Ving Rhames

Irving Rameses “Ving” Rhames (born May 12, 1959) is an American actor best known for his work in Pulp Fiction, Don King: Only in America, and the Mission: Impossible film series.

Trivia:

Spent two years as part of the acting class of 1982 at the State University of New York at Purchase (SUNY Purchase) before returning to Julliard.

Education: Juilliard, NY (Drama)

Was given the nickname he goes by, “Ving,” by his one time roomate Stanley Tucci, when together for a time at SUNY Purchase.

Engaged to Deborah Reed (2000).

Won a Golden Globe in 1998 for best actor in a TV miniseries for his performance in HBO’s Don King: Only in America (1997) (TV). At the ceremony Rhames gave his award to Jack Lemmon, saying “I feel that being an artist is about giving, and I’d like to give this to you.” Lemmon was clearly touched by the gesture, as was the celebrity audience, who gave Lemmon a standing ovation. Lemmon, who tried unsuccessfully to give the award back to Rhames, said it was “one of the sweetest moments I’ve ever known in my life.” The Hollywood Foreign Press Association announced later that they would have a duplicate award prepared for Rhames.

Step-daughter, Tiffany 15 years old. Daughter, Reignbeau, born 2000. Son, Freedom, born February 2002.

He says people are often surprised that he isn’t bigger in person, as he stands a little bit less than 6 feet tall and weighs a little over 200 pounds. He is, however, quite strong for his size, being able to bench press over 300 pounds.

Daughter is named Reign Beau

Was considered for the role of Ben in Night of the Living Dead (1990). He later starred in Dawn of the Dead (2004) and Day of the Dead (2008).

Invited to join AMPAS in 2006.

Was named after retired NBC journalist Irving R. Levine.

He credits his strong religious faith as a key to his success.

In 1993, during the filming of The Saint of Fort Washington in New York City, Rhames was unexpectedly reunited with his brother, Junior, a troubled, homeless Vietnam veteran who’d been estranged from the Rhames family for years.

Raised on 126th Street in the Harlem area of New York City.

Is a huge fan of boxing and often goes to live major events.

Put on 30 pounds to look more imposing for his role in Striptease.

The son of a mechanic and a homemaker, and the youngest of two boys.

Was considered for the role of John Coffey in The Green Mile (1999).

Lives in Los Angeles, California.

Stan Winston

Stan Winston (April 7, 1946 – June 15, 2008) was an American visual effects supervisor, make-up artist, and film director. He was best known for his work in the Terminator series, the Jurassic Park series, Aliens, the Predator series, Iron Man and Edward Scissorhands.He won four Academy Awards for his work.

Winston, a frequent collaborator with director James Cameron, owned more than one effects studio, including Stan Winston Digital. The established areas of expertise for Winston were in makeup, puppets and practical effects, but he had recently expanded his studio to encompass digital effects as well.

One of the founders of visual effects companies Digital Domain, Stan Winston Digital and Stan Winston studios.

Only the second special effects artist to be honored with a star on Hollywood’s Walk of Stars.

He studied painting and sculpture at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville and graduated in 1968.

He moved to Hollywood in 1968. At first he wanted to be an actor, but no jobs came his way and the following year he became an apprentice in the Makeup Department at Walt Disney Studios.

He has become known primarily as a “creature creator.” His first such assignment was for the TV movie Gargoyles (1972) (TV).

Father of actor Matt Winston and daughter.

Made a living as a stand-up comedian before moving into make-up effects.

Helped out on some Special Effects scenes in The Thing (1982) when Rob Bottin was suffering from exhaustion at the time due to his immensely heavy workload.

Father-in-law of Amy Smallman.

Has four grandchildren.

Has a brother.

While filming Predator (1987), Winston returned to his hotel one day, to find his shower crawling with frogs. Convinced that this was a prank by Arnold Schwarzenegger, he called in the help of members of his special effects crew in catching the frogs in a pillow case and releasing them into Arnold’s bed. Neither Stan nor Arnold dared to bring up the subject the next day. Years later, Winston was on a talk-show and recounted the entire story, knowing Arnold would be a guest in that show the next day. But the next day, Arnold commented on the story by swearing he had nothing to do with the prank, upon which Winston’s crew members finally confessed they had played the prank on him. They knew Arnold was innocent but had decided to let Winston get even with him anyway.

He was awarded the Virginia Film’s Festival Virginia Film Award in 1999 and was a member of the festival’s advisory board.

