Chris Pine
With a blend of classic Hollywood charm and thoughtful intensity, he rebooted Captain Kirk for a new generation and became a leading man of surprising range.
Born 1980 (age 46)·American actor·Birthday: August 26·Generation X
Biography
Chris Pine arrived not with a bang, but with a careful selection of roles that showcased a specific, intelligent charisma. The son of actors, he avoided easy typecasting, moving from a supporting turn as a doomed rom-com lead in 'The Princess Diaries 2' to a commanding presence in the thriller 'Smokin' Aces.' His career-defining moment came when he was cast as James T. Kirk in J.J. Abrams' 'Star Trek' reboot, a role he infused with swaggering bravado and vulnerable depth, making it distinctly his own. He later balanced blockbuster duty as Steve Trevor in 'Wonder Woman' with offbeat choices like a singing outlaw in 'Into the Woods' and a frantic car salesman in 'Poolman,' revealing a willingness to subvert his leading-man image. Pine's appeal lies in his relaxed confidence and a clear, deliberate pursuit of projects that intrigue him, whether they be galactic adventures or intimate character studies.
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.
Chris 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 Chris Was Born
The biggest hits of 1980
#1 Movie
The Empire Strikes Back
Best Picture
Ordinary People
#1 TV Show
Dallas
Chris'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 Captain James T. Kirk in the rebooted 'Star Trek' film series, beginning in 2009.
- Played Steve Trevor, the male lead, in the critically and commercially successful 'Wonder Woman' (2017).
- Demonstrated his musical talent by performing his own songs as the character Cinderella's Prince in 'Into the Woods.'
- Served as an executive producer and starred in the Amazon series 'The Terminal List,' based on the Jack Carr novels.
Did You Know?
His father, Robert Pine, played Sergeant Joseph Getraer on the television series 'CHiPs.'
He is a distant cousin of former U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt.
He studied English at the University of California, Berkeley, and briefly considered becoming a lawyer.
He is an avid reader and has discussed his love for literature in numerous interviews.
“The only thing you can really control is your effort and your outlook.”
