Charlie Hunnam
He transformed from a Newcastle street kid into the magnetic, leather-clad heart of a global biker drama.
Born 1980 (age 46)·British actor·Birthday: April 10·Generation X
Biography
Charlie Hunnam played Jax Teller for seven seasons on 'Sons of Anarchy,' fusing physical intensity with vulnerability to anchor the show's worldwide success. Discovered at 17 in a Newcastle shop by a casting agent, he first appeared on British television in 'Queer as Folk,' showing raw, untamed energy. He crossed the Atlantic for the role that defined his career. After 'Sons of Anarchy,' he sought varied challenges: the historical epic 'The Lost City of Z,' the modern fantasy 'King Arthur: Legend of the Sword.' His range extended beyond motorcycle leathers. He grew up in a rough part of Newcastle, England, and built a career on surprising turns.
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.
Charlie was born in 1980, 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 Charlie Was Born
The biggest hits of 1980
#1 Movie
The Empire Strikes Back
Best Picture
Ordinary People
#1 TV Show
Dallas
Charlie's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1980Born
John Lennon shot and killed in New York
Gas: $1.19/galHome: $47,200Min wage: $3.10/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Call Me" — BlondieBest Picture: Ordinary People
1985Started school
Live Aid concerts raise money for Ethiopian famine
Gas: $1.12/galHome: $62,900Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Careless Whisper" — Wham!Best Picture: Out of Africa
1993Became a teenager
European Union officially established
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $86,600Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"I Will Always Love You" — Whitney HoustonBest Picture: Schindler's List
1996Could drive
Dolly the sheep cloned
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $99,700Min wage: $4.75/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Macarena" — Los del RioBest Picture: The English Patient
1998Could vote
Google founded; Clinton impeachment
Gas: $1.06/galHome: $107,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Too Close" — NextBest Picture: Shakespeare in Love
2001Turned 21
September 11 attacks transform the world
Gas: $1.46/galHome: $126,400Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Hanging by a Moment" — LifehouseBest Picture: A Beautiful Mind
2010Turned 30
Deepwater Horizon oil spill; iPad launched
Gas: $2.79/galHome: $147,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Tik Tok" — KeshaBest Picture: The King's Speech
2020Turned 40
COVID-19 pandemic shuts down the world
Gas: $2.17/galHome: $248,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Blinding Lights" — The WeekndBest Picture: Nomadland
2026Age 46 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Starred as Jax Teller for seven seasons on FX's 'Sons of Anarchy', a role that defined the series and garnered a massive global fanbase.
- Received two Critics' Choice Television Award nominations for Best Actor for his performance in 'Sons of Anarchy'.
- Headlined major studio films including 'Pacific Rim' and the historical drama 'The Lost City of Z'.
- Authored the screenplay for the 2022 film 'The Gentlemen', directed by Guy Ritchie.
Did You Know?
He turned down the role of Christian Grey in 'Fifty Shades of Grey' after initially accepting it.
He is a trained practitioner of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
He dropped out of university to pursue acting, studying at Cumbria College of Art and Design for a brief period.
He was once married to actress Katharine Towne, whom he met on the set of 'Undeclared'.
“I'm not interested in being a movie star. I'm interested in being a good actor.”