Health Ledger

Heath Andrew Ledger (4 April 1979 – 22 January 2008) was an Australian television and film actor. After performing roles in Australian television and film during the 1990s, Ledger moved to the United States in 1998 to develop his film career. His work encompassed nineteen films, including 10 Things I Hate About You (1999), The Patriot (2000), Monster’s Ball (2001), A Knight’s Tale (2001), Brokeback Mountain (2005), and The Dark Knight (2008). In addition to his acting, he produced and directed music videos and aspired to be a film director.

Trivia:

He and his older sister, Kate Ledger, are named after the two main romantic characters of the Emily Brontë novel, “Wuthering Heights”.

Concentrated on drama and sports in school. When asked to choose between the two, he picked drama. Attended a private all-boys school called Guildford Grammar.

Auditioned for the part of Max on the TV show “Roswell” (1999). However, the show was originally developed for Fox and since he had already starred in “Roar” (1997), which was unsuccessful for Fox, they did not want to hire him.

Had three sisters: Catherine (Kate) Ledger, married to Nathan Buckey, and half sisters Olivia Ledger (b. 1997) and Ashleigh Bell (b. 1989).

Mother was Sally Ramshaw (daughter of John and Jackie Ramshaw) and father was Kim Ledger (son of Colin and Es Ledger). Stepfather was Roger Bell and stepmother was Emma Brown. His great-grandfather was Sir Frank Ledger, son of Edson Leger.

Named one of People Magazine’s 50 Most Beautiful People in 2001.

Dated Heather Graham. [October 2000 - June 2001]

Was a part of the 1990 Kalamunda Field Hockey team, whose president his father Kim was from 1990 to 1992.

Was a men’s-fashion judge at the Melbourne Cup Carnival in November 2001.

Was originally set to star in Oliver Stone’s Alexander (2004) before Colin Farrell took over the role.

Was considered for the role of Kar in Bulletproof Monk (2003) but eventually turned it down. The role later went to Seann William Scott.

Dated Naomi Watts from August 2002 to May 2004.

He and Naomi Watts broke up for the 2nd time in April 2004.

Was named “the new Matt Damon” in Josie and the Pussycats (2001). They now act side by side in The Brothers Grimm (2005)

Most of his wardrobe was designed by his friend Shem.

Was of Irish and Scottish ancestry.

Starred in 3 films which screened at the 2005 Venice Film Festival. They included Brokeback Mountain (2005), The Brothers Grimm (2005) and the out-of-competition Casanova (2005).

Former fiancée Michelle Williams gave birth to daughter Matilda Rose Ledger on 28 October 2005, who weighed in at 6 lb, 5 oz.

Met Michelle Williams on the set of Brokeback Mountain (2005).

Was selected in the State U17 squad in field hockey and was touted as one of the up and coming young stars, but chose to pack it in and try to make a career out of acting.

Jake Gyllenhaal is the godfather of his daughter Matilda Ledger.

Was mentored by, lived with, and was very good friends with Martin Henderson.

Invited to join AMPAS in 2006.

Was the first non-American actor to portray the Joker.

Set to star in Baz Luhrmann’s pre-WWII drama, but backed out to play The Joker in The Dark Knight (2008).

Michelle Williams’ “Dawson’s Creek” (1998) co-star Busy Philipps and his Brokeback Mountain (2005) co-star Jake Gyllenhaal are his daughter’s godparents.

When he was cast as The Joker in The Dark Knight (2008), rumors circulated that his Brokeback Mountain (2005) cast mate Jake Gyllenhaal would be playing district attorney Harvey Dent. Instead, Jake’s sister Maggie Gyllenhaal was cast as assistant D.A. Rachel Dawes.

Dropped out of Australia (2008) to do The Dark Knight (2008).

Heath Ledger as The Joker

Was one of seven godparents of Elizabeth Hurley’s son Damien.

Called off his engagement to Michelle Williams in September 2007.

Chosen by Empire Magazine as one of the 100 Sexiest Movie Stars in the world (#79) 2007.

Resided in Brooklyn, Los Angeles and Sydney.

Was found dead in his apartment at 421 Broome Street in the SoHo neighborhood in New York City at 3:26 p.m. EST by his housekeeper and a massage therapist, finding him face down and unconscious in his bed with sleeping pills on a nearby table. [22 January 2008]

Directed three music videos for Australian artist N’fa and Ben Harper.

Was painfully shy.

