Although his chiseled face and sculpted physique have been put to use in action flicks, this Australian actor started out in stand-up. He both wrote and performed on the down-under sketch-comedy series
Full Frontal and briefly had his own eponymous show in 1997. Yet Bana's first taste of international fame came from his portrayal of a real-life murderer in the 2000 indie hit
Chopper. Hoping he would be the next Hugh Jackman, Hollywood cast him in two one-word mega-movies: comic-book epic
Hulk and Homer's Greek epic
Troy. While both films showed off Bana's assets as an actor and as a hunk, they were box-office disappointments. In a courageous move to jump-start his career, Bana signed on to Steven Spielberg's controversial drama
Munich, and though the film wasn't a hit, he earned glowing notices playing a conflicted Israeli agent.
Eric Bana Fast Facts:- At age 14, he wanted to become a mechanic.
- Met his future wife Rebecca Gleeson in 1997 while shooting a short-lived Aussie comedy series, The Eric Bana Show.
- Won the Australian Film Institute's Best Actor award for 2000's Chopper, about a real-life murderer-turned-memoirist. Bana gained over 30 pounds in order to play the role.
- Father-in-law is Murray Gleeson, Australia's High Court Chief Justice.
- Eric Bana Relationships:
- Anthony Banadinovich - Brother
- Eleanor Banadinovich - Mother
- Ivan Banadinovich - Father
- Klaus - Son
- Rebecca Gleeson - Wife
- Sophia - Daughter
