Aaron Eckhart
Birthdate: Mar 12, 1968
Birthplace: Cupertino, California, USA
Aaron Eckhart (birthname: Aaron Edward Eckhart) is a durable veteran actor who has worked with many major American filmmakers, and who had his first credited theatrical feature role in the lead role in director/writer Neil LaBute’s drama, In the Company of Men (1997), based on LaBute’s 1992 play, starring Matt Malloy and Stacy Edwards, and which earned an Independent Spirit Award best debut nomination for Eckhart and grossed ten times estimated costs for Sony Pictures Classics (U.S.-Canada)/Alliance Independent Films. Eckhart continued with director/writer LaBute as co-star in the black comedy, Your Friends & Neighbors (1998), co-starring Amy Brenneman, Catherine Keener, Nastassja Kinski, Jason Patric, and Ben Stiller, produced by PolyGram Filmed Entertainment and released by Gramercy Pictures.
Eckhart co-starred with Thomas Jane, Paulina Porizkova, Paula Marshall, James Le Gros and Mickey Rourke in director/writer/producer Skip Woods’ black comedy, Thursday (1998), produced by PolyGram Filmed Entertainment/Propaganda Films and distributed by Legacy Releasing, and then Eckhart joined co-star Elisabeth Shue and director John Duigan for the box-office bomb, Molly (1999), backed by producer/distributor MGM and released outside the U.S. by United International Pictures. Eckhart then stepped aboard an Oliver Stone movie with the charged NFL movie, Any Given Sunday (1999), based on Pat Toomay’s 1984 novel with co-writer John Logan, co-starring Al Pacino, Cameron Diaz, Dennis Quaid, James Woods, Jamie Foxx, LL Cool J, Matthew Modine, Charlton Heston, and Ann-Margret, and which grossed $100 million for Warner Bros. Pictures.
Aaron Eckhart continued his run in major Hollywood movies as a co-star with Oscar winner Julia Roberts and Oscar nominated Albert Finney in Oscar nominated director Steven Soderbergh’s acclaimed biopic drama, Erin Brockovich (2000), written by Susannah Grant, produced by Danny DeVito, Michael Shamberg and Stacey Sher, and which earned five Oscar nominations (including Best Director), grossing a strong $256.3 million globally (based on estimated costs) for Universal Pictures (U.S.-Canada)/Columbia TriStar Film Distributors International (International).
Eckhart reunited with director Neil LaBute for the acclaimed black comedy, Nurse Betty (2000), starring Renee Zellweger, Morgan Freeman, Chris Rock and Greg Kinnear, premiering in competition at the Cannes Film Festival (where it won Best Screenplay), and earning nearly $30 million globally for USA Films (U.S.)/Summit Entertainment (International), followed by Eckhart appearing in another American film in competition in Cannes, director/producer Sean Penn’s fine drama starring Jack Nicholson, The Pledge (2001), based on Friedrich Durrenmatt’s 1958 novella, co-starring Patricia Clarkson, Benicio del Toro, Helen Mirren, Tom Noonan, Robin Wright Penn, Vanessa Redgrave, Mickey Rourke, Sam Shepard, Lois Smith and Harry Dean Stanton, and released by Morgan Creek Productions/Warner Bros. Pictures.
Eckhart once again was directed by Neil LaBute (who also co-wrote with David Henry Hwang and Laura Jones) in the romantic mystery, Possession (2002), based on A.S. Byatt’s 1990 Booker-winning novel, co-starring Gwyneth Paltrow, Jeremy Northam, Jennifer Ehle and Lena Headey, produced by Barry Levinson’s Baltimore Pictures/Spring Creek Pictures and released by Focus Features (U.S.-Canada)/Warner Bros. Pictures (International). Eckhart landed his first lead role in a big-budget studio movie, Paramount Pictures’ The Core (2003), with Hilary Swank, Delroy Lindo, Stanley Tucci, and Alfre Woodard under Jon Amiel’s direction, but grossed a poor $74 million globally (based on estimated costs).