First acting role was as “Peter Pan”, at age 10, at a local theater company.

Lived in Roman Way, Islington while filming his last movie ever in London in 2007.

Was very good friends with Russell Crowe.

Was considered for a role in Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World (2003).

Actor Daniel Day-Lewis made a dedication to him at the SAG Awards 2008.

Owned a pet kangaroo that was found by his mother as a child.

Favorite food was risotto.

Was good friends with Ben Harper.

He was the co-founder of record label Music Masses Co with singer Ben Harper, and directed Harper’s video for the song ‘Morning Yearning’.

The youngest actor to play the Joker in a Batman movie The Dark Knight (2008), as oppose to Jack Nicholson and Cesar Romero.

In 2006, took a year off from acting to raise his daughter Matilda Ledger while his girlfriend at the time, Michelle Williams, worked.

On February 9, 2008, a memorial service attended by several hundred invited guests was held at Penhros College in Perth, Western Australia followed by a private wake on Cottesloe Beach with his family and friends.

After his death his body was returned to Perth, Western Australia, where his body was cremated at Fremantle Cemetery, with his ashes to be “scattered in a family plot at Karrakatta Cemetery, next to two of his grandparents.

Before appearing with Christian Bale in The Dark Knight (2008), the two of them both played incarnations of Bob Dylan in I’m Not There. (2007). This makes Ledger the second Joker actor to share a role with a Batman actor. Previously, Cesar Romero shared the role of lawman John “Doc” Holliday with Adam West and Val Kilmer.

His favorite Australian bands and musicians were Spiderbait, Powderfinger, and Silverchair.

Was good friends with Joaquin Phoenix.

Said in 1999 that his favorite actors and directors were Gene Kelly, Judy Garland, Bob Fosse, Stanley Kubrick, Katharine Hepburn, ‘Jack Nicholson’, Marcel Cann, Terrence Malick, Mel Gibson, and Meryl Streep. Later, he went on to co-star with Gibson; and play The Joker (previously portrayed by Nicholson) with his character was partly inspired by Kubrick’s A Clockwork Orange (1971); and had almost been cast in Malick’s The Tree of Life (2010).

In an interview shortly before his death, he stated that his favorite role so far in his career had been his role as The Joker in The Dark Knight (2008).

Swiss actor and filmmaker Philippe Vonlanthen worked as his Body-double and stand-in on “Roar” (1997). Filming took place in Queensland, Australia.

Played the character of Scott Irwin in the long-running Australian soap opera “Home and Away” (1988) for 10 episodes in 1997. Scott was a local bad boy who took advantage of Sally Fletcher. It is said that the producers wanted to extend his stay with the show but Heath opted not to.

His Golden Globe Award win for The Dark Knight (2008) came eleven days before the first anniversary of his death.

When actress Nell Campbell moved back to her homeland of Australia, she sold her house to Ledger in 2005.

Received his Oscar-nomination for The Dark Knight (2008) on the first anniversary of his death, January 22, 2009.

He is not only the first and only actor to be nominated for an Academy Award for his portrayal of the Joker, but the first and only actor to secure an acting nomination for a Batman film.

In both his first and final complete roles, he portrayed a clown.

The day after he died, he was supposed to meet with ‘Steven Spielberg’ to explore the idea of playing Tom Hayden in a movie about the Chicago 7.

Has co-starred with a Gyllenhaal sibling in his two most acclaimed roles: as Ennis Del Marr with Jake Gyllenhaal in Brokeback Mountain (2005), and as the Joker with Maggie Gyllenhaal in The Dark Knight (2008).

Was awarded the 2009 Academy Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role for his work as the Joker in The Dark Knight (2008). This made him the first person to win a posthumous acting Oscar in this category.

His daughter Matilda Ledger will be the recipient of his Oscar for The Dark Knight (2008) when she turns 18. Up until then the statuette will be in custody of his father Kim Ledger, mother Sally Bell and sister Kate Ledger, per Academy rules.

Very first performer to win an Oscar for acting in a comic movie-adaptation.

Was a great admirer of Johnny Depp’s work. Like Depp, Ledger worked hard to avoid being typecast as a teen heartthrob early on, in the hopes of expanding his career options. Both actors enjoyed taking risky, physically unappealing roles that surprised audiences. Depp was one of the three actors who filled in for Ledger’s last unfinished role after his death, in The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus (2009).

The second person to win a posthumous acting Oscar. The first was Peter Finch.

