Patrick Wilson
A versatile actor who moves seamlessly from Broadway's demanding musicals to Hollywood's blockbuster horror, earning major award nominations in both.
Born 1973 (age 53)·American actor·Birthday: July 3·Generation X
Biography
Patrick Wilson built his career on a foundation of formidable stage talent. After graduating from Carnegie Mellon, he quickly became a Broadway fixture, earning Tony nominations for his magnetic performances in 'The Full Monty' and a revival of 'Oklahoma!' His transition to screen was cemented by a nuanced turn in HBO's 'Angels in America,' which brought him Emmy and Golden Globe recognition. Wilson didn't settle into a single genre, instead becoming a reliable and compelling presence in everything from intimate dramas like 'Little Children' to massive studio franchises. He is a key player in James Wan's horror universe, starring in 'The Conjuring' and 'Insidious' series, and later stepped behind the camera to direct a sequel, showcasing a multifaceted understanding of cinematic storytelling.
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.
Patrick was born in 1973, 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 Patrick Was Born
The biggest hits of 1973
#1 Movie
The Exorcist
Best Picture
The Sting
#1 TV Show
All in the Family
Patrick's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1973Born
US withdraws from Vietnam; Roe v. Wade decided
Gas: $0.39/galHome: $22,100Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree" — Tony Orlando & DawnBest Picture: The Sting
1978Started school
First test-tube baby born
Gas: $0.63/galHome: $35,300Min wage: $2.65/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Shadow Dancing" — Andy GibbBest Picture: The Deer Hunter
1986Became a teenager
Challenger disaster; Chernobyl nuclear meltdown
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $66,600Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"That's What Friends Are For" — Dionne & FriendsBest Picture: Platoon
1989Could drive
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
1991Could vote
Soviet Union dissolves; World Wide Web goes public
Gas: $1.14/galHome: $82,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" — Bryan AdamsBest Picture: The Silence of the Lambs
1994Turned 21
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
2003Turned 30
US invades Iraq; Human Genome Project completed
Gas: $1.59/galHome: $146,000Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"In Da Club" — 50 CentBest Picture: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2013Turned 40
Edward Snowden reveals NSA surveillance programs
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $152,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Thrift Shop" — Macklemore & Ryan LewisBest Picture: 12 Years a Slave
2023Turned 50
ChatGPT goes mainstream; Israel-Hamas war begins
Gas: $3.52/galHome: $361,600Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Flowers" — Miley CyrusBest Picture: Oppenheimer
2026Age 53 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Received Tony Award nominations for his leading roles in the Broadway musicals 'The Full Monty' and 'Oklahoma!'
- Earned Primetime Emmy and Golden Globe Award nominations for his performance in the HBO miniseries 'Angels in America.'
- Starred as Ed Warren in the commercially and culturally successful 'The Conjuring' film franchise.
- Made his feature film directorial debut with 'Insidious: The Red Door,' which topped the box office in 2023.
Did You Know?
He is a trained opera singer and performed with the Santa Fe Opera before his Broadway debut.
He and his wife, actress Dagmara Domińczyk, have two sons named Kassian and Kalin.
He played the role of Raoul in the 2004 film adaptation of 'The Phantom of the Opera.'
“I’ve never been the guy who’s just the romantic lead or just the scary guy. I like being the guy in the middle of the story who has to figure it out.”