Aaron Eckhart joined co-stars Tommy Lee Jones and Cate Blanchett in director/producer Ron Howard’s Western, The Missing (2003), based on Thomas Eidson’s 1995 novel, The Last Ride, with Evan Rachel Wood, and which lost money for producers Columbia Pictures/Revolution Studios/Imagine Entertainment and Sony Pictures Releasing, and then Eckhart was cast in a top co-starring role by director/producer John Woo with lead Ben Affleck in producer-distributor Paramount Pictures’ sci-fi Paycheck (2003), based on Philip K. Dick’s 1953 story, featuring Uma Thurman, Paul Giamatti, Colm Feore, Joe Morton and Michael C. Hall, co-produced by DreamWorks Pictures/Davis Entertainment/Lion Rock Entertainment, and grossing over $117 million. Eckhart starred in director/producer E. Elias Merhige’s failed thriller, Suspect Zero (2004), co-written by Zak Penn and Billy Ray, with Tom Cruise’s Cruise/Wagner Productions as lead producer, co-starring Ben Kingsley, Carrie-Anne Moss, and Harry Lennix, and released by Paramount Pictures (North America)/CTFDI (International).
Eckhart starred in director/writer Jason Reitman’s satirical filmmaking debut, Thank You for Smoking (2005), based on Christopher Buckley’s 1994 novel, co-starring Maria Bello, Cameron Bright, Adam Brody, Sam Elliott, Katie Holmes, Rob Lowe, William H. Macy, J.K. Simmons and Robert Duvall, premiering at the Toronto Film Festival before a profitable $39.3 million release by Fox Searchlight Pictures (based on estimated costs). Eckhart co-starred with Helena Bonham Carter in the Gabrielle Zevin-written drama, Conversations with Other Women (2005), with Nora Zehetner and Olivia Wilde, premiering at the Telluride Film Festival and released by Fabrication Films (U.S.)/MK2 Diffusion (France) to fine reviews but little business.
Aaron Eckhart worked with director/writer Neil LaBute on their fifth movie together, the U.S.-German remake of The Wicker Man (2006), starring Nicolas Cage (who also produced), Ellen Burstyn, Kate Beahan, Frances Conroy, Molly Parker, and Leelee Sobieski, and which earned $39 million for Warner Bros. Pictures (U.S., Germany)/Millennium Films (International). Eckhart was cast alongside Josh Hartnett, Scarlett Johansson and Hilary Swank in director Brian De Palma’s screen version of James Ellroy’s 1987 Los Angeles true-crime novel, The Black Dahlia (2006), premiering in competition at the Venice Film Festival before it returned over $49 million in box office for distributors Universal Pictures (U.S.)/Metropolitan Filmexport (France)/Warner Bros. Pictures (Germany).
Eckhart was paired with co-star Catherine Zeta-Jones for the Scott Hicks-directed No Reservations (2007), a remake of Sandra Nettelbeck’s German movie, Mostly Martha (2001), written by Carol Fuchs, featuring Abigail Breslin, Patricia Clarkson, Bob Balaban, Jenny Wade, Brian F. O’Byrne, Lily Rabe and a debuting Zoe Kravitz, produced by Castle Rock Entertainment/Village Roadshow Pictures and released to a fine $92.6 million global gross by Warner Bros. Pictures (U.S.)/Roadshow Entertainment (Australia). Eckhart topped the cast above the title in director/writer/producer Alan Ball’s big-screen version of Alicia Erian’s 2005 novel, Towelhead (2007), co-produced by Ted Hope, co-starring Toni Collette, Maria Bello, Peter Macdissi, and Summer Bishil, launching at the Toronto Film Festival and released by Warner Independent Pictures/Red Envelope Entertainment.
Aaron Eckhart was the star in the title role and took an executive producer credit for the comedy, Meet Bill (2007), with Jessica Alba, Elizabeth Banks, Timothy Olyphant, and Logan Lerman under the co-direction of Bernie Goldmann and Melissa Wallack, who wrote the script, premiering at the Toronto Film Festival but playing to little business via First Look International. Eckhart was cast by filmmaker Christopher Nolan as Harvey Dent/Two-Face in the game-changing DC Comics Batman movie, The Dark Knight (2008), co-written Jonathan Nolan and David S. Goyer, starring Christopher Nolan, Michael Caine, Heath Ledger, Gary Oldman, Maggie Gyllenhaal and Morgan Freeman, produced by Warner Bros. Pictures/Legendary Pictures/Syncopy and delivering a knockout $1 billion-plus gross (based on estimated costs) for Warner Bros. Pictures.
