Justin Theroux

Justin Theroux

Active - 1996 - 2021  |   Born - Aug 10, 1971 in Washington, District of Columbia, United States  |   Genres - Drama, Comedy, Mystery

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Biography by AllMovie

With his handsome looks and playful demeanor, Justin Theroux made a memorable feature debut as a determined revolutionary in the successful indie film I Shot Andy Warhol.

A graduate of Bennington College who was born and raised in Washington, D.C., Theroux later relocated to New York to pursue a career in the visual arts before stumbling across acting and immersing himself in the stage. Gaining momentum in off-Broadway plays before making the leap to features, Theroux made appearances in such popular television shows as Sex and the City and Ally McBeal while gravitating toward the big screen in Romy and Michelle's High School Reunion (1997), American Psycho, and eccentric director David Lynch's Mullholland Drive. After appearing in Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle and the dud Duplex, Theroux appeared in a couple of episodes of the critically respected HBO series Six Feet Under. Over the next couple of years he combined little independent projects like The Baxter and Strangers with Candy with more high-profile films like Michael Mann's Miami Vice. He reteamed with David Lynch for Inland Empire alongside other former Lynch collaborators Laura Dern, and Hayy Dean Stanton. He played Jesus in the religious-themed comedy The Ten, and in 2008 he co-wrote Ben Stiller's Hollywood satire Tropic Thunder, which led to an assignment writing the hit sequel Iron Man 2. In 2012 he co-starred in Wanderlust opposite Jennifer Aniston who he ended up in a high-profile relationship with. That same year he had a screenwriting credit on the hair-metal musical Rock of Ages. Theroux next starred in the bleak HBO drama The Leftovers and wrote the screenplay for Zoolander 2.

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Factsheet

  • Initially moved to New York to become an artist, and painted murals and billboards before appearing in the off-Broadway play Hide Your Love Away.
  • Made his feature-film debut in 1996's I Shot Andy Warhol, which was directed by Mary Harron. She subsequently cast him in 2000's American Psycho.
  • Appeared twice as a guest star on Sex and the City, as two different characters: first as Jared in the episode "The Monogamists" and later as writer Vaughn in "Shortcomings."
  • Appeared in the 2003 music video for "Hysteria" by Muse.
  • Made his directorial debut with the 2006 film Dedication.
  • Cowrote the script for the 2008 hit Tropic Thunder. The film's success prompted star Robert Downey Jr. to recommend to Jon Favreau that Theroux pen the script for Iron Man 2, another box-office hit.
  • Included in the voice cast for the 2009 video game Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2.