Elijah Wood

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Elijah Wood in Wellington, New Zealand for the 2003 world premiere of .

Elijah Jordan Wood (born January 28, 1981) is an American actor. A professional actor since the age of nine, Wood is best known for the role of Frodo Baggins in the Lord of the Rings film trilogy. He took to the stage in his elementary school's rendition of the play The Sound of Music. The following year, he graduated to the title character of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.. Wood also served as choir boy during the production of See How They Run, produced by the Marion Creative Council.

Making his film debut with a minor part in Back to the Future II (1989), Wood landed a succession of subsequent larger roles, and became a critically acclaimed child actor. His performance in The War gained him a nomination by the 'Young Star Awards' (for which he was nominated five times, and won once), and Roger Ebert said in his review of the film that 'Elijah Wood has emerged, I believe, as the most talented actor in his age group, in Hollywood history.'

His role as Frodo in The Lord of the Rings made him a star, but he has thus far resisted typecasting by recently choosing less sympathetic roles, such as a stalker in Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, and a mute cannibal in Sin City.

Biography

Early Career

Wood modelled, and did local commercials, before moving with his family to Los Angeles in 1988. It was there that Wood got his first break, a small role in a video by Paula Abdul. Film work almost instantly followed, with a bit part in Back to the Future II (1989). It was Wood's role as Aidan Quinn's son in Barry Levinson's 1990 film Avalon (the third film in the Baltimore trilogy containing [1982]'s Diner and [1987]'s Tin Men) that first gave Wood attention, as the film received widespread critical acclaim and was nominated for four Academy Awards.

After a small part in the Richard Gere pot-boiler Internal Affairs (1990), Wood secured his first starring role in Paradise (1991), in which he played a young boy who brings estranged couple Melanie Griffith and Don Johnson back together. He received good reviews for his performance - some said it was one of the best things about the film - and from there, he went on to co-star with Mel Gibson and Jamie Lee Curtis in Forever Young and with Joey Mazzello in Radio Flyer (both released in 1992).

1993-98

In 1993, Wood co-starred with Macaulay Culkin in The Good Son, which was a failure both at the box office and with filmgoers who couldn't stomach the idea of the little blond boy from Home Alone as a pre-teen psychopath. In casting Wood as the good to Culkin's evil, the film helped further establish the kind of characters Wood was to become known for: thoughtful, well meaning, and perhaps a bit confused. Wood's next film, the same year's The Adventures of Huck Finn, provided a departure from this type of character, but The War (1994), with Kevin Costner, marked something of a return. Also in 1994, Wood had the title role in North, a film remarkable for the volume of bad reviews and bad box office that it received, but also for the fact that practically every bad review contained a positive assessment of Wood's performance. Wood's follow-up, Flipper (1996), was hardly an improvement, but the subsequent critical and financial success of Ang Lee's The Ice Storm (1997) provided a positive development in the young actor's career. As the soulfully dazed and confused Mikey Carver, Wood gave a portrayal remarkable for its rendering of the thoughtfulness and exquisite hopelessness inherent in the character. 1998's Deep Impact and The Faculty did not allow Wood the same degree of character development, but were great financial successes and further stepping stones in Wood's evolution from winsome child star to impressive young actor.

1999-2003

Following a brief turn as the boyfriend of a wannabe hip-hop groupie in James Toback's problematic Black and White (1999), Wood further evolved as an actor in , the first installation of director Peter Jackson's adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien's literary trilogy. His most hotly anticipated project, the 2001 film gave Wood top billing as Frodo Baggins, alongside a glittering cast that included Ian McKellen, Cate Blanchett, and Liv Tyler. That same year, the young actor could be seen in less mystical surroundings, courtesy of Ed Burns' Ash Wednesday, a crime drama that also featured Oliver Platt and Rosario Dawson.

In 2002, Wood lent his voice to Disney's straight-to-video release of The Adventures of Tom Thumb and Thumbelina. Of course, his most substantial role of 2002 is unarguably his return to the role of hobbit Frodo Baggins in .

2003 proved to be a similar year for Wood - after two relatively small jobs (his role credited as 'The Guy' in ' and his stint as First Assistant Director in Sean Astin's The Long and Short of It served purely as a break for Elijah), the young actor once again resumed his role as Frodo Baggins for ', the last chapter in Tolkien's trilogy.

2004-05

Hot on the heels of the trilogy, Wood quickly appeared in his first non-Frodo role in the off-kilter but highly effective Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004), playing an ethically challenged lab technician who helps erase heartbreaking memories' but then uses his knowledge of the past relationship of an unknowing former patient (played by Kate Winslet) to woo her. He then had a chillingly silent turn as the cannibalistic, bespectacled serial killer Kevin in director Robert Rodriguez and writer-artist Frank Miller's visually arresting adaptation of Miller's crime noir comic book series Sin City (2005), appearing opposite Mickey Rourke in the segment "The Hard Goodbye".

