Owen Wilson

They shared writing and acting credits on the films Bottle Rocket (1996), Rushmore (1998), and The Royal Tenenbaums (2001), for which the pair received a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay. He also appeared in Anderson's The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou (2004), The Darjeeling Limited (2007), Fantastic Mr. Fox (2009), The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014), and The French Dispatch (2021). Wilson gained wider recognition as part of a group of comedic actors, colloquially known as the Frat Pack, with whom he starred in several successful comedy films. These films include Meet the Parents (2000), Zoolander (2001), Starsky & Hutch (2004), Wedding Crashers (2005), You, Me and Dupree (2006), and The Internship (2013). He also starred in the Shanghai films (2000–2003) with Jackie Chan, the Night at the Museum films (2006–2014), and as Lightning McQueen in Pixar's Cars franchise (2006–present). His other successes include the action films Anaconda (1997), Armageddon (1998), Behind Enemy Lines (2001), and No Escape (2015); the horror film The Haunting (1999); and the comedy-dramas Marley & Me (2008) and Midnight in Paris (2011). On television, Wilson made his Marvel Cinematic Universe debut as Mobius M. Mobius in the Disney+ series Loki (2021–2023) and recently starred in the Apple TV sports comedy series Stick (2025).

Owen Wilson studied at University of Texas at Austin, New Mexico Military Institute and Thomas Jefferson High School. The recorded working language is English. Works named in the authority record are Cars, Night at the Museum, Midnight in Paris and Starsky & Hutch.

• Name — Owen Wilson • Birth Name — Owen Cunningham Wilson • Born — 18 November 1968 • Birthplace — Dallas, Texas, U.S. • Occupation — * Actor • screenwriter • Years Active — 1994–present • Awards — Full list • Children — 3 • Parents — * Laura Wilson • Robert Wilson • Relatives — * Andrew Wilson (brother) • Luke Wilson (brother)

Wilson was born in Dallas, the middle child of three sons of photographer Laura Cunningham Wilson (b. 1939) and Robert Andrew Wilson (1941–2017), an advertising executive and operator of a public television station. His brothers Andrew and Luke are also actors. Wilson's parents are of Irish descent. As a teenager, Wilson broke his nose twice: the first time in a high school fight, and the second time playing football with friends. "You know, probably my nose wouldn't have been that great even if it hadn't been broken," Wilson told The Los Angeles Times. After getting expelled for cheating in geometry, he attended New Mexico Military Institute. He later attended the University of Texas at Austin, where he pursued a Bachelor of Arts degree in English, but did not graduate. While in college, he met and was roommates with Wes Anderson, who became a director and frequent collaborator.

Wilson made his film debut acting in the Wes Anderson short film Bottle Rocket (1994), which was later expanded into the feature-length film Bottle Rocket (1996). Wilson co-wrote the screenplay with Anderson, and acted opposite his brother Luke Wilson. David Hunter of The Hollywood Reporter praised the film, saying, "A marvelous debut film for its director, writer and lead actors, Bottle Rocket is propelled by a fresh approach to the caper genre". That same year, he had a supporting role in the black comedy The Cable Guy (1996), starring Jim Carrey and directed by Ben Stiller, an early admirer of Bottle Rocket. Wilson played Leslie Mann's date in the film. In 1997, he had a role in the adventure thriller Anaconda and executive produced the James L. Brooks comedy As Good as It Gets. In 1998, Wilson had roles in the science fiction disaster film Armageddon and the independent drama film Permanent Midnight. He also reunited with Anderson, co-writing the script for his next two films, Rushmore and The Royal Tenenbaums, which Anderson directed. The pair garnered an Oscar nomination for Best Original Screenplay for 'Tenenbaums'. Wilson did not act in Rushmore, but was shown briefly in a photograph in the film. After appearing in supporting roles in 1999, he acted in horror film The Haunting, and The Minus Man. His future girlfriend, singer Sheryl Crow, was a co-star in the latter film.

