Below is a compiled list of the most interesting facts about Luke Wilson. Check it out!
Handsome Texan Luke Cunningham Wilson was born in Dallas in 1971, to Irish-American parents originally from Massachusetts. The son of Laura (Cunningham), a photographer, and Robert Andrew Wilson, an advertising executive, he was raised with two brothers, Owen Wilson (the middle one) and Andrew Wilson (the eldest one). The three would all go on to make their careers in film, with Luke Wilson discovering his love of acting while a student at Occidental College. In 1993, the brothers Wilson collaborated with Wes Anderson to make Bottle Rocket (1993), which was initially a 13-minute short. The gleefully optimistic story of three Texans who aspire to become successful thieves, Bottle Rocket (1993) premiered at the 1993 Sundance Festival, where it attracted the attention of director James L. Brooks. With Brooks’ help, the short became a full-length feature film released in 1996 under the same name, Bottle Rocket (1996). Afterwards, Wilson moved to Hollywood, setting up house with his two brothers and Anderson and the same year, Wilson also appeared in the coming-of-age drama Telling Lies in America (1997). After large roles in three 1998 comedies, Best Men (1997), Bongwater (1998), and Home Fries (1998) (the latter two co-starring Drew Barrymore), Wilson went on to star in another three comedies the following year. The first, Dog Park (1998), was a Canadian film directed by The Kids in the Hall (1988) alum Bruce McCulloch and featured Wilson as one of a group of twenty-something’s undergoing the trials and tribulations of love. Blue Streak (1999) starred the actor as the sidekick of robber-turned-policeman Martin Lawrence, while Kill the Man (1999) (which premiered at the 1999 Sundance Festival) cast him as the owner of a small copy centre competing with a large chain store across the street. Though he would stick closely to comedy through 2001 with roles in Charlie’s Angels (2000) and Legally Blonde (2001), Wilson took a turn for the sinister in the thrillers Bad Seed (2000) and Soul Survivors (2001) before reteaming with his brother Owen Wilson and Wes Anderson to give one of his most memorable performances as Richie in The Royal Tenenbaums (2001). In 2003, Wilson reprised two past roles, appearing in both Charlie’s Angels: Full Throttle (2003) and Legally Blonde 2 (2003). That same year, he also scored a hit as one of the stars of Todd Phillips’ Old School (2003). The year 2004 saw Wilson embark on The Wendell Baker Story (2005), a film he starred in, co-directed with brother Andrew Wilson.
Interesting Facts about Luke Wilson
- Owen and Luke’s father was the first to bring Monty Python’s Flying Circus to American TV where he managed KERA, a PBS station, in Dallas, TX.
- Although often associated with Texas, where he was born and grew up, both of his parents were Irish-American Massachusetts natives who moved to Texas due to his father’s work.
- Has three nephews; Joseph Wilson (b. 2003), via brother Andrew Wilson, and Finn and Ford Wilson (b. 2011), via brother Owen Wilson.
- As a child, formed a yard care business called ‘The Lawn Rangers’ with one of his older brothers.
- At Occidental College, Luke was at first more interested in the school’s athletics department than in Drama or Theatre. He excelled at track and field, but eventually gave up sports after taking a drama class.
- He and his brother Owen Wilson were originally meant to play the Malloy brothers in Ocean’s Eleven (2001), but dropped out to make The Royal Tenenbaums (2001).
- Is a member of, what the media refers to as, “The Frat Pack,” along with Will Ferrell, Jack Black, Vince Vaughn, Owen Wilson, Steve Carell, and Ben Stiller. The “Frat Pack” name is a reference to the film, Old School (2003), featuring Vaughn, Ferrell and Luke Wilson, due to the wide number of films featuring the seven actors. Wilson’s “Frat Pack” films include Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004), The Wendell Baker Story (2005), and The Royal Tenenbaums (2001).
- Inducted into the Texas Film Hall of Fame during their awards ceremony on March 12, 2015 in Austin, Texas.
- As of 2008, the only member of the Frat Pack to not have won an MTV Movie Award.
- Starring in an aggressive television advertising campaign on the part of AT&T to counteract Verizon’s previous TV campaign. [2010]
- Is of Irish descent.
- Younger brother of Owen Wilson and Andrew Wilson.
Personal Quotes by Luke Wilson
As long as you’re getting along, it’s nice to work with someone you know well.
Luke Wilson
I have never, for better or worse, thought about a ‘career path’ or anything like that.
Luke Wilson
I’m really just doing whatever comes my way and trying to stay busy and get better at what I’m doing.
Luke Wilson
Sometimes when you get on a new movie you kind of how to figure out the way other people work and it can be like being the new kid in high school where you’re just trying to find out where your place is on the movie or on the set.
Luke Wilson
That’s one of those things that will really hurt me personally, if I label a character or think about what it might do if it were to do well. I just try to do a good job with it.
Luke Wilson