Wood's latest work includes Everything Is Illuminated (written and directed by Liev Schreiber, and adapted from the novel by Jonathan Safran Foer), and Green Street Hooligans, directed by Lexi Alexander.

New Projects

In 2005, Wood shot a small part in Paris, je t'aime, which consists of eighteen 5-minute sections. Each section is directed by a different director. Wood’s section was directed by Vincenzo Natali, and the film opened on May 18 at 2006 Cannes Film Festival.

In December 2005, Wood finished filming Emilio Estevez's film Bobby, alongside Anthony Hopkins, Demi Moore, Sharon Stone, Christian Slater, Nick Cannon, and Lindsay Lohan. This movie will be released in November 22, 2006.

In Happy Feet, Wood provided the voice of Mumble, a penguin who can tap, but not sing. Happy Feet will be released on November 17, 2006, and stars Nicole Kidman, Hugh Jackman, Brittany Murphy and Robin Williams.

Wood's current project is Day Zero, a drama about the draft, in which Elijah portrays Aaron Feller. Working with Elijah are Chris Klein, Jon Bernthal and Ginnifer Goodwin.

It is rumoured that Wood will act with Elisha Cuthbert in a film called "Vamp", but this has not yet been confirmed. Also, by the end of 2006 or early 2007, Elijah will be filming a biopic about Iggy Pop.

The long-rumored film of Steve Martin's Picasso at the Lapin Agile may finally be in production, with Elijah (listed so far only as "attached" to the project) to play the role of Einstein. If true, the film should be out in 2008.

Personal

Family

• Father: Warren Wood, remained in Iowa when the family moved to LA for Elijah's career; formally separated from Debbie Wood in 1996, then divorced.
• Mother: Debbie Wood; Roman Catholic; moved from Iowa with children to LA, to aid Elijah's career; formally separated from Warren Wood in 1996, then divorced.
• Brother: Zachariah Wood, born in 1974.
• Sister: Hannah Wood, born in 1984.

Relationships

Wood keeps his personal life as far away from the media spotlight as possible. But his fans know that, in 2002, he dated the German actress Franka Potente, but the relationship ended later that year. Wood blamed the separation on age difference and distance, but still wears a ring Potente gave him, which bears a Hebrew inscription meaning 'if not now, when?'.

Wood was also rumored to have secretly dated Bijou Phillips, his co-star in Black And White, but in September 2005, he told Howard Stern that he never did. Currently, he is dating Gogol Bordello drummer and dancer Pamela Racine, who accompanied him recently at the 2006 Cannes Film Festival, but the relationship began in late 2004, if not earlier.

Trivia

• Wood is a huge music buff who admits to owning something in the range of 5,000 CDs, and once cited his favorite band as the Smashing Pumpkins. [link] He's also made a playlist which can be googled of all his favourite songs, for his fans or anyone who is interested.
• While filming The Faculty, he learned that casting had begun for New Zealand director Peter Jackson's epic production of J.R.R. Tolkien's classic novel trilogy The Lord of the Rings. Wood immediately had his friend, director George Huang, film an audition tape of himself in costume acting out various scenes from the book, and sent the tape to Jackson. Despite Jackson's initial assertion that all of the Hobbit characters would be played by British actors, he was immediately won over by Wood's audition, and the American Wood was cast in the lead role of Tolkien's diminutive hero Frodo Baggins. Jackson later said he could not possibly imagine another actor in the world who would be better-suited to Frodo.(Sibley 2001:30)

• The cast of The Lord Of The Rings trilogy was nominated for 'Best Ensemble Acting' at the Screen Actors Guild Awards, for three years in a row. They finally won in 2003, for the third film The Return of the King. For his performance as Frodo Baggins, Wood was nominated by the MTV Movie Awards.
• In an interview about his latest film Everything Is Illuminated, director Liev Schreiber commented that his leading man Elijah Wood has a 'generosity of spirit' and a 'sincere goodness as a human being'.[link]
• According to a survey of movie stars done by PC Gamer magazine, The Secret of Monkey Island is his favorite videogame.
• Wood is a constant chain smoker. He was turned-on to clove cigarettes by Josh Hartnett, his co-star in The Faculty, but, interestingly, not until the premiere of the film.
• Supports West Ham United Football Club.
• He recently started his own record label, called Simian Records. Their website can be found [link] here.
• Now lives in Venice, California.
• Wood recently won the role of a young Iggy Pop in a yet-to-be-filmed biographical account of the rock-star.
• Made #4 on Star's Big Hollywood Countdown. (The topic was Top 10 young stars.)
• His favorite movie is Harvey.
• Wood shaved off all his hair for his role as a young man drafted into the military in new movie Day Zero.
• He is often mistaken as having Jewish heritage, which he does not.
• He has a tattoo of the Elvish word for nine, to commemorate playing a member of the Fellowship in The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, just below his navel on the right side.
• Is a 'light Catholic' & believes God is a person one can relate to.
• Wood leads the cast voices of the new game The Legend of Spyro: A New Beginning, playing Spyro the Dragon.
• Fellow actor Daniel Radcliffe is often mistaken for him. Wood is also sometimes confused with Tobey Maguire, his co-star in The Ice Storm.
• In the movies, he has been "Michael" once, "Mike" once, and "Mikey" twice.