Wilson appeared in another Wes Anderson film, The Darjeeling Limited, which screened at the 45th annual New York Film Festival, the Venice Film Festival, and opened September 30, 2007. It co-stars Jason Schwartzman and Adrien Brody. The Darjeeling Limited was selected for a DVD and Blu-ray release by The Criterion Collection in October 2010. Wilson next starred in the Judd Apatow comedy, Drillbit Taylor which was released in March 2008. He appeared in a film adaptation of John Grogan's best-selling memoir, Marley & Me (2008), co-starring Jennifer Aniston. He provided the voice for the Whackbat Coach Skip in Wes Anderson's stop motion animated film Fantastic Mr. Fox (2009). Wilson is a member of the comedic acting brotherhood colloquially known as the Frat Pack. Wilson made a guest appearance on the NBC comedy Community with fellow Frat Pack member Jack Black. • Illustration — Wilson with Woody Allen at the Cannes Film Festival premiere of Midnight in Paris in 2011 In 2011, Wilson starred as a nostalgia-seized writer in the romantic comedy Midnight in Paris, written and directed by Woody Allen. The film premiered at the 64th Cannes Film Festival to critical acclaim. The film became Allen's highest grossing thus far, and was also well received by critics. Roger Ebert wrote of Wilson's performance, "[He] is a key to the movie's appeal". Peter Debruge of Variety also praised Wilson, writing "Wilson makes the role endearingly his own". For his performance, Wilson earned a nomination for the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy. That same year, he starred in the film The Big Year (2011) an adaptation of Mark Obmascik's book The Big Year: A Tale of Man, Nature and Fowl Obsession. The film was released in October 2011 by 20th Century Fox, and co-starred Jack Black, JoBeth Williams, Steve Martin and Rashida Jones. The same year, Wilson returned to voice McQueen in Cars 2. In March 2012, Wilson was signed to star in the John Erick Dowdle thriller The Coup, later renamed "No Escape", in which he played the role of the father of an American family that moves to Southeast Asia, only to find itself swept up in a wave of rebel violence that is overwhelming the city. The film was not released until 2015, and was Wilson's return to the action genre for the first time since Behind Enemy Lines in 2001. He also voiced turkey Reggie in Reel FX's first animated film, Free Birds. In 2014, Wilson appeared in Wes Anderson's acclaimed ensemble comedy The Grand Budapest Hotel and in Paul Thomas Anderson's book adaptation of Inherent Vice. In 2015, he starred with Jennifer Aniston in Peter Bogdanovich's film She's Funny That Way, and in the action thriller film No Escape alongside Lake Bell and Pierce Brosnan. Wilson's films have grossed more than 2.25 billion domestically (United States and Canada), with an average of 75 million per film.

In 2017, Wilson again voiced Lightning McQueen in Cars 3, played a suburban father in the drama Wonder, and co-starred with Ed Helms in the comedy Father Figures. In November 2017, Wilson became the face of a new £20 million advertising campaign for the UK sofa retailer Sofology. He returned to work with Sofology in 2019 for a second advertising campaign. In 2021, Wilson starred in the comedy film Bliss, directed by Mike Cahill opposite Salma Hayek for Amazon Studios. In 2021, Wilson also reunited with Wes Anderson for The French Dispatch, which premiered at the 2021 Cannes Film Festival. and Marry Me alongside Jennifer Lopez and directed by Kat Coiro for Universal Pictures. From 2021 to 2023, Wilson starred in the Marvel Cinematic Universe series Loki opposite Tom Hiddleston on Disney+ as Mobius M. Mobius, a role he reprised in the 2023 film Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania. He also signed on to star in a new film adaptation of The Haunted Mansion. Wilson currently stars in Stick, an Apple TV+ comedy-drama series that premiered in June 2025.

In August 2007, Wilson attempted suicide and was subsequently treated for depression at St. John's Health Center and Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. A few days after his hospitalization, Wilson withdrew from his role in Tropic Thunder. The incident resulted in much unwanted publicity for Wilson, and he became reluctant to do interviews. In a 2021 interview with Esquire, Wilson described how his brothers supported him during his recovery. In January 2011, Wilson and his then-girlfriend Jade Duell had a son. Wilson and Duell ended their relationship later that year. In January 2014, he had a son with Caroline Lindqvist. In October 2018, he had a daughter with ex-girlfriend Varunie Vongsvirates. He reportedly refuses to meet his daughter.

