100hotmen2012

Date of Birth

9 August 1968, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

Birth Name

Eric Banadinovich

Height

6' 2½" (1.89 m)

Mini Biography

Eric Bana was born Eric Banadinovich on August 9, 1968, in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. He is the younger of two brothers. His father, named Ivan Banadinovich, came from Zagreb, Croatia, and worked as a manager for Caterpillar Inc. His mother, named Eleanor Banadinovich, came from a German family and was a hairdresser.

Young Bana grew up in suburban Melbourne. He was popular among his schoolmates for his talent of making comic impressions of his teachers. At that time, he was fond of Mel Gibson in Mad Max (1979) and also decided to become an actor. He moved to Sydney and worked odd jobs to support himself. In 1991, he began a career as a stand-up comedian, while working as a barman at Melbourne's Castle Hotel. In 1993, Bana made his television debut on Steve Vizard's "Tonight Live with Steve Vizard" (1990) talk show, then joined the "Full Frontal" (1993) TV-series. He gained popularity for making impressions of Arnold Schwarzenegger, Sylvester Stallone, Tom Cruse and "Colombo". In 1996, he started his own show titled "Eric" (1997), then launched a comedy series titled "The Eric Bana Show Live" (1997). The show was canceled for the lack of substantial audience, however, in 1997, Bana received the Logie Award for "Most Popular Comedian" for his work on "The Eric Bana Show Live" (1997).

He made his film debut in The Castle (1997), in a supporting comic role. That same year, he was cast to portray Mark "Chopper" Read, the notorious Australian underworld figure. For the role, Bana gained 30 pounds, by eating junk food; he also spent a few days with Read in prison, in order to perfect his mimicry. Bana completely transformed himself into a bald, fat, disturbed criminal. He would arrive on the film set at four in the morning, spending several hours in makeup, being tattooed exactly like Read. Chopper (2000) became an international success and won three Australian Film Institute Awards. Bana won the Best Actor at the 2000 Stockholm Film Festival and also the AFI 2000 Best Actor Award. Then he co-starred in Black Hawk Down (2001), then starred in Hulk (2003). In 2002, he was cast as a Trojan "Prince Hector" in the historical epic Troy (2004), after being recommended by Brad Pitt, who admired Bana for his work in Chopper (2000). In 2005, Bana co-starred with Daniel Craig and Geoffrey Rush in the political drama Munich (2005) directed by Steven Spielberg.

In 1995, he began dating Rebecca Gleeson, a publicist and daughter of Australian High Court Chief Justice Murray Gleeson. The following year, he was named "Bachelor of the Year" by Cleo Magazine, and won a trip for two to the United States. He invited Gleeson, and proposed to her during that romantic trip. In 1997, the two were married; their son, Klaus, was born in 1999, their daughter, Sophia, was born in 2002. He currently resides in Melbourne with his wife and their two children. Bana is a passionate supporter of Australian football.

