Owen Wilson is one of the funniest actors alive today.
From his earliest roles in Zoolander and Wedding Crashers to more recent films such as No Escape and Cars 3, Wilson has always been able to bring a unique level of comedic genius to his characters. He’s been able to make us laugh with his mastery of physical comedy, his witty one-liners, and even just his facial expressions.
In this article, we’ll be taking a look back at some of Wilson’s most memorable roles and exploring the comedic journey that has led him to where he is today. We’ll talk about some of the highs, lows and everything in between along the way. So let’s get ready for a fun journey with one of Hollywood’s most beloved comedians, Owen Wilson!
Owen Wilson’s Early Life and Career Beginnings
Owen Wilson has been providing laughter and joy to viewers for years now, playing a variety of roles in his career. He was born in Dallas, Texas, in 1968, as the youngest of three brothers. As a child, he was an athlete and achieved much when it came to sports. Before long, however, he developed an interest in writing and decided to pursue it as a profession.
In 1993, Wilson made his first on-screen appearance in Bottle Rocket—a movie he co-wrote with his friend Wes Anderson. After this movie’s success, Wilson went on to appear in several other movies such as Shanghai Noon (2000), Night at the Museum (2006), and Hall Pass (2011). What’s more, he wrote two other movies: The Royal Tenenbaums (2001) and The Darjeeling Limited (2007).
Wilson’s comedic acting style has made him one of Hollywood’s most beloved actors. His ability to bring warmth and humor to the screen while still delivering great performances has enabled him to make some incredible films throughout his career that many people still enjoy today.
Breakout Success and the Frat Pack Years: Shanghai Noon, Zoolander and Wedding Crashers
Owen Wilson’s career really started taking off in 2000 with the success of Shanghai Noon. His western comedy, a buddy action-comedy, has some great physical comedy and received both positive reviews and box office success. He went several years without another mainstream hit until the 2001 release of Zoolander. The satire on fashion and ‘dumb male models’ was a huge success, grossing over $60 million against an estimated budget of 28 million dollars.
In 2004 he released one of his most popular films yet: Wedding Crashers. A R-rated comedy starring Wilson alongside Vince Vaughn, this film combined their comedic talents in a story about two men who crash weddings to meet women. An instant classic, it scored over $200 million at the box office and established Wilson as the ‘cool guy’ among the newly formed “Frat Pack,” a group of highly successful male comedians that includes Ben Stiller, Will Ferrell, Jack Black, Steve Carell and Vince Vaughn.
Wilson’s role in Wedding Crashers also earned him his first Golden Globe nomination for Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy as well as other prestigious nominations from other award ceremonies such as BAFTA and MTV Movie Awards for Best Comedic Performance.
Collaborations With Wes Anderson and Quirky Indie Films: the Royal Tenenbaums, the Life Aquatic
Owen Wilson is also well known for his collaboration on several projects with director Wes Anderson. Together, they created some of the most memorable indie films of the early 2000s, such as The Royal Tenenbaums and The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou.
The Royal Tenenbaums follows a family of adults who were once child prodigies, reuniting after a long absence. Both Anderson and Wilson worked together to bring the script to life, with Wilson portraying Raleigh St. Clair, the neurotic psychiatrist husband of Gwyneth Paltrow’s character Margot Tenenbaum.
The Life Aquatic is a voyage into adventure and comedy, starring Bill Murray as eccentric oceanographer Steve Zissou. Wilson plays Ned Plimpton, an airline pilot tasked with accompanying Zissou on his journey to find and revenge a mythical shark that killed his partner. Along the way they encounter various obstacles that test their stamina, friendship, and humor. It’s a classic Owen Wilson performance – quirkily funny but with emotional moments that make you truly understand his character’s plight.
Mainstream Hits and Comedic Pairings: Night at the Museum, Marley & Me, Midnight in Paris
Owen Wilson has starred in a handful of blockbuster hits, but he is probably most well-known for his comedic pairings. One of the most notable classic pairings is Night at the Museum (2006), where Wilson stars opposite Ben Stiller as they hilariously protect a museum from magical creatures that come to life at night. The subsequent two installments of the movie series both proved successful at the box office.
The same year, Wilson starred in Marley & Me (2008) alongside Jennifer Aniston and Eric Dane. This heartwarming tale tells the story of a couple and their lovable pup—a role which Owen fit perfectly! Since then, Wilson has become synonymous for his lovable characters who frequently ramble on to explore their inner thoughts and philosophies.
In 2011, Midnight in Paris saw Wilson team up with Rachel McAdams and Woody Allen as they explored the iconic City of Lights throughout different time periods. Despite the fantastical plotline, this was a particularly significant role for Owen as it marked his first nomination for an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay in 2012.
Personal Struggles and Career Downturn
Owen Wilson has had his fair share of struggles, both personally and professionally. In 2007, Wilson was hospitalized for an attempted suicide after a particularly rough patch in his life.
While he recovered from this incident, his career began to suffer, with several of his releases performing poorly at the box office. However, with the release of the hit comedy “Marley & Me” in 2008 and later “Midnight in Paris” in 2011, Wilson was able to get back on track and make a strong comeback.
Throughout the following years, Wilson had roles in some of the most successful films of their time such as “The Internship,” “Cars 3,” and “Zoolander 2.” His affinity for hilarious characters has made him an audience favorite, especially after his more serious roles in movies such as “No Escape” and “You are Here.”
Therefore, despite some rough patches along the way Owen Wilson is still a beloved actor whose comedic timing appeals to audiences from all walks of life.
Recent Work and Resurgence: Wonder Park, Loki
Since his medical leave in 2007, Owen Wilson has continued to star in a variety of projects. Most recently, he voiced the role of a wise dog in Paramount’s highly anticipated Wonder Park. This animated film follows young June and her friends on an adventurous quest to save an amusement park before it is destroyed.
He also stars as Loki Lapis, a cunning con artist with mysterious origins, in the upcoming Disney movie, Loki. In this highly-anticipated movie, Loki helps the McStuffins family to save Christmas from a magical snowman and his team of evil toy soldiers.
Owen Wilson has managed to successfully revive his career after taking several years off due to health reasons. His roles in both Wonder Park and Loki demonstrate how he has maintained a lighthearted comedic style that is loved by audiences worldwide. Both films are set for release in 2020 and will surely be popular among fans of his work.
From his humble beginnings in Dallas, Texas, to his present day status as one of the most successful comedic actors in Hollywood, Owen Wilson has clearly come a long way. His unique brand of humor, creativity, and versatility have brought us some of the most iconic roles and movies of our time. He has taken us on an incredible comedic journey that has offered us endless moments of laughter and joy. All these years later, and Owen Wilson is still making us laugh!
It isn’t so much that I choose the roles – I mean, I guess there’s a little bit of a selection process – but it’s more just what people offer you.
Owen Wilson
Video: Owen Wilson Lifestyle/Biography 2021 – Networth | Family | Affairs | Kids | House | Cars | Pets
I think the way it works is that when you’re casting a movie, you usually want to work with people that you believe in.
Owen Wilson