Edward Norton Biography
Quick Facts
| Full Name | Edward Harrison Norton |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | August 18, 1969 |
| Age | 56 years (as of 2026) |
| Birthplace | Boston, Massachusetts, U.S. |
| Nationality | American |
| Profession | Actor, director, producer |
| Years Active | 1996-present |
| Height | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) |
| Spouse | Married Shauna Robertson (2012-present) |
| Children | 1 son |
| Net Worth | ~$90 million |
| Known For | Primal Fear, American History X, Fight Club, Birdman, Motherless Brooklyn |
Early Life & Background
Norton grew up in Columbia, Maryland, in a civic-minded family. His grandfather, James Rouse, developed Columbia and founded Enterprise Community Partners, a nonprofit housing organization. Norton studied theater and history at Yale University, graduating in 1991 before moving to New York to pursue acting.
Career Journey
Breakthrough Roles
His debut in Primal Fear earned a Golden Globe and Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor. He followed with The People vs. Larry Flynt, American History X (Oscar nomination for Best Actor), and David Fincher's Fight Club, becoming a defining actor of late-1990s cinema.
Directing & Producing
Norton co-wrote, directed, and starred in Keeping the Faith (2000) and later wrote/directed Motherless Brooklyn (2019). He frequently produces through Class 5 Films, supporting documentaries and indie projects like Leaves of Grass and Thanks for Sharing.
Recent Work
Norton earned acclaim for Birdman (2014), Wes Anderson collaborations (Moonrise Kingdom, The Grand Budapest Hotel, Asteroid City), and Netflix's Glass Onion (2022). In 2026 he voices a lead character in Pixar's The Undersea Observatory and executive-produces a limited series on Robert Moses for HBO.
Filmography (Selected)
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | Primal Fear | Aaron Stampler | Oscar nomination |
| 1998 | American History X | Derek Vinyard | Oscar nomination |
| 1999 | Fight Club | The Narrator | Cult classic |
| 2006 | The Illusionist | Eisenheim | Romantic mystery |
| 2014 | Birdman | Mike Shiner | Oscar nomination |
| 2019 | Motherless Brooklyn | Lionel Essrog | Writer/Director |
| 2022 | Glass Onion | Miles Bron | Knives Out sequel |
Awards & Nominations
| Year | Award | Category | Work | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | Academy Awards | Best Supporting Actor | Primal Fear | Nominated |
| 1999 | Academy Awards | Best Actor | American History X | Nominated |
| 2015 | Academy Awards | Best Supporting Actor | Birdman | Nominated |
| 2015 | Golden Globe Awards | Best Supporting Actor | Birdman | Nominated |
| 2020 | Gotham Awards | Audience Award | Motherless Brooklyn | Won |
Net Worth & Income Sources
Estimated Net Worth: ~$90 million (2026)
Earnings stem from acting salaries, producing fees, and investments in tech and social enterprises. Norton serves on the board of Enterprise Community Partners and co-founded CrowdRise (acquired by GoFundMe). He invests in environmental analytics firm E.O. Wilson Biodiversity Foundation and satellites tracking deforestation.
Personal Life
Norton married Canadian producer Shauna Robertson in 2012. They live in New York and frequently collaborate on philanthropic projects. Norton is an avid pilot, cyclist, and software tinkerer who contributes to open-source climate modeling tools.
Philanthropy & Advocacy
He supports the Maasai Wilderness Conservation Trust, UN's Clean Cooking Alliance, and served as UN Goodwill Ambassador for Biodiversity. Norton created the fundraising platform CrowdRise to help nonprofits modernize digital campaigns.
Social Media Presence
- Instagram: @edwardnortonofficial shares environmental updates, film behind-the-scenes, and charity campaigns.
- Norton occasionally posts on LinkedIn discussing climate tech investments.
Lesser-Known Facts
- Norton speaks conversational Japanese, learned while working at his grandfather's company in Osaka.
- He is a data engineer hobbyist who codes algorithms for sustainability projects.
- Norton appeared in the pilot episode of Modern Family as a fictional bassist.
- He is a member of the Academy's Board of Governors (Actors Branch) as of 2025.
Latest News & Updates (2026)
Norton wraps voice work on Pixar's The Undersea Observatory, premiering summer 2027. He is developing an HBO docuseries on innovative housing solutions inspired by his grandfather's work and is slated to co-star in Wes Anderson's 2026 film set in Kyoto.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Who is Edward Norton?
Edward Norton is an American actor and filmmaker known for transformative performances in films like American History X, Fight Club, and Birdman.
What is Edward Norton most famous for?
He is most famous for his dramatic range, early Oscar nominations, and collaborations with auteurs including David Fincher, Spike Lee, and Wes Anderson.
Is Edward Norton active on social media?
Norton maintains an official Instagram account focused on environmental activism and film projects; he rarely uses other platforms.