Spouse

Rebecca Gleeson

(2 August 1997 - present) 2 children

Trivia

His deal for Hulk (2003) includes an option for two sequels, with substantial salary raises for each film.
Hates guns.
Admitted to eating junk food for four weeks to put on the extra weight needed to play Chopper (2000). He gained 30 pounds for the role.
Underwent weight and fight-training for his role as Hector in Troy (2004).
Has said that Sam Elliott and Nick Nolte are two of his favorite actors, and got to work with both in Hulk (2003).
He made his motorsport debut in 1996's Targa Tasmania, driving that same 1974 Ford Falcon XB Coupe. Other competitions include the 2002 and 2003 Classic Adelaide.
After wrapping Hulk (2003), he spent nine months at home with his family.
First jobs: Washing cars at a service station, pushing trolleys at Coles New World, barman at Melbourne's Castle Hotel in 1991.
Siblings: Anthony (brother, banker) is three years older.
In an ironic twist, Mark Brandon Read, who was portrayed by Bana in the movie Chopper (2000), has a small role in the film Trojan Warrior (2002); which he plays a guy named "Erik Bana". This is not to be confused with Troy (2004) which also stars Bana and features a Trojan horse.
He loves racing both bikes and cars in Australia
He had never ridden a horse before Troy (2004), and had to start from scratch without a saddle.
Two of his characters previously appeared in television movies starring John Rhys-Davies before Bana came into the roles. Rhys-Davies played Wilson Fisk, A.K.A. The Kingpin, in The Trial of the Incredible Hulk (1989) (TV), which starred Bill Bixby as Dr. Banner, a role later played by Bana. Rhys-Davies also played King Priam in Helen of Troy (2003) (TV). Priam is the father of Hector, played by Bana in Troy (2004).
Has two children with wife Rebecca Gleeson: Klaus (b. August 1999) and Sophia (b. April 2002).
Tall by almost any standards at 6' 3", he is actually medium-sized or small by his family's standards. For instance, his brother stands 6' 8".
Prior to Troy (2004), Bana had worked with Orlando Bloom in Black Hawk Down (2001).
Had the option of playing several different characters in Troy (2004) when he was approached for the project. He chose Hector because he thought Hector "was such a great bloke."
Brad Pitt personally requested Bana as a co-star for Troy (2004) because he was a huge fan of Chopper (2000).
Father-in-law is High Court Chief Justice Murray Gleeson.
First car was an old 1974 Ford Falcon XB Coupe, purchased for $1000 at age 15.
First job was washing cars at a service station.
Supports St. Kilda Australian rules football team.
A picture of his wife and child was used in Black Hawk Down (2001) for the scene where helicopter pilot Mike Durant is captured by Somalis. The prop department had forgotten to grab a picture of a wife and child for the shot, so they asked Bana's wife, who was traveling with him, if they could use a picture of her and their child for the shot and she agreed.
Was the first choice to play Xander Cage in xXx (2002), but turned it down to do The Nugget (2002).
When asked in 2005 who his idols are, he named Richard Pryor, Paul Newman and Barry Humphries.
No fewer than three of his theatrical films are remakes of, or share the same source material with, a television movie. The Incredible Hulk comic book series was filmed as the television movie and series "The Incredible Hulk" (1978), and the theatrical film _Hulk (2003)_. Homer's Iliad was filmed as _Helen of Troy_ on television, and the theatrical film Troy. George Jonas's book Vengeance was filmed for television as Sword of Gideon (1986) (TV), then remade by Steven Spielberg as Munich (2005).
One of his most admired actors is Rade Serbedzija.
His children's names are Klaus and Sophia.
Has declined to reprise his role as Bruce Banner/the Hulk in an 'Incredible Hulk' sequel. (July 5, 2006)
Invited to join AMPAS in 2006.
Began as a stand up comedian.
Choosen by Empire Magazine as one of the 100 Sexiest Movie Stars in the world (#61) 2007.
In "Full Frontal" (1993), whenever the show was spoofing a Tom Cruise movie, or had a sketch that involved Tom Cruise, he would play "Cruise", even though he is 7 inches taller than him in real-life.
In April 2009, along with several of the cast and crew, he visited Camp Arijan in Kuwait to show Star Trek to a group of US service members.
Completed the customary "Star in a Reasonably-Priced Car" lap in 1m:47.5s on "Top Gear: Episode #14.1" (2009).
Appeared twice on the cover of GQ magazine: July '03 and March '08.

Personal Quotes

I wanted to be a mechanic. When I was 14 I wanted to quit school and go work on my car. But my dad said Son, you shouldn't do that. You should stay in school until your education is finished, and when you're done, don't make your hobby your job.
I race historic muscle cars back in Australia. And I try to race home as soon as I'm finished a movie but don't tell anyone.
When I shoot I'll take my family with me - one movie a year and then the rest of the time at home.
I wasn't a religious follower of comic book activity as a kid, but I was a fanatical fan of the television show with Bill Bixby and Lou Ferrigno. So my memories of "The Hulk" were very vivid.
I could become characters and to me that's what acting was - I didn't want to shroud it in mystery.
Early, it was Richard Pryor. I did stand-up for 10 years before acting. And the movie Mad Max (1979). It cemented in my mind that I wanted to be an actor. [on his influences to become an actor]
I already loved Orlando like a little brother before we started shooting. We did spend five months together in Morocco during Black Hawk Down (2001). And you have to take care of Orlando. He doesn't even know how to make coffee. (Starts imitating Orlando's voice) Do you want coffee, Eric? How is it done again? Do you put the coffee in the water? Or in the filter? Can you make the coffee, Eric?
The Hulk is definitely what I would categorize as un-fun. I don't think it always needs to be fun. It doesn't always need to be one big happy family. Everyone got along, but it was a difficult, hard shoot. And I think you see every ounce of sweat on the screen.
I love being at home, being with friends and family. I'm of European stock, brought up in Australia. I'm a passionate guy. I just love life.
I think I've been fortunate, and right now I'm in an incredibly fortunate position, which I'm totally aware of. I think luck gets you on to the stage. But it has nothing to do with keeping you there.
[on training for Troy (2004)] You couldn't have bluffed your way through. It takes a lot of bloody arrogance even with six months' preparation.
My favorite part of the interview is the 401 assumptions before you've even started speaking, based on what you're wearing, what you've chosen to eat, how the waiter looks at you.
When I go on the plane to fly home, I'm literally capable of forgetting what I do for a job. That also comes about because I choose to take massive breaks between projects, and because I choose to do this ridiculous thing of keeping home, home.
I wanted to be a racing driver but, you know - this'll do.
I deliberately fly in and out of LA for as small a time as humanly possible.
I hate to break it to you but actors really do love each other. It's a crazy job and we put ourselves in vulnerable positions. I don't care if it sounds corny but it's true: you're part of a brotherhood, and protect each other.
(2009) I've always been someone that sets achievable short-term goals. I've never been someone that's had a five-year plan, or a three-year plan. That just seems to lead to a lot of disappointment, and doesn't give you the chance to be flexible. So I've just always been someone that's sort of reassessed where I'm at, and set goals that are realistic. And luckily, I've had plenty of chances to recalibrate and adjust, and good fortune's come my way.