Owen Wilson Biography And Filmography:

Texas born Owen Wilson worked with college friend, Wes Anderson, to help put Austin on the movie making map with the duo's debut film, "Bottle Rocket" (1996). Owen would go on to prove his skills as a comic actor – as well as writer and producer – with many roles in both small independent films as well as big studio blockbusters. Wilson's romantic private and social life has won the attention of tabloid editors and gossip columnists for years. His romances with such high-profile sexy celebrities as Kate Hudson and Sheryl Crow ultimately won Wilson the name, "Butterscotch Stallion". One of the founding members of Hollywood's comedy "Frat Pack" – a club who counts Vince Vaughn, Will Ferrell, Paul Rudd and Wilson's brother, Luke, among its talented body. Owen has starred in a number of winning films, among them, “The Royal Tenenbaums” (2001), the 2005 smash hit romantic comedy, "Wedding Crashers," the Pixar animated favorite "Cars" (2005), and the hilarious, "You, Me & Dupree" (2006), co-starring Matt Dillon and Wilson's soon-to-be real life girlfriend Kate Hudson.

Born on Nov. 18, 1968 in Dallas, TX, this self-described rabble-rouser was the second child of Robert and Laura Wilson. Growing up between two brothers, Andrew (the oldest) and Luke (the youngest), young Owen looked for attention by acting out and getting into trouble. Expelled from St. Mark's Academy in Dallas in the tenth grade, Wilson finished his sophomore year at Thomas Jefferson School before heading to a military academy in New Mexico. Wilson then attended the University of Texas at Austin, where he met his future guru and friend, Wes Anderson. Together, the two worked on a script which would become “Bottle Rocket” (1996). 

Relocating to Los Angeles full-time in during 1990s, Owen Wilson quickly found work with his calm, confident screen poise, rising as a fine character player; later a lead, his good looks spoiled to some extent by a twice-broken nose. Owen played a bit part as an horrible date for leading lady Leslie Mann in Ben Stiller's "The Cable Guy" (1996) with Jim Carrey and Jack Black, before becoming serpent food in "Anaconda" (1997) with Jennifer Lopez. After acting as associate producer on the Oscar nominated "As Good As It Gets" (1997) with Jack Nicholson and Helen Hunt, Wilson was cast to play Oscar Choi, the strangest of a team of oil drillers sent to outer space to save the earth from an asteroid in the summer blockbuster, "Armageddon" (1998) with an all-star cast including Bruce Willis, Billy Bob Thornton, Ben Affleck and Liv Tyler.. 

That same year Wilson acted in a small cameo role in "Permanent Midnight," portraying the drug addicted friend who convinces screenwriter Jerry Stahl (Ben Stiller) to enter into a green card scam marriage. Though his part was small, Owen made an impact with a warm portrayal with endless energy.

Owen next teamed with Wes Anderson on 1998's "Rushmore,” an appealing, dark comedy. Wilson co-wrote and executive produced the movie, which starred Bill Murray as an affluent man in a debate with a young teenager (Jason Schwartzman) for the awareness of a prep school teacher (Olivia Williams). Following "Rushmore," Owen returned with a starring role as a serial killer in Hampton Fancher's drama, "The Minus Man" (1999) about a cold-blooded serial killer (Owen Wilson) who floats around the country and chooses his victims from people. Wilson was next seen in "The Haunting" (1999), Jan De Bont's remake of Shirley Jackson's novel, "The Haunting of Hill House". That same year, Wilson had a small part in "Breakfast of Champions," directed by Alan Rudolph.

In 2000, Wilson starred in "Shanghai Noon” with Lucy Liu, an Old West buddy film that teamed him with Hong Kong action hero and Hollywood heavyweight Jackie Chan. Chan played a Chinese Imperial guard sent to rescue kidnapped Princess Pei Pei (Lucy Liu), and Wilson as Chan's unenthusiastic partner Roy O'Bannon.  Later that year, Owen was cast alongside Robert De Niro and co-star Ben Stiller in the dark comedy "Meet the Parents.” Owen's hysterically funny performance as the successful, well-adjusted ex-boyfriend gave a nice contrast to the film's very large antics. In 2001, Wilson played Hansel, the New Age, extreme sportsman adversary of Ben Stiller's "Zoolander” featuring David Duchovny. The actor's role of the newcomer who speaks mangled Eastern philosophy and rides a high-tech scooter, proved Owen would not let self-importance get in the way of a laugh. By the end of that year, Wilson became an action hero, starring in the war-themed adventure "Behind Enemy Lines:, about a Navy navigator who is shot down over enemy territory and is ruthlessly pursued by a secret police enforcer and the opposing troops.

