Clive Owen
A magnetic screen presence who redefined cinematic cool with his understated intensity and morally complex antiheroes.
Born 1964 (age 62)·British actor·Birthday: October 3·Baby Boomers
Biography
Clive Owen emerged from the British theater and television scene with a coiled, quiet power that seemed destined for bigger screens. His breakthrough came not from a blockbuster, but from the gritty, low-budget noir 'Croupier,' where his portrayal of a detached casino dealer captivated international audiences and Hollywood. This led to a defining era where he became the go-to actor for men of simmering conflict, most notably in 'Closer,' where his raw performance earned him an Oscar nomination. He navigated major studio films like 'Children of Men' and 'Inside Man' without losing his essential edge, consistently choosing roles that favored psychological depth over simple heroics. Owen's career is a masterclass in sustained, selective intensity, making him one of his generation's most distinctive and uncompromising leading men.
Baby Boomers
1946–1964
The largest generation in history at the time. Shaped by postwar prosperity, the Vietnam War, the sexual revolution, and Watergate. They questioned every institution their parents built — then ran them.
Clive was born in 1964, placing them squarely in the Baby Boomers. The events that shaped this generation — postwar prosperity, civil rights, Vietnam, and the counterculture — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Clive Was Born
The biggest hits of 1964
#1 Movie
Mary Poppins
Best Picture
My Fair Lady
#1 TV Show
Bonanza
Clive's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1964Born
Civil Rights Act signed; Beatles arrive in America
Gas: $0.30/galHome: $13,450Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"I Want to Hold Your Hand" — The BeatlesBest Picture: My Fair Lady
1969Started school
Apollo 11: humans walk on the Moon; Woodstock festival
Gas: $0.35/galHome: $15,550Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Sugar, Sugar" — The ArchiesBest Picture: Midnight Cowboy
1977Became a teenager
Star Wars premieres; Elvis dies
Gas: $0.62/galHome: $31,800Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Tonight's the Night" — Rod StewartBest Picture: Annie Hall
1980Could drive
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
1982Could vote
Michael Jackson releases Thriller
Gas: $1.22/galHome: $55,200Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Physical" — Olivia Newton-JohnBest Picture: Gandhi
1985Turned 21
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
1994Turned 30
Nelson Mandela elected president of South Africa
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $90,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"The Sign" — Ace of BaseBest Picture: Forrest Gump
2004Turned 40
Indian Ocean tsunami kills over 230,000
Gas: $1.88/galHome: $157,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Yeah!" — UsherBest Picture: Million Dollar Baby
2014Turned 50
Russia annexes Crimea; Ebola outbreak in West Africa
Gas: $3.37/galHome: $160,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Happy" — Pharrell WilliamsBest Picture: Birdman
2024Turned 60
AI reshapes industries; Paris Olympics
Gas: $3.31/galHome: $372,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Espresso" — Sabrina CarpenterBest Picture: Anora
2026Age 62 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Received an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor for his role in the drama 'Closer'.
- Won a Golden Globe Award and a BAFTA Award for his performance in 'Closer'.
- Gained international recognition as the lead in the independent film 'Croupier,' which became a cult hit.
- Starred in Alfonso Cuarón's critically praised dystopian thriller 'Children of Men'.
- Headlined the successful heist film 'Inside Man,' directed by Spike Lee.
Did You Know?
He trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) in London.
He was considered a strong contender for the role of James Bond in the mid-2000s.
He provided the voice for a character in the video game 'Privateer 2: The Darkening' early in his career.
He turned down the role of John Connor in 'Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines.'
“I'm not interested in playing the hero. I'm interested in playing the person.”