Won almost every award in which he was nominated for his performance as The Joker in The Dark Knight (2008) including the quintuple crown (a Golden Globe, BAFTA, SAG, Critics’ Choice Award, and Oscar).

Is one of 8 actors to have won the Academy Award, BAFTA Award, Critics’ Choice Award, Golden Globe Award and SAG Award for the same performance. The others in chronological order are Geoffrey Rush for Shine (1996), Jamie Foxx for Ray (2004/I), Philip Seymour Hoffman for Capote (2005), Forest Whitaker for The Last King of Scotland (2006), Javier Bardem for No Country for Old Men (2007), Daniel Day-Lewis for There Will Be Blood (2007), and Christoph Waltz for Inglourious Basterds (2009).

David Cronenberg

David Paul Cronenberg, OC, FRSC (born March 15, 1943)is a Canadian filmmaker, screenwriter, and occasional actor. He is one of the principal originators of what is commonly known as the body horror or venereal horror genre. This style of filmmaking explores people’s fears of bodily transformation and infection. In his films, the psychological is typically intertwined with the physical. In the first half of his career, he explored these themes mostly through horror and science fiction, although his work has since expanded beyond these genres.

Trade Mark:

His films generally involve the horror caused by a mutation, by a parasite, or by particular medical conditions.

Uses dark backgrounds.

Films often include explicit carnage.

Frequent references to the Flesh or the New Flesh.

Frequently uses the music of Howard Shore.

Frequently casts Robert A. Silverman.

Movies about crime families.

Frequently casts Viggo Mortensen.

Trivia:

Costumes in his films are usually designed by his sister Denise Cronenberg.

Was set to direct Total Recall (1990). He even wrote a few drafts of the script before Paul Verhoeven took over.

Brother of costume designer Denise Cronenberg.

Father of Caitlin Cronenberg and Brandon Cronenberg.

Uncle of Aaron Woodley

Is of German / Dutch descent

John Carpenter paid homage to him in Escape from New York (1981). One of the United States Police Force guards is on the line with Hauk, then adds that Cronenberg is on the line for him. Another person paid homage to in the movie was George A. Romero, who had Isaac Hayes’s right-hand man named after him.

President of jury at the Cannes Film Festival in 1999

Directed an episode of “Friday the 13th” (1987), The Services, called Faith Healer. 13 years later, he appeared in the Friday the 13th film (unreleated to the series), Jason X (2001).

Was offered the chance to direct Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi (1983) but he declined.

His crew referred to the final Brundlefly monster seen in the climax of The Fly (1986) as the Space Bug.

Father was a bookstore owner and sometime columnist for the Toronto Telegram. Mother was a piano rehearsal accompanist for the National Ballet.

Father died at age 61.

Deferred his own salary to make Spider (2002).

Father of Assistant Director Cassandra Cronenberg.

Cites Winter Kept Us Warm (1965) as his inspiration for becoming a filmmaker. It was screened at the University of Toronto when he was a student.

Has admired bugs and insects since childhood. This fascination has lingered on, and can be felt through many of his films.

At one point, Cronenberg was in line to direct the film “The Singing Detective” (2003), with Al Pacino in the lead.

Turned down the chance to direct “Top Gun” (1986).

Turned down the chance to direct RoboCop.

His regular cinematographer until 1988 was Mark Irwin until Dead Ringers (1988), on which Irwin was unable to work because of his commitment to The Blob (1988). Cronenberg then hired Peter Suschitzky, who became his regular cinematographer, and Cronenberg and Irwin have not worked together since then.

His father was a journalist and his mother played the piano. These roles are reversed in The Fly (1986), in which Jeff Goldblum plays the piano to impress Geena Davis, who plays a journalist.

Has often referred to The Brood (1979) as his own twisted version of Kramer vs. Kramer (1979).

Jon Bon Jovi

Jon Bon Jovi (born John Francis Bongiovi, Jr. March 2, 1962) is an American musician, songwriter and actor, best known as the lead singer and founder of band Bon Jovi. He was also the owner of the Philadelphia Soul of the now suspended Arena Football League. Throughout his career, he has released two solo albums and eleven studio albums with his band which have sold over 120 million albums worldwide.

As a solo artist, he has numerous awards for his work, including a Golden Globe and an Academy Award nomination for his solo hit: Blaze of Glory. He was awarded an honorary Doctorate of Humanities from Monmouth University in 2001.

