo Trailer featuring Josh Hartnett and Adam Godley". WestEndTheatre. October 2008. Retrieved February 25, 2010.
  17. ^ "Armani signs Josh Hartnett for new fragrance campaign". Campaign. July 8, 2008. Retrieved December 7, 2021.
  18. ^ "Magazine: 1997 – 2004". Lucky Number Josh. July 23, 2008. Archived from the original on February 16, 2012. Retrieved February 5, 2012.
  19. ^ "Magazine: 2005 – 2007". Lucky Number Josh. July 23, 2008. Archived from the original on February 16, 2012. Retrieved February 5, 2012.
  20. ^ "Kid Cudi Hooks Up With Drake, Josh Hartnett For New Video". MTV. Steven Roberts. November 30, 2009. Retrieved December 7, 2021.
  21. ^ "Roland Joffe and Volker Schlondorff Lead Panels at Off Plus Camera 2013". Archived from the original on November 29, 2014.
  22. ^ "Josh Hartnett Taps into His Dark Side in this Penny Dreadful Season 2". DC. February 2, 2015.
  23. ^ "Josh Harnett is in Dublin shooting scenes for Penny Dreadful – Dublin looks magnificent". evoke.ie. February 2, 2015.
  24. ^ "Jason Statham suits up for Guy Ritchie's Operation Fortune: Ruse de guerre first look". EW.
  25. ^ "Everything We Know About Christopher Nolan's 'Oppenheimer' So Far". Variety. January 6, 2022.
  26. ^ Strause, Jackie (July 13, 2022). "Black Mirror Season 6 Casts Aaron Paul, Josh Hartnett, Zazie Beetz, Kate Mara and Paapa Essiedu". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved August 18, 2022.
  27. ^ Strause, Jackie (June 16, 2023). "Josh Hartnett, Kate Mara on Their Lockdown-Inspired 'Black Mirror' and Why It's Set in an Alternate 1969". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved June 17, 2023.
  28. ^ "Dr. Jill Biden Joins USAID and Ad Council to Debut FWD Campaign for the Crisis in the Horn of Africa". PR Newswire. October 26, 2011.
  29. ^ "Josh Hartnett helps out Team Obama". Politico. April 8, 2012.
  30. ^ "Josh Hartnett Attempts to Panders to U of MN Youth - TCStarlight.com". TCStarlight.com.
  31. ^ "Josh Hartnett and Tamsin Egerton welcome first baby". Closer. December 2, 2015. Retrieved July 20, 2022.
  32. ^ Cardoza, Riley (January 21, 2021). "Josh Hartnett Confirms He and Tamsin Egerton Secretly Welcome 3rd Baby in 2019". Us Weekly. Retrieved July 20, 2022.
  33. ^ Juneau, Jen (March 7, 2022). "Josh Hartnett Secretly Married Longtime Partner Tamsin Egerton in November". People. Retrieved July 20, 2022.
  34. ^ Bilmes, Alex (January 21, 2021). "Why Mr Josh Hartnett Chose "Having A Life" Over The Hollywood Dream". Mr Porter. YOOX Net-a-Porter Group. Retrieved August 14, 2023.
  35. ^ "He'll stay out of limelight". Evening Chronicle. September 10, 2004. Retrieved May 12, 2013.
  36. ^ MIFF Awards Winners in the past – 2006 / Sixth Edition, Milan International Film Festival
  37. ^ 2008 Online Film Guide, Sundance International Film Festival Archived January 1, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
  38. ^ The Festival – Films & Events Archived January 6, 2011, at the Wayback Machine, Seattle International Film Festival
  39. ^ 2008 Edition – Category Feature / Film Details, Brooklyn Film Festival Film Library
  40. ^ History – Film Archive, Karlovy Vary International Film Festival
  41. ^ "Bahamas Festival to close with Spike Lee's Miracle of St Anna". Screen Daily. Jeremy Kay. November 13, 2009. Retrieved February 26, 2010.
  42. ^ Tartaglione, Nancy (February 14, 2017). "Momentum Acquires U.S. Rights To '6 Below' Starring Josh Hartnett". Deadline. Retrieved February 14, 2017.
  43. ^ "Never mind Oscar, here's the 2017 FANGORIA Chainsaw Awards Nominees Ballot!". FANGORIA®. Archived from the original on August 6, 2017. Retrieved February 14, 2017.
  44. ^ Hipes, Patrick (February 18, 2020). "Raoul Peck Teams With HBO On Colonialism Docuseries 'Exterminate All The Brutes'; Josh Hartnett To Topline Scripted Portions". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved January 13, 2021.
  45. ^ "Winners Announced in the Ninth Annual WhatsOnStage Awards". Whatsonstage.com Awards. Bandwidth Communications Ltd. 2009. Retrieved February 22, 2010.
  46. ^ "Hartnett is main man in Old Vic's 24 Hour Plays". London Evening Standard. Louise Jury. November 11, 2008. Archived from the original on November 20, 2010. Retrieved February 27, 2010.
  47. ^ "Nominations Announced for the 30th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards®" (Press release). Screen Actors Guild. January 10, 2024. Retrieved January 10, 2024.
  48. ^ "Josh Hartnett To Receive The 2010 Ischia Acting Awards". Absolute Josh Hartnett. June 26, 2010. Retrieved July 5, 2010.
  49. ^ "The 2009 Doha 21st Century Leaders Awardees". 21stcenturyleadersawards.org. October 30, 2009. Archived from the original on February 7, 2011. Retrieved February 22, 2010.
  50. ^ "GQ Männer des Jahres 2007 ceremony". Vanity Fair online. October 2007. Archived from the original on September 4, 2012. Retrieved February 25, 2010.

Further reading

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