Eckhart co-starred with Jennifer Aniston in director/co-writer Brandon Camp’s rom com, Love Happens (2009), with Dan Fogler, Judy Greer, Joe Anderson, John Carroll Lynch and Martin Sheen, knocked by critics but supported by audiences with $36 million returns for Universal Pictures (U.S., Canada, France)/Focus Features International (International), and then Eckhart was an above-the-title co-star with Nicole Kidman (also a lead producer) and Dianne Wiest under John Cameron Mitchell’s direction in Rabbit Hole (2010), adapted by David Lindsay-Abaire from his 2006 play, with Tammy Blanchard, Miles Teller, Giancarlo Esposito, Jon Tenney and Sandra Oh, premiering at the Toronto Film Festival, and earning money for distributor Lionsgate (based on estimated costs).
Aaron Eckhart led the brawny cast of Columbia Pictures/Relativity Media/Sony Pictures Releasing’s military sci-fi movie, Battle: Los Angeles (2011), co-starring Michelle Rodriguez, Ramon Rodriguez, Bridget Moynahan, Ne-Yo, and Michael Peña under Jonathan Liebesman’s direction, and which delivered an excellent $212 million gross (based on estimated costs). Eckhart then partnered with director/writer Bruce Robinson and star/producer Johnny Depp for a major role in the movie version of Hunter S. Thompson’s 1998 novel, The Rum Diary (2011), with Michael Rispoli, Amber Heard, Richard Jenkins, and Giovanni Ribisi, and released by FilmDistrict to a poor $30 million (based on approximate costs).
Eckhart starred above the title for the Canadian-Belgian thriller, Erased (2012), with Olga Kurylenko and Liana Liberato under Phillipp Stölzl’s direction, grossing $1.3 million for RADiUS-TWC, followed by more action movies for Eckhart—in the Fallen series as the U.S. President—in the Antoine Fuqua-directed Olympus Has Fallen (2013) and the Babak Najafi-directed London Has Fallen (2016), both co-starring Gerard Butler and Morgan Freeman, grossing a cumulative $376 million for distributor FilmDistrict. Eckhart portrayed The Monster in director/writer Stuart Beattie’s widely lambasted U.S.-Australia co-production, I, Frankenstein (2014), based on Kevin Grevioux’s graphic novel, co-starring Bill Nighy, Yvonne Strahovski, Miranda Otto, and Jai Courtney, and grossing a disastrous $76.8 million (based on estimated costs).
Aaron Eckhart starred in another commercial failure, director/writer Angelo Pizzo’s football biopic, My All American (2015), co-starring Finn Wittrock, Robin Tunney, and Sarah Bolger, and earning a very poor $2.2 million return (based on estimated costs) for distributor Clarius Entertainment. Eckhart ended a phase of working with major filmmakers as lead support with star Tom Hanks in the title role in director/producer Clint Eastwood’s biopic, Sully (2016), based on Chesly “Sully” Sullenberger’s and Jeffrey Zaslow’s 2009 biography, Highest Duty, co-starring Laura Linney, Mike O’Malley and Anna Gunn, and which earned acclaim after a Telluride Film Festival premiere and a $241 million global gross for Warner Bros. Pictures.
Eckhart shared the lead name-above-the-title credit with Miles Teller for director/writer/producer Ben Younger’s boxing biopic about world champ Vinny Pazienza, Bleed for This (2016), with Katey Sagal, Ciaran Hinds, and Ted Levine, premiering at the Telluride Film Festival before a disappointing $7.2 million gross (based on estimated costs) for distributor Open Road Films. Eckhart starred in one of his few horror movies, Incarnate (2016), with Carice van Houten and Catalina Sandino Moreno under Brad Peyton’s direction, with Jason Blum’s Blumhouse Productions and WWE Studios as lead producers, earning a fair $9 million return (based on approximate costs) for BH Tilt/High Top Releasing.
