Daniel Radcliffe
He grew up on screen as the boy wizard who defined a generation, then deliberately shattered that image with daring indie roles.
Born 1989 (age 37)·English actor·Birthday: July 23·Millennials
Biography
Daniel Radcliffe was thrust into global fame at age eleven when he was cast as Harry Potter, a role he inhabited for a decade across eight blockbuster films. That unprecedented experience, growing up under the microscope of pop culture, could have typecast him forever. Instead, Radcliffe actively pursued a path of creative reinvention, choosing challenging parts in independent theatre and film. He performed naked on stage in 'Equus,' played a corpse in 'Swiss Army Man,' and embodied a flatulent FBI informant in 'Imperium.' This deliberate eclecticism has proven his serious commitment to the craft, transforming him from a child star into a respected and versatile actor who operates entirely on his own terms.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Daniel was born in 1989, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Daniel Was Born
The biggest hits of 1989
#1 Movie
Batman
Best Picture
Driving Miss Daisy
#1 TV Show
Roseanne
Daniel's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1989Born
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
1994Started school
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
2002Became a teenager
Euro currency enters circulation
Gas: $1.36/galHome: $137,800Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"How You Remind Me" — NickelbackBest Picture: Chicago
2005Could drive
Hurricane Katrina devastates New Orleans; YouTube launches
Gas: $2.30/galHome: $167,500Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"We Belong Together" — Mariah CareyBest Picture: Crash
2007Could vote
iPhone released; Great Recession begins
Gas: $2.80/galHome: $172,600Min wage: $5.85/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Irreplaceable" — BeyonceBest Picture: No Country for Old Men
2010Turned 21
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
2019Turned 30
First image of a black hole; Hong Kong protests
Gas: $2.60/galHome: $224,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Old Town Road" — Lil Nas XBest Picture: Parasite
2026Age 37 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Starred as the title character in all eight films of the Harry Potter series, one of the highest-grossing film franchises in history.
- Won critical acclaim for his stage performance in the revival of Peter Shaffer's 'Equus' on both London's West End and Broadway.
- Received a Drama Desk Award nomination for his lead role in the Broadway musical 'How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying.'
- Served as an executive producer and starred in the TBS comedy series 'Miracle Workers,' which ran for four seasons.
Did You Know?
He is a published poet, with a piece appearing in 'Rogue's Gallery' under the pseudonym Jacob Gershon.
Radcliffe is colorblind.
He learned to solve a Rubik's Cube in under two minutes while filming a scene for 'Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.'
He is a devoted fan of the British rap group The Streets.
“I don't really see why people would expect me to be normal.”