Filmography

Films

Video-clips

• Paula Abdul: Straight Up (1989)
• Cranberries: Ridiculous Thoughts (1995)

TV Series

• Frasier - "Guess Who's Coming to Breakfast" (1994) TV Episode (voice) .... Ethan
• - "The True Test" (1996) TV Episode .... McPhee Broadman
• Electric Playground - Episode #7.13 (2002) TV Episode
• Saturday Night Live - Episode #29.8 (2003) TV Episode .... Host
• King of the Hill - "Girl, You'll Be a Giant Soon (2004) TV Episode (voice) .... Jason

Awards and Nominations

Young Star Awards

• 1995 Nominate Best Performance by a Young Actor in a Drama Film The War 1994
• 1997 Nominated Best Performace by a Young Actor in a Comedy Film Flipper 1996
• 1998 Won Best Performace by a Young Actor in a Drama Film Deep Impact 1998
• 1998 Won Best Performace by a Young in a Miniseries/Made for TV Movies Oliver Twist 1997

• 2002 Won Hottest, Coolest Young Veteran - Male N/A

• 1991 Nominated Best Young Actor Starring in a TV Movie, Pilot or Special Child in the Night 1990
• 1991 Nominated Best Young Actor Starring in a Motion Picture Avalon 1990
• 1992 Nominated Best Young Actor Starring in a Motion Picture Paradise 1991
• 1993 Won Best Young Actor Starring in a Motion Picture Radio Flyer 1992
• 1995 Nominated Best Young Actor Starring in a Motion Picture North 1994
• 1997 Nominated Best Performace in a Drama Series - Guest Starring Young Actor Homicide: Life on the Street 1993
• 1998 Nominated Best Performace in a Feature Film - Supporting Young Actor The Ice Storm 1997

• 2003 Won Best Performace by an Actor in a Effect Film Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers 2002

• 2002 Nominated Film - Choice Actor, Drama/Action Adventure FOTR 2001
• 2003 Nominated Choice Movie Actor - Drama/Action Adventure TTT 2002
• 2004 Nominated Choice Movie Actor - Drama/Action Adventure ROTK 2003
• 2005 Nomineted Choice Movie Bad Guy Sin City 2005

• 1994 Not Available Young Star of the Year N/A

• 2002 Nominated Outstanding Performace by the Cast of a Theatrical Motion Picture FOTR 2001
• 2003 Nominated Outstanding Performace by the Cast of a Theatrical Motion Picture TTT 2002
• 2004 Won Outstanding Performace by the Cast of a Theatrical Motion Picture ROTK 2003

• 2002 Won Best Ensemble Acting FOTR 2001
• 2003 Won Best Ensemble Acting TTT 2002
• 2004 Nominated Best Ensemble Acting ROTK 2003

• 2003 Won Best Ensemble ROTK 2003

• 1999 Nominated Favorite Actor - Horror The Faculty 1998
• 1999 Nominated Favorite Supporting Actor - Sci-Fi Deep Impact 1998

• 2003 Won Best Acting by an Ensemble ROTK 2003

• 2002 Nominated Best On-Screen Team FOTR 2001
• 2003 Won Best On-Screen Team TTT 2003

• 2002 Nominated Favorite Male Butt Kicker FOTR
• 2003 Nominated Favorite Male Kicker TTT

• 2002 Won Best Actor FOTR

• 2003 Nominated Best Animated Character Performace The Adventures of Tom Thumb & Thumbelina 2002
• 2003 Nominated Best Audio Commentary, New Release FOTR
• 2003 Nominated Best Audio Commentary (New For DVD) TTT

• 2004 Won Best Acting Ensemble ROTK
• 1999 Nominated Favorite Actor - Horror The Faculty 1998
• 1999 Nominated Favorite Supporting Actor - Sci-Fi- Deep Impact 1998

• 1994 Won Best Performace by a Young Actor The Good Son 1993
• 1995 Nominated Best Performace by a Younger Actor North 1994
• 2003 Nominated Best Performace by a Younger Actor TTT
• 2004 Won Best Actor ROTK

• 2004 Won Outstanding Achievement in Character Performace - Male ROTK

References

External links

• [The Elijah Wood Fan Network] (fansite)
• [ElijahFan.com] (fansite)
• [ElijahNet] (fansite)
• [Elijah Jordan Wood: Performer for Our Time] (articles, reviews, essays)
• [Elijah Wood: Always & Forever] (fansite)
• [Young Elijah Online] (fansite)

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