• Year — Title — Role — Notes • 1999 — Heat Vision and Jack — Heat Vision — Voice; Short • 2001 — King of the Hill — Rhett Van Der Graaf — Voice; Episode: "Luanne Virgin 2.0" • 2010 — Community — Other Study Group's Leader — Episode: "Investigative Journalism"; uncredited • 2013 — Drunk History — John Harvey Kellogg — Episode: "Detroit" • 2014 — Cars Toons: Tales From Radiator Springs — Lightning McQueen — Voice; Episode: "The Radiator Springs 500 ½" • 2016; 2021 — Saturday Night Live — Hansel McDonald / Himself — 2 episodes • 2019 — Documentary Now! — Father Ra-Shawbard — Episode: "Batsh*t Valley" (2 parts) • 2021–2023 — Loki — Mobius M. Mobius — Main role; 11 episodes • Marvel Studios: Assembled — Himself — 2 episodes • 2022 — Cars on the Road — Lightning McQueen — Voice; Disney+ Original Short Series • 2024 — LEGO Pixar: BrickToons — Voice; Episode: "Trust Yer Ol' Pal, Mater" • 2025–present — Stick — Pryce Cahill — Lead role; also executive producer • 2026 — Rick and Morty — Reese — Voice; Episode: "A Ricker Runs Through It" • 2027 — Cars: Lightning Racers — Lightning McQueen — Voice; Upcoming series

• Year — Title — Role — Notes • 2006 — Cars — Lightning McQueen — Home console versions only • 2012 — Kinect Rush: A Disney-Pixar Adventure • 2014 — Cars: Fast as Lightning • 2018 — Lego The Incredibles • 2023 — Rocket League — Part of the "Lightning McQueen" bundle • 2026 — Disney Speedstorm — Part of the Season 18 update

List of music videos, with year released and lead artist shown • Year — Song — Artist • 2006 — "God's Gonna Cut You Down" — Johnny Cash • 2008 — "You Don't Think I'm Funny Anymore" — Willie Nelson • 2013 — "Christmas in L.A." — The Killers

• Year — Attraction — Role — Location — Notes • 2012 — Radiator Springs Racers — Lightning McQueen — Cars Land • 2019 — Lightning McQueen's Racing Academy — Disney's Hollywood Studios — Attraction closed in 2024

• Year — Title — Role — Notes • 2017–2019 — Sofology — Himself • 2023 — Teardown — Narrator — Console launch trailer

• Illustration — Wilson in 2003 Wilson starred in the 2000 comedy action film Shanghai Noon alongside Jackie Chan. The film grossed nearly $100 million worldwide. His fame continued to rise after starring alongside Ben Stiller and Will Ferrell in the 2001 film Zoolander. Gene Hackman reportedly took notice of Wilson's performance in Shanghai Noon and recommended the actor to co-star in the 2001 action film Behind Enemy Lines. Also in 2001, Wilson and Anderson collaborated on their third film, The Royal Tenenbaums, a financial and critical success. The film earned the writing team an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Screenplay. Wilson returned to the buddy-comedy genre in 2002 with the action comedy I Spy, co-starring Eddie Murphy. The big-screen remake of the same-named television series did not perform well at the box office. He made a cameo appearance in the Girl Skateboards video Yeah Right! in 2003. He then reunited with Chan to make Shanghai Knights (2003), and co-starred in the film remake of the 1970s television series Starsky & Hutch (2004). Due to his busy schedule as an actor and an ongoing sinus condition, Wilson was unavailable to collaborate on the script for Wes Anderson's fourth feature film, The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou. The 2004 film was ultimately co-written by filmmaker Noah Baumbach. However, Wilson did star in the film as Bill Murray's would-be son, Ned Plimpton; it was a role written specifically for him. In 2004, he and his brother Luke played the Wright brothers in the 2004 film Around the World in 80 Days. Wilson is said to be attached to a sequel to Shanghai Knights, marking his third collaboration with Jackie Chan. • Illustration — Wilson at the London premiere of You, Me and Dupree in 2006 Wilson partnered with Vince Vaughn in the 2005 comedy film Wedding Crashers, which grossed over $200 million in the United States alone. Also in 2005, Owen collaborated with his brothers in The Wendell Baker Story, written by Luke and directed by Luke and Andrew. In 2006, Wilson voiced Lightning McQueen in the Disney/Pixar film Cars, starred in You, Me and Dupree with Kate Hudson, and appeared with Stiller in Night at the Museum as cowboy Jedediah. During this time, Wilson gained a reputation for frequently exclaiming "Wow!" in his roles, becoming something of a meme, as well as his trademark.

