Billy Crudup
A magnetic character actor who brings a quiet, cerebral intensity to roles ranging from rock journalists to superheroes.
Born 1968 (age 58)·American actor·Birthday: July 8·Generation X
Biography
Billy Crudup emerged from the New York theater scene with a potent blend of intellectual rigor and raw charisma. His breakout film role in 'Almost Famous' as the enigmatic rock star Russell Hammond cemented his status as a go-to actor for complex, often morally ambiguous men. Rather than chasing leading-man status, Crudup has built a fascinating career on the periphery of stardom, choosing projects that intrigue him, from indie dramas like 'Jesus' Son' to blockbuster fare like 'Watchmen.' His voice, a distinctive instrument of calm authority, has also made him a sought-after narrator. On Broadway, he has commanded stages in plays by Tom Stoppard and Arthur Miller, winning a Tony Award and proving his craft is as formidable live as it is on screen.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Billy was born in 1968, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Billy Was Born
The biggest hits of 1968
#1 Movie
2001: A Space Odyssey
Best Picture
Oliver!
#1 TV Show
The Andy Griffith Show
Billy's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1968Born
Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert Kennedy assassinated
Gas: $0.34/galHome: $14,950Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"Hey Jude" — The BeatlesBest Picture: Oliver!
1973Started school
US withdraws from Vietnam; Roe v. Wade decided
Gas: $0.39/galHome: $22,100Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree" — Tony Orlando & DawnBest Picture: The Sting
1981Became a teenager
MTV launches; first Space Shuttle flight; AIDS identified
Gas: $1.31/galHome: $52,300Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Bette Davis Eyes" — Kim CarnesBest Picture: Chariots of Fire
1984Could drive
Apple Macintosh introduced
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $59,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"When Doves Cry" — PrinceBest Picture: Amadeus
1986Could vote
Challenger disaster; Chernobyl nuclear meltdown
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $66,600Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"That's What Friends Are For" — Dionne & FriendsBest Picture: Platoon
1989Turned 21
Berlin Wall falls; Tiananmen Square protests
Gas: $1.00/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Look Away" — ChicagoBest Picture: Driving Miss Daisy
1998Turned 30
Google founded; Clinton impeachment
Gas: $1.06/galHome: $107,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Too Close" — NextBest Picture: Shakespeare in Love
2008Turned 40
Barack Obama elected first Black US president; financial crisis
Gas: $3.27/galHome: $153,100Min wage: $6.55/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Low" — Flo RidaBest Picture: Slumdog Millionaire
2018Turned 50
Royal wedding of Harry and Meghan; Parkland shooting
Gas: $2.72/galHome: $211,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"God's Plan" — DrakeBest Picture: Green Book
2026Age 58 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won a Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Play for 'The Coast of Utopia' in 2007.
- Received critical acclaim for his portrayal of Russell Hammond in Cameron Crowe's 'Almost Famous'.
- Nominated for an Independent Spirit Award for his leading role in 'Jesus' Son'.
- Has performed voiceover narration for numerous major documentaries and commercial campaigns.
Did You Know?
He was a nationally ranked junior tennis player in his youth.
He dropped out of the University of North Carolina to study acting at NYU's Tisch School of the Arts.
He provided the voice for the protagonist, Jack, in the video game 'Gears of War 3'.
He is a member of the experimental theater company The Blue Light Theater Company.
“I'm interested in the process of discovery. I'm not interested in showing people what I already know.”