Wilson was next seen with Gene Hackman in "The Royal Tenenbaums" (2001) with Gwyneth Paltrow, taking writing, producing and acting roles in the film. An good show of peculiar but friendly characters, "The Royal Tenenbaums" centered on a broken family of former child prodigies (Stiller, Gwyneth Paltrow and Luke Wilson) who are brought together by news of their father’s (Gene Hackman) critical illness. Wilson got laughs with his rich role as novelist Eli Cash, neighbor and family friend who must face the fact that he is a misfit even among the eccentric Tenenbaums. In 2002, the actor hit super star status, in two action comedies – teamed with Eddie Murphy in a feature version of "I Spy" and teaming with Jackie Chan for the sequel "Shanghai Knights" (2003). 

Wilson next appeared in the film, "The Big Bounce" (2004) with Morgan Freeman. He also joined with friend Ben Stiller to play television cop Ken "Hutch" Hutchinson in the big screen adaptation of the 1970s ABC cop drama "Starsky & Hutch" featuring Carmen Electra and Vince Vaughn. That same year, Owen had a  cameo with his brother Luke Wilson, playing the brothers Wilbur and Orville Wright in "Around the World in 80s Days" (2004). In the film sequel “Meet the Fockers” (2004), Wilson replayed the role of Teri Polo’s ex-boyfriend, and the movie became a box office smash hit. Owen Wilson's  hot streak continued with the comical film "Wedding Crashers" (2005) in which he and Vince Vaughn played a pair of lovable friends who raid strangers' weddings to pick up forlorn, defenseless women. It was this film that made the name Owen Wilson a household word.

By the release of “Wedding Crashers,” Wilson was clearly set as a central figure in a comedic Rat Pack style group of comic actors who teamed up and or had guest appearances in each other's films – the group also including brother Luke, Stiller, Vaughn, Will Ferrell and Steve Carrell. Wilson continued his run of hit movies lending his voice to Lightning McQueen, a hotshot race car stuck in a tired Route 66 town in Pixar’s animated smash hit, “Cars” (2006). 

Wilson then starred in the comedy smash hit “You, Me and Dupree” (2006) with Michael Douglas, playing a homeless bum taken in by his best friend, Carl (Matt Dillon), only to become a lasting fixture while winning over Carl’s wife (Kate Hudson) and family with his happy-go-lucky charm, annoying his friend to no end. It was after this film’s release that rumors flew that Owen had fallen in love with co-star Kate Hudson. By early 2007, the couple – though not publicly announcing their romance – was photographed throughout the country in various states of romantic happiness. Wilson’s brother Luke even started admitting their romance during interviews.

More comedy films followed with "Night at the Museum" (2006) with Robin Williams and Ben Stiller, about a newly recruited night security guard at the Museum of Natural History who discovers that an ancient curse causes the animals and exhibits on display to come to life and wreak havoc. Next was the little-seen "The Darjeeling Limited" (2007) featuring Natalie Portman, and then the summer favorite and smash hit "Drillbit Taylor" (2008), a funny story about three kids who hire a low-budget bodyguard to protect them from the playground bully. 

In 2007, Owen appeared in a supporting role in “The Wendell Baker Story” with Eva Mendes. Filmed entirely on location in Texas, “Wendell Baker” tells the story of a good-hearted ex-con who gets a job in a retirement hotel where three elderly residents help him win back his girlfriend as he lends them a hand in fighting hotel corruption. In an surprising turn of events, Owen Wilson was hospitalized on Aug. 26, 2007 after police were called by brother Luke to his Santa Monica, CA home due to an attempted suicide report. Wilson was taken by ambulance to Saint John’s Health Center in Santa Monica, and later transferred to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Beverly Hills. After being listed in good condition the next day, Wilson’s publicist released a statement from the actor that said in part, "I respectfully ask that the media allow me to receive care and heal in private during this difficult time." 

Wilson was involved in two new comedy films at the time, “Marley & Me,” co-starring Jennifer Aniston, about a family that learns important life lessons from their adorable, but naughty and neurotic dog. Owen then wrapped his year with the expected sequel "Night at the Museum 2: Escape from the Smithsonian" (2009).

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