Tony Goldwyn
A versatile actor who moved from horror movie victim to the trusted friend in 'Ghost,' then became a respected director and political force on television.
Born 1960 (age 66)·American actor and director·Birthday: May 20·Baby Boomers
Biography
Tony Goldwyn, born into a Hollywood dynasty, initially seemed destined to be a footnote in slasher history with his debut in a 'Friday the 13th' sequel. His career trajectory shifted dramatically when he played the duplicitous friend Carl Bruner in the blockbuster 'Ghost,' a role that showcased a chilling charm and made him a recognizable face. Rather than chase leading man status, Goldwyn built a fascinating mosaic of a career, portraying historical figures like Neil Armstrong and Harold Nixon with a grounded intensity. He seamlessly pivoted behind the camera, directing films and episodes of prestige television, and found a defining late-career role as the ruthlessly pragmatic President Fitzgerald Grant on 'Scandal,' proving his mastery of moral ambiguity.
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.
Tony was born in 1960, 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 Tony Was Born
The biggest hits of 1960
#1 Movie
Swiss Family Robinson
Best Picture
The Apartment
#1 TV Show
Gunsmoke
Tony's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1960Born
Kennedy-Nixon debates become first televised presidential debates
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $11,900Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Theme from A Summer Place" — Percy FaithBest Picture: The Apartment
1965Started school
US sends combat troops to Vietnam
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $13,600Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" — The Rolling StonesBest Picture: The Sound of Music
1973Became a teenager
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
1976Could drive
Apple Computer founded; US bicentennial
Gas: $0.59/galHome: $29,300Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"Silly Love Songs" — WingsBest Picture: Rocky
1978Could vote
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
1981Turned 21
MTV launches; first Space Shuttle flight; AIDS identified
Gas: $1.31/galHome: $52,300Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Bette Davis Eyes" — Kim CarnesBest Picture: Chariots of Fire
1990Turned 30
Hubble Space Telescope launched; Germany reunifies
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.80/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Hold On" — Wilson PhillipsBest Picture: Dances with Wolves
2000Turned 40
Y2K passes without incident; contested Bush-Gore election
Gas: $1.51/galHome: $119,600Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Breathe" — Faith HillBest Picture: Gladiator
2010Turned 50
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
2020Turned 60
COVID-19 pandemic shuts down the world
Gas: $2.17/galHome: $248,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Blinding Lights" — The WeekndBest Picture: Nomadland
2026Age 66 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Received a Saturn Award nomination for his breakthrough role as Carl Bruner in the 1990 film 'Ghost'.
- Earned a Screen Actors Guild Award nomination for his portrayal of Harold Nixon in Oliver Stone's 'Nixon'.
- Played astronaut Neil Armstrong in the acclaimed HBO miniseries 'From the Earth to the Moon'.
- Directed the feature film 'The Last Kiss' and multiple episodes of hit series like 'Scandal' and 'Dexter'.
- Starred as President Fitzgerald Grant for seven seasons on the ABC political drama 'Scandal'.
Did You Know?
He is the grandson of Hollywood mogul Samuel Goldwyn, co-founder of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM).
He is a trained stage actor and has performed in several Broadway productions, including the revival of 'Promises, Promises'.
He voiced the title character of Tarzan in Disney's 1999 animated film.
He is a vocal political activist and serves on the board of the nonprofit organization the Innocence Project.
“I'm much more interested in the journey of a character than whether they're likeable or not.”