• Year — Title — Role — Notes • 1994 — Bottle Rocket — Dignan — Short • 1996 — Bottle Rocket — Also writer • The Cable Guy — Robin's Date • 1997 — Anaconda — Gary Dixon • As Good as It Gets — Associate producer • 1998 — Armageddon — Oscar Choice • Permanent Midnight — Nicky • Rushmore — Writer • 1999 — The Haunting — Luke Sanderson • Breakfast of Champions — Monte Rapid • The Minus Man — Vann Siegert • 2000 — Shanghai Noon — Roy O'Bannon • Meet the Parents — Kevin Rawley • 2001 — Zoolander — Hansel McDonald • The Royal Tenenbaums — Eli Cash — Also writer • Behind Enemy Lines — Lt. Chris Burnett • 2002 — I Spy — Alex Scott • The Sweatbox — Himself — Archive footage; haven't been released to the public • 2003 — Shanghai Knights — Roy O'Bannon • Yeah Right! — Himself — Cameo appearance • 2004 — The Big Bounce — Jack Ryan • Starsky & Hutch — Ken Hutchinson • Around the World in 80 Days — Wilbur Wright • The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou — Ned Plimpton • Meet the Fockers — Kevin Rawley • 2005 — The Wendell Baker Story — Neil King • Wedding Crashers — John Beckwith • 2006 — Cars — Lightning McQueen — Voice role • Mater and the Ghostlight — Voice role; Short film • You, Me and Dupree — Randolph Dupree — Also producer • Night at the Museum — Jedediah — Uncredited • 2007 — The Darjeeling Limited — Francis Whitman • 2008 — Drillbit Taylor — Drillbit Taylor • Marley & Me — John Grogan • 2009 — Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian — Jedediah • Fantastic Mr. Fox — Coach Skip — Voice role • 2010 — Marmaduke — Marmaduke • How Do You Know — Matty Reynolds • Little Fockers — Kevin Rawley • 2011 — Hall Pass — Richard "Rick" Mills • Midnight in Paris — Gil Pender • Cars 2 — Lightning McQueen — Voice role • The Big Year — Kenny Bostick • 2013 — The Internship — Nick Campbell • Free Birds — Reggie — Voice role • Are You Here — Steve Dallas • 2014 — The Grand Budapest Hotel — M. Chuck • The Hero of Color City — Ricky The Dragon — Voice role • Inherent Vice — Coy Harlingen • Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb — Jedediah • 2015 — She's Funny That Way — Arnold Albertson • No Escape — Jack Dwyer • 2016 — Zoolander 2 — Hansel McDonald • Masterminds — Steve Chambers • 2017 — Lost in London — Himself • Cars 3 — Lightning McQueen — Voice role • Wonder — Nate Pullman • Father Figures — Kyle Reynolds • 2021 — Bliss — Greg Wittle • The French Dispatch — Herbsaint Sazerac • 2022 — Marry Me — Charlie Gilbert • Secret Headquarters — Jack Kincaid / The Guard • 2023 — Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania — Mobius M. Mobius — Uncredited cameo; post-credits scene • Paint — Carl Nargle • Haunted Mansion — Kent • 2026 — Charlie the Wonderdog — Charlie — Voice role • Runner — Ben Bishop — Post-production • Rolling Loud — Post-production • Focker-in-Law — Kevin Rawley — Post-production • 2027 — Paris Paramount — Filming Key • Denotes films that have not yet been released