Josh Hartnett

Joshua Daniel Hartnett, born on July 21, 1978, is an American actor and producer whose career has spanned various genres and mediums. He gained early recognition for his role as Michael Fitzgerald in the crime drama television series Cracker in 1997.
Hartnett made his feature film debut in the 1998 slasher film Halloween H20: 20 Years Later, and subsequently appeared in notable films such as the sci-fi horror movie The Faculty (1998) and the drama The Virgin Suicides (1999). His breakout roles came in the early 2000s, with starring roles in films like the war drama Pearl Harbor, the drama O, the war film Black Hawk Down (all 2001), and the romantic comedy 40 Days and 40 Nights (2002).
Throughout his career, Hartnett has showcased his versatility by taking on a range of roles in different genres. He starred in neo-noir crime thrillers such as The Black Dahlia and Lucky Number Slevin in 2006, followed by appearances in dramas like Resurrecting the Champ (2007), the vampire horror film 30 Days of Night (2007), and the atmospheric neo-noir thriller I Come with the Rain (2009).
From 2014 to 2016, Hartnett took on the role of Ethan Chandler in the horror TV series Penny Dreadful, earning acclaim for his performance and receiving a nomination for a Fangoria Chainsaw Award.
In recent years, Hartnett has continued to expand his repertoire, appearing in films such as Wrath of Man (2021) and Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre (2023), both directed by Guy Ritchie. He also portrayed journalist Victor Malarek in the crime drama Target Number One (2020) and scientist Ernest O. Lawrence in the biographical thriller Oppenheimer (2023).


Joshua Daniel Hartnett was born in Saint Paul, Minnesota, although there have been some erroneous reports citing San Francisco. He is the son of Daniel Thomas Hartnett and Wendy Anne (née Kronstedt). Raised by his father, who was a building manager and former guitarist for Al Green, and his stepmother Molly, an artist, Hartnett grew up alongside his three younger siblings named Jake, Joe, and Jessica.
He was brought up in the Roman Catholic faith and attended Nativity of Our Lord Catholic School. During his time at Minneapolis South High School, Hartnett played football until a knee injury sidelined him at the age of 16. Subsequently, he explored youth theater, participating in productions such as The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and Guys and Dolls, which caught the attention of a talent scout. Originally aspiring to become a painter, Hartnett shifted his focus to acting while working at a video rental shop, where he immersed himself in films like Trainspotting, 12 Monkeys, and The Usual Suspects.
Upon graduating from high school in 1996, Hartnett enrolled at the Conservatory of Theatre Arts & Film at the State University of New York at Purchase. However, he was expelled after expressing dissatisfaction with the college's evaluation system, which he felt stifled creativity. At 19 years old, Hartnett relocated to Los Angeles at the suggestion of his manager, Nancy Kremer, who had previously assisted him in securing television commercials.


After arriving in Los Angeles, Hartnett's big break came when he landed a role in the short-lived drama series Cracker on ABC. Following this, he made his feature film debut in Halloween H20: 20 Years Later, released on August 5, 1998, where he portrayed the son of character Laurie Strode. The film performed well at the box office, setting the stage for Hartnett's burgeoning film career.
He went on to star in several major films, including The Faculty, Black Hawk Down, Lucky Number Slevin, and Pearl Harbor. During this period, Hartnett was marketed as a teen idol and a potential megastar. However, he became increasingly uncomfortable with this public image, leading to his disillusionment with pursuing roles in high-profile films. Notably, he turned down roles in Deuces Wild and Batman Begins to pursue other projects.
In 2002, Hartnett starred in O, an adaptation of William Shakespeare's Othello set in an American high school, playing the role of Hugo, the film's version of Iago. He was also approached multiple times to play the role of Clark Kent / Superman for a project originally helmed by Brett Ratner but declined, as he was not interested in committing to a long-term role. Despite being considered a heartthrob and sex symbol, Hartnett remained selective about his roles and preferred to avoid typecasting.
In 2006, Hartnett starred in the drama-mystery film The Black Dahlia, where he played a detective investigating the real-life murder of waitress Elizabeth Short. He remained committed to the project for several years before filming began due to his interest in the subject matter.
Throughout his career, Hartnett has been featured on numerous magazine covers and has been the face of campaigns for various brands, including Emporio Armani fragrance. Despite his initial rise to fame as a teen heartthrob, Hartnett has remained focused on pursuing diverse and challenging roles in both film and theater.


In 2009, Hartnett ventured into directing by helming the music video for rapper Kid Cudi's song "Pursuit of Happiness". During this period, he continued to act in various films, including several direct-to-DVD and international productions that received mixed to negative reviews. These films included the martial arts action film Bunraku (2010), the comedy Girl Walks into a Bar (2011), the romantic comedy Stuck Between Stations (2011), the time travel adventure The Lovers (2013), the romantic drama Parts per Billion (2014), and Wild Horses (2015). In 2013, he was honored as a guest at the Off Plus Camera festival.
In 2014, Hartnett landed the role of Ethan Chandler in the Gothic horror series Penny Dreadful, which garnered critical acclaim. His character was later revealed to be Lawrence Talbot, also known as the Wolfman. Hartnett continued to pursue diverse roles, starring in Atsuko Hirayanagi's independent film Oh Lucy! (2017), which premiered at the Cannes Film Festival. He also starred in and produced the survival film 6 Below: Miracle on the Mountain in 2017.
Despite some setbacks with films like The Ottoman Lieutenant (2017), She's Missing (2019), and Inherit the Viper (2019), Hartnett remained active in the industry. He portrayed Canadian journalist Victor Malarek in the crime drama Target Number One (2020) and appeared in Guy Ritchie's revenge drama Wrath of Man (2021). He was subsequently cast in Ritchie's upcoming film Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre. In January 2022, Hartnett joined the cast of Christopher Nolan's Oppenheimer, portraying Ernest Lawrence. Later in July 2022, he was announced to join the sixth season of the acclaimed anthology series Black Mirror.

References

1.  "Josh Hartnett". TVGuide.com. Archived from the original on September 12, 2015. Retrieved December 2, 2015.
2. ^ Boehm, Kristin (October 18, 2007). "Josh Hartnett Dodges Kissing Questions". People. Retrieved December 7, 2021. And, for the record, he was born in Minnesota, not San Francisco as commonly misreported, he said.
3. ^ "Josh Hartnett Biography (1978–)". July 23, 2008. Archived from the original on October 18, 2015. Retrieved February 5, 2012.
4. ^ Cooke, Rachel (April 21, 2002). "Hart throb". The Observer. ISSN 0029-7712. Retrieved June 28, 2023.
5. ^ Silverman, Stephen M. (March 4, 2002). "No Joshin': Hartnett Can't Do It". People. Archived from the original on September 14, 2011. Retrieved December 7, 2021.
6. ^ Hrbacek, Dave (February 1, 2012). "Principal knows her kids by name – all 759". The Catholic Spirit. Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis. Archived from the original on January 5, 2016. Retrieved December 2, 2015.
7. a b c d Sanguino, Juan (May 26, 2021). "Why Josh Hartnett left Hollywood, and why he's back: "I decided to have a life"". EL PAÍS English. Retrieved June 28, 2023.