Aaron Eckhart joined the ensemble of director/producer Roland Emmerich’s WWII Pacific movie, Midway (2019), co-starring Ed Skrein, Patrick Wilson, Luke Evans, Nick Jonas, Etsushi Toyokawa, Tadanobu Asano, Dennis Quaid and Woody Harrelson, and which grossed a weak $127.4 million (based on estimated costs) globally for Lionsgate-Summit Entertainment (U.S.)/Elevation Pictures (Canada)/Huaxia Film Distribution (China). Eckhart starred in the little-seen police thriller, Line of Duty (2019), with Courtney Eaton, Jessica Lu, Dina Meyer, Ben McKenzie and Giancarlo Esposito, and released by Saban Films, and then Eckhart joined co-stars Katheryn Winnick, Heather Graham and Tommy Lee Jones in another minor thriller, director/producer April Mullen’s Wander (2020), released by Saban Films after launching at the Deauville Film Festival.
Eckhart co-starred in more action fare, such as director/co-writer/producer Mark Earl Burman’s war movie, Ambush (2023), with Jonathan Rhys Meyers and Connor Paolo and released by Saban Films; director/co-writer/producer John Stalberg Jr.’s Muzzle (2023), with Penelope Mitchell and Stephen Lang, and distributed by RLJE Films; Rumble Through the Dark (2023), with Bella Thorne and Marianne Jean-Baptiste under the co-direction of Graham and Parker Phillips backed by lead producer Cassian Elwes and released in limited pattern by Lionsgate; Eckhart led the cast of Nina Dobrev, Tim Blake Nelson, Ilfenesh Hadera and Clifton Collins Jr. in The Bricklayer (2023), directed by Renny Harlin and released to under $1 million returns by Vertical Entertainment; Eckhart took on a CIA role in Chief of Station (2024), with Olga Kurylenko, and distributed by Vertical; and then Eckhart reunited with director/co-writer/producer Stalberg for the sequel, Muzzle: City of Wolves (2025), and released to little more than $100,000 box office by RLJE Films. Eckhart partnered again with director Harlin for the thriller, Deep Water (2026), co-starring Angus Sampson, Ben Kingsley, and Kelly Gale, with Kiss co-lead singer Gene Simmons as a lead producer, and released wide by Magenta Light Studios.
Aaron Eckhart continued to star in small-scale action movies, such as The Walk In (date to be announced), directed by Roel Reine; Scorpion (date to be announced), directed by Brian Skiba; and Midair (date to be announced), directed by Timo Vuorensola.
Personal life
Aaron Eckhart was born in Cupertino, California, by Mary (writer-painter-poet) and James (computer executive), and was raised in Cupertino and in the U.K. communities of Surrey, Cobham, Ripley and Walton-on-Thames. Eckhart attended American Community School in Greater London, and then American International School of Sydney in Sydney, Australia, earning a diploma via a professional education course, followed by Brigham Young University—Hawaii and BYU in Provo, Utah, where Eckhart graduated with a BFA in Film Studies in 1994. Eckhart subsequently studied acting at the William Esper Studio. Eckhart was engaged to and then separated from actor Emily Cline in 1998; Eckhart was then in a relationship with singer/songwriter Kristyn Osborn from 2006 to 2007. Eckhart’s height is 5’ 11”. Eckhart’s estimated net worth is $12 million.
Known For
Aaron Eckhart Movies
actor
Previous (50)
- 2026 |
Deep Water
A group of international passengers en route from Los Angeles to Shanghai are forced to make an emergency landing in shark-infested waters. Now they must work together in hopes to overcome the frenzy of sharks drawn to the wreckage.
- 2025 |
Thieves Highway
asFrank Bennett
A seasoned lawman tracking down cattle rustlers stumbles into a deadly smuggling ring deep in rural America. Stranded without a truck or cell service in the middle of nowhere, he must rely on grit and resilience to face a dangerous gang before they escape to the border and justice slips away.
- 2025 |
Muzzle: City of Wolves
Haunted ex-K-9 officer Jake's peaceful life is shattered when a gang brutally attacks his family. With new K-9 partner Argos, he uncovers a drug ring, confronts corrupt officials, and fights inner demons while pursuing the criminals.
