Justin Theroux
A chameleonic actor and writer who thrives in the shadows of Hollywood, crafting unsettling characters and sharp screenplays.
Born 1971 (age 55)·American actor and filmmaker·Birthday: August 10·Generation X
Biography
Justin Theroux, born in Washington D.C., carved a path far removed from his famous family of writers and explorers. He moved to New York to study visual art, but the pull of performance led him to the stage and eventually to film. His early career was a mosaic of oddball parts, from a waiter in 'Romy and Michele' to a chillingly vacant actor in 'American Psycho'. His creative life truly ignited when director David Lynch cast him in 'Mulholland Drive', beginning a long collaboration that embraced the surreal. While his face became known for supporting roles in blockbusters like 'Zoolander' and 'Star Wars: The Clone Wars', his mind was often behind the scenes, co-writing ambitious action scripts for 'Tropic Thunder' and 'Iron Man 2'. Theroux has consistently defied easy categorization, moving between Hollywood comedy, indie drama, and prestige television with a quiet, intense versatility that makes him impossible to pin down.
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.
Justin 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 Justin 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.
Justin'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
- Co-wrote the hit action-comedy film 'Tropic Thunder', which was nominated for an Academy Award.
- Played a key recurring role as Kevin Garvey in the critically acclaimed HBO series 'The Leftovers'.
- Collaborated extensively with David Lynch, starring in the films 'Mulholland Drive' and 'Inland Empire'.
- Voiced the villainous Baron Praxis in the popular video game series 'Jak and Daxter'.
Did You Know?
He is the nephew of author and explorer Paul Theroux.
He designed the iconic skull logo for the band The Bronx.
He is a trained visual artist and attended the Bennington College painting program.
He is an avid motorcyclist and has written articles for motorcycle magazines.
“I like playing characters who are slightly off, who make you lean in a little bit to figure out what their deal is.”
