Luke Wilson

Luke Wilson
Wilson in 2009
Born	Luke Cunningham Wilson (1971-09-21) September 21, 1971 Dallas, Texas, United States
Occupation	Actor
Years active	1996–present
Parent(s)	Robert Andrew Wilson Laura Cunningham Wilson
Family	Owen Wilson (brother) Andrew Wilson (brother)

Luke Cunningham Wilson (born September 21, 1971) is an American actor known for his roles in films such as Idiocracy, Old School, Bottle Rocket, The Royal Tenenbaums, Blue Streak, Bongwater, and Legally Blonde. He is the brother of actors Andrew and Owen Wilson. He was a member of the cast of the HBO television series Enlightened (2011–2013).

Early life

Wilson was born in Dallas, Texas, a son of Robert Andrew Wilson, an advertising executive and previously an executive at KERA,^[1] a public television station, and Laura (Cunningham) Wilson, a photographer. His family, originally from Massachusetts, is of Irish Catholic descent.^[2] He is the younger brother of actors Andrew Wilson and Owen Wilson. All three brothers attended St. Mark's School of Texas. According to his brother Owen, Luke was voted class president the first year he attended St. Mark's.^[3]

Career

Wilson's acting career began with the lead role in the short film Bottle Rocket in 1994, which was co-written by his older brother Owen Wilson and director Wes Anderson. It was remade as a feature-length film in 1996.^[1] After moving to Hollywood with his two brothers, he was cast opposite Calista Flockhart in Telling Lies in America^[1] and made a cameo appearance in the film-within-the-film of Scream 2,^[1] both in 1997. Wilson filmed back-to-back romantic films in 1998, opposite Drew Barrymore, Best Men, about a group of friends who pull off a heist on their way to a wedding,^[1] and Home Fries, about two brothers interested in the same woman for different reasons.^[1] He played the doctor beau of a schoolteacher in Rushmore (also 1998), also directed by Anderson and co-written by brother Owen.^[1]

In 1999, Blue Streak was released featuring Wilson as detective Carlson. He later starred opposite Reese Witherspoon in the 2001 comedy Legally Blonde,^[4] which was followed by Old School and The Royal Tenenbaums.^[1] Wilson also had a role on That '70s Show, as Michael Kelso's older brother Casey Kelso, appearing sporadically from 2002 through 2005.^[5]

In 2006, Wilson starred in Idiocracy, Mike Judge's first film since 1999's Office Space. He portrayed an ordinary serviceman chosen for a cryogenics project. He awakens after hundreds of years in an America which is significantly less intelligent. The film was initially dropped by Fox Studios, but re-distributed in 2006.^[6]

In early 2007, Wilson starred opposite Kate Beckinsale in the thriller Vacancy.^[7] In July 2007, he worked on Henry Poole is Here in La Mirada, California, which was released in 2008.^[1] He starred in the film Tenure in 2009.^[1][8] In 2010, he appeared in films Death at a Funeral and Middle Men.^[1] From 2011 to 2013 he starred in the HBO TV series Enlightened.^[9]

Personal life

Wilson dated actress Drew Barrymore from 1996 to 1999. They appeared together in the movies Best Men, Home Fries, Charlie's Angels as well as its 2003 sequel.^[1] He has been in a relationship with former basketball player Meg Simpson since 2008.^[1][10]

Filmography

Wilson in 2003

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Luke Wilson.

• Luke Wilson at the Internet Movie Database