- 2024 |
Chief of Station
asBenjamin Malloy
After learning that the death of his wife was not an accident, a former CIA Station Chief is forced back into the espionage underworld, teaming up with an adversary to unravel a conspiracy that challenges everything he thought he knew.
- 2024 |
- 2023 | Ambushas Capitaine Drummond
- 2023 | Tom Hanks: The Nomad
- 2023 | Rumble Through the Darkas Jack Boucher
- 2023 | Muzzleas Jake Rosser
- 2023 |
- 2022 | Heath Ledger: A Tragic Tale
- 2020 | Wanderas Arthur Bretnik
- 2019 |
Line of Duty
asFrank Penny
A disgraced cop finds himself in a race against time to find a kidnap victim whose abductor he accidentally killed.
- 2019 |
- 2016 | Incarnateas Dr. Ember
- 2016 |
- 2016 | Bleed for Thisas Kevin Rooney
- 2016 |
Bleed for This
asKevin Rooney
The inspirational story of World Champion Boxer Vinny Pazienza who, after a near fatal car crash which left him not knowing if he'd ever walk again, made one of sports' most incredible comebacks.
- 2016 |
- 2016 |
London Has Fallen
asBenjamin Asher
In London for the Prime Minister's funeral, Mike Banning is caught up in a plot to assassinate all the attending world leaders.
- 2015 | My All-Americanas Coach Royal
- 2014 |
I, Frankenstein
asAdam
Frankenstein's creature finds himself caught in an all-out, centuries-old war between two immortal clans.
- 2012 | Erasedas Ben Logan
- 2013 |
Olympus Has Fallen
asPresident Benjamin Asher
When North Korean terrorists launch a coordinated assault on the White House and take the President hostage, disgraced Secret Service agent Mike Banning uses his inside knowledge of the building to fight back. Trapped inside the besieged compound, he must save the President and prevent a broader attack, turning a desperate situation into a daring mission against overwhelming odds.
- 2011 | The Rum Diaryas Sanderson
- 2011 | Battle Los Angelesas Ssgt. Michael Nantz
- 2010 | Rabbit Holeas Howie
- 2009 | Love Happensas Burke
- 2007 | Towelheadas Travis Vuoso
- 2008 |
The Dark Knight
asHarvey Dent
When a menace known as the Joker wreaks havoc and chaos on the people of Gotham, Batman, James Gordon and Harvey Dent must work together to put an end to the madness.
- 2007 | Meet Billas Bill
- 2007 | No Reservationsas Nick
- 2007 | Operation Homecoming: Writing the Wartime Experienceas Road Work
- 2006 | The Black Dahliaas Lee Blanchard
- 2005 | Conversations with Other Womenas Man
- 2005 | Thank You for Smokingas Nick Naylor
- 2005 | Neverwasas Zach Riley
- 2004 | Suspect Zeroas Thomas Mackelway
- 2003 | Paycheckas Rethrick
- 2003 | The Missingas Brake Baldwin
- 2003 | The Coreas Josh
- 2001 | The Pledgeas Stan Krolak
- 2000 | Nurse Bettyas Del
- 2000 |
Erin Brockovich
asGeorge
A flamboyant law firm secretary works tirelessly to gain justice for a small town wrecked by a utility company's pollution.
- 1999 |
Any Given Sunday
asNick Crozier
A behind-the-scenes look at the life-and-death struggles of modern-day gladiators and those who lead them.
- 1999 | Mollyas Buck McKay
- 1998 | Thursdayas Nick
- 1998 | Your Friends and Neighborsas Barry
- 1997 | In the Company of Menas Chad
- 1983 |
Possession
asRoland Michell
A woman starts exhibiting increasingly disturbing behavior after asking her husband for a divorce. Suspicions of infidelity soon give way to something much more sinister.
Facts About Aaron Eckhart
Mormon Mission: Aaron Eckhart was raised as a Mormon and served as a Mormon missionary in Switzerland and France. Eckhart has since lapsed from Mormonism.
Favorite: Eckhart has cited Cary Grant as his favorite actor, and his favorite movies—Bringing Up Baby (1938), Five Easy Pieces (1970), The Getaway (1972), and Apocalypse Now (1979).
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