Jeremy Renner
He transformed from a character actor in gritty indies into a blockbuster star by embodying complex, physically demanding roles with raw intensity.
Born 1971 (age 55)·American actor·Birthday: January 7·Generation X
Biography
Jeremy Renner's path to stardom was a slow burn, defined by a willingness to inhabit dark, challenging characters long before he headlined major franchises. He spent years in independent films, delivering a chilling performance as serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer that announced his fearless approach. His breakthrough was a role of a different kind of danger: as U.S. Army Sergeant William James in 'The Hurt Locker,' a bomb disposal expert addicted to the rush of war. The performance earned him an Oscar nomination and redefined him as a leading man of substance. Hollywood quickly capitalized on his everyman toughness, casting him as the expert thief in 'The Town' (earning another Oscar nod) and, most famously, as the master archer Hawkeye in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Renner brings a weathered authenticity to his roles, whether in action spectacles or intimate dramas, rooted in a blue-collar sensibility he never shed.
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.
Jeremy was born in 1971, 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 Jeremy Was Born
The biggest hits of 1971
#1 Movie
Fiddler on the Roof
Best Picture
The French Connection
#1 TV Show
Marcus Welby, M.D.
Jeremy's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1971Born
Voting age lowered to 18 in the US
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $18,100Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Joy to the World" — Three Dog NightBest Picture: The French Connection
1976Started school
Apple Computer founded; US bicentennial
Gas: $0.59/galHome: $29,300Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"Silly Love Songs" — WingsBest Picture: Rocky
1984Became a teenager
Apple Macintosh introduced
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $59,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"When Doves Cry" — PrinceBest Picture: Amadeus
1987Could drive
Black Monday stock market crash
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $72,400Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Walk Like an Egyptian" — The BanglesBest Picture: The Last Emperor
1989Could vote
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
1992Turned 21
LA riots after Rodney King verdict
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $84,300Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"End of the Road" — Boyz II MenBest Picture: Unforgiven
2001Turned 30
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
2011Turned 40
Osama bin Laden killed; Arab Spring sweeps the Middle East
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $138,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Rolling in the Deep" — AdeleBest Picture: The Artist
2021Turned 50
January 6 Capitol breach; COVID vaccines roll out globally
Gas: $3.01/galHome: $298,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Levitating" — Dua LipaBest Picture: CODA
2026Age 55 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Received Academy Award nominations for Best Actor for 'The Hurt Locker' and Best Supporting Actor for 'The Town'.
- Portrayed Clint Barton/Hawkeye across multiple films in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, beginning with 'The Avengers' in 2012.
- Starred as the lead in the Paramount+ series 'Mayor of Kingstown,' a gritty drama about power and corruption in a Michigan city.
Did You Know?
He is a licensed real estate investor and flips houses.
He was a trained makeup artist before his acting career took off.
He performed many of his own stunts as Hawkeye, drawing on his athletic background.
“I'm not a movie star. I'm just a working actor.”