Trade Mark:

Songs are usually about someone having a hard time but rising above it (ie Livin’ On A Prayer, It’s My Life, Bounce)

His dancing onstage

Jon’s unique voice

Sunglasses

Trivia:

Musician/rock star turned actor

Chosen by People (USA) magazine as one of the 50 most beautiful people in the world [1996]

Auditioned for the role of Ashe in The Crow: City of Angels (1996), but lost out to French actor Vincent Perez.

Appeared on the Star Wars Christmas album, “Christmas in the Stars”. (as John Bongiovi)

The acoustical performance of “Livin’ On A Prayer” and “Wanted Dead or Alive” that Jon and Richie Sambora performed at the 1989 MTV Video Music Awards is widely acknowledged as being the genesis/greenlight for MTV’s “Unplugged” series.

Given title “Sexiest Rock Star” by People Magazine. [November 2000]

Children, with Dorothea Hurley, Stephanie Rose (b. May 31st 1993), Jesse James Louis (b. February 19th 1995), Jacob Hurley (b. May 7th 2002) and Romeo Jon (b. March 29th 2004).

The song “August 7″, from his solo album Destination Anywhere, is a tribute to his friend/manager Paul Korzilius’ daughter Katherine. She died at the age of six under mysterious circumstances on August 7, 1996.

Likes watching movies, driving cars, sleeping, eating junk food, working out at the gym, football, spending time with his family and playing with his dog Copper.

He’s owned a few cars as well, a white Datsun 280Z in 1988, a ’58 Corvette 1988-1992, a Ferrari 328 GTSI 1988-1992; in 1995 Jon owned a Ferrari, Camaro, 2 Corvettes, some Jeeps, Mustang Shelby and a 1957 Lincoln Premier, some motorcycles, among them a Harley Davidson and a snowmobile. In 1996 he owned a Harley Davidson, black Mercedes and a red 91/92 Corvette. He loves sports cars, especially Porsches.

Likes wearing casual clothes, jeans and shirts

He has sensitive eyes against sunlight and cigarette smoke, that’s why he always wears sunglasses. During spring he has allergies and hay fever.

He started smoking in 1994 during the making of _Moonlight and Valentino (1995)_ but quit again. Picked it back up during the making of The Leading Man (1996) and after the 1996 tour because he “just likes it”.

Italian-American

Dated award winning actress Diane Lane in the mid-eighties.

Mother is Carol Sharkey, one of the first Playboy bunnies. His father is John Frank Bongiovi.

Brother of Anthony M. Bongiovi and ‘Matthew Bongiovi’.

Has worked on behalf of the Special Olympics, the American Red Cross, the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation and other groups.

Son, Romeo Jon, born on March 29, 2004, and weighed 9 lbs. 7 oz.

Shares a birthday with Coldplay singer Chris Martin.

He was awarded an honorary Doctorate of Humanities from Monmouth University in 2001

Majority owner of the Philadelphia Soul (Arena Football League), which began play in 2004.

He was born in Perth Amboy, New Jersey, but he grew up in Sayreville, New Jersey.

Campaigned for Al Gore in the 2000 Presidential election, and John Kerry in the 2004 Presidential election.

His band “Bon Jovi” were discovered when they won a local New York City(WAPP “The Apple” 103.5 “now defunct”) radio station contest in the early 80′s. The winning song was the now classic hit “Runaway”.

Have a Nice Day, Jon’s Bands new Album, reached #1 in Australia, Holland, Austria, Germany and Canada after just one week after release.

Is co-owner of the Arena Football League team the Philidelphia Soul.

In 2006 his band, Bon Jovi became the first rock band to have a number one hit on the country charts.

He graduated from Sayreville War Memorial High School with other alumni such as Marilyn Ghigliotti and Greg Evigan.

Bon Jovi were inducted into the UK Music Hall of Fame for their outstanding contribution to British music and integral part of British music culture. [14 November 2006]

His favorite songs are “Ruby” by The Kaiser Chiefs, “Overnight Sensation” by The Raspberries, “Clocks” by Coldplay, “You’re Beautiful” by James Blunt, “Chasing Cars” by Snow Patrol, “Tiny Dancer” by Elton John, “Start Me Up” by The Rolling Stones, “Cannonball” by Damien Rice, “When You Were Young” by The Killers and “One” by U2. (Source: BBC Radio 2 “Tracks of My Years”).

Ranked #76 on VH1′s 100 Greatest Hard Rock Artists along with Bon Jovi.

Ranked #13 on VH1′s 100 Sexiest Artists.

His song “Livin’ On A Prayer” is ranked #1 on VH1′s list of “The 100 Greatest Songs Of The Eighties”.

His grandfather was a mortician, he owned Bongiovi funeral home in Raritan, New Jersey.

He was elected into the 2008 New Jersey Hall of Fame for his services to Arts, Entertainment, and Philanthropy.

His favorite movie is The Godfather.

Javier Bardem

Javier Ángel Encinas Bardem (born March 1, 1969) is a Spanish actor. He has garnered critical acclaim for roles in films such as Jamón, jamón, Carne tremula, Boca a boca, Los Lunes al sol and Mar adentro.

Bardem has been awarded an Academy Award, a Golden Globe, a Screen Actors Guild Award, a BAFTA, four Goya awards, two European Film Awards and two Coppa Volpis for his work. He is the first Spanish actor to be nominated for an Oscar (Best Actor, 2000, for Before Night Falls) as well as the first to win (Supporting Actor, 2007, for No Country for Old Men).

Trivia:

Brother of Carlos Bardem and Mónica Bardem.

Son of Pilar Bardem

Nephew of director Juan Antonio Bardem

Grandson of Rafael Bardem

His Best Actor nomination for Before Night Falls (2000) made him the first Spanish actor to receive an Academy Award nomination and his Best Supporting Actor victory for No Country for Old Men (2007) made him the first Spanish actor to win an Academy Award.

Says in interviews that he doesn’t know how to drive.

Played rugby union as a teen and was on the Spanish National Team.

Ten years ago, a stranger in a disco asked him his name. When Javier replied, the man punched him in the face for no apparent reason, breaking his nose.

Javier’s original interest was in painting, and he studied at Madrid’s Escuela de Artes y Oficios. Eventually, deciding he’d never be a talented painter, he drifted into a number of odd jobs, working as a bouncer, a writer, a construction worker, and even a stripper.

To portray Reinaldo Arenas, Javier not only learned Cuban-Spanish, but Cuban-accented English, and lost 30 pounds to better resemble the smaller-framed Arenas.

Javier, his mother, Pilar Bardem, and his siblings, Mónica Bardem and Carlos Bardem, often appear in each other’s films.

To become Ramón Sampedro, a 55-year-old Spanish man who made headlines with a crusade to end his own life, Javier, who was in his thirties at the time, was on the set of Mar adentro (2004/I) at the crack of dawn for a five-hour makeup session that produced the necessary aging.

Member of the jury at the Cannes Film Festival in 2005

Spanish citizen.

Actors Gael García Bernal and Diego Luna list him as their favorite actor.

Beat out Johnny Depp for the role of Florentino Ariza in Love in the Time of Cholera (2007).

Chosen by Empire magazine as one of the 100 Sexiest Stars in film history (#73). [2007].

Dedicated the Oscar he won for No Country for Old Men (2007) to his mother, Pilar, whom he brought with him to the ceremony. At the end of his acceptance speech, Javier said to her (originally in Spanish), “Mom, this is for you, this is for your grandparents, for your parents, Rafael and Matilde, this is for the actors of Spain, who have brought, like you, the dignity and the pride to our job. This is for Spain and this is for all of you.”.

The Bardem family owns a restaurant in Spain called La Bardemcilla. The restaurant is managed by Javier’s sister, Monica.

Good friends with Josh Brolin.

Had a long relationship with Cristina Payés. They were together for ten years.

Is one of seven actors to have won an Academy Award, BAFTA Award, Critics’ Choice Award, Golden Globe Award and SAG Award for the same performance. The others in chronological order are Geoffrey Rush for Shine (1996), Jamie Foxx for Ray(2004), Philip Seymour Hoffman for Capote (2005), Forest Whitaker for The Last King in Scotland (2006), Daniel Day-Lewis for There Will Be Blood (2007), and Heath Ledger for The Dark Knight (2008).

Has been in a relationship with Penélope Cruz since they began working together on Vicky Cristina Barcelona (2008).

Was originally cast as Guido Contini in Nine (2009), but he turned the role down and Daniel Day-Lewis was eventually given the part.

Was originally cast in Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps (2010), but dropped out of the project and was replaced by Josh Brolin.

Vacationed with Penelope Cruz and his family (mother, Pilar and brother, Carlos) in Fernando de Noronha, a cluster of islands located directly off the Brazilian coast. [January 2010]