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Alden Ehrenreich

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Alden Ehrenreich
Ehrenreich in 2018
Born
Alden Caleb Ehrenreich

(1989-11-22) November 22, 1989 (age 35)
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Alma materNew York University
OccupationActor
Years active2005–present

Alden Caleb Ehrenreich (/ˈɛərənraɪk/;[1] born November 22, 1989)[2] is an American actor. He began his career by appearing in the television series Supernatural (2005), and in Francis Ford Coppola's films Tetro (2009) and Twixt (2011). Following supporting roles in the 2013 films Blue Jasmine and Stoker, his breakthrough came in 2016 with a lead role in the Coen brothers' comedy Hail, Caesar!, for which he gained praise.

Ehrenreich played Han Solo in Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018) and starred in the dystopian television series Brave New World (2020). In 2023, he had starring roles in the comedy Cocaine Bear and the thriller Fair Play, and a supporting role in Christopher Nolan's biographical film Oppenheimer.

Early life

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Ehrenreich was born in Los Angeles, California,[3] the only child of Sari (née Newmann), an interior designer, and Mark Ehrenreich, an accountant.[4] He is named after the director Phil Alden Robinson, a family friend.[5][6] His stepfather, Harry Aronowitz, is an orthodontist.[2][7][8] Ehrenreich is Jewish;[9] his ancestors were Jewish emigrants from Austria, Hungary, Russia, and Poland, and he was raised in Reconstructionist Judaism.[3][5]

Ehrenreich began acting at the Palisades Elementary School in Pacific Palisades, Los Angeles, and continued doing so at Crossroads School in Santa Monica, California. After graduating from high school, he studied acting at New York University at the Stella Adler Studio of Acting, but never finished his degree.[10] In 2009, he co-founded "The Collectin" with his friend Zoë Worth,[11] a group of New York City actors, writers, producers and directors who collaborate on films and theater performances.[12]

Career

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Ehrenreich was discovered at a friend's bat mitzvah reception by Steven Spielberg,[13] who watched a comedy video created by Ehrenreich and a friend, "which began in the present and eventually cut to 20 or 30 years later, with Mr. Ehrenreich, in a kimono, screaming to stop a wedding." Ehrenreich has described the comedic performance he gave in the movie as, "I ran around as a skinny little punk, trying on girls' clothes and eating dirt." He was then contacted by DreamWorks, a studio which Spielberg helped found, and met with its casting director.[14][15][16] Spielberg said of Ehrenreich:

[He] was in a bat mitzvah video that my daughter acted with him in for their best friend. They showed me the video and I loved it and I got him an agent. That's sort of how it all began ... I thought he had a lot of promise in comedy ... I didn't know he was going to rogue [into] drama. He was so funny in this video, I thought, "I have found the next really funny comedian." But most of his choices have been in drama and people don't know how really funny he is.[17]

The meeting with Spielberg led to acting roles on television shows such as Supernatural and CSI: Crime Scene Investigation.[18][19]

Ehrenreich in 2018

In 2007, Ehrenreich won the role of Bennie Tetrocini in Francis Ford Coppola's Tetro.[20] Coppola asked Ehrenreich to read a passage from The Catcher in the Rye for his main audition.[7] The film was released in limited release in 2009 and received generally positive reviews from critics, who praised Ehrenreich's performance.[21][22] In 2011, he played a minor role in Coppola's subsequent film Twixt and appeared alongside Natalie Portman in the Sofia Coppola-directed Miss Dior Cherie commercial.[23]

In 2013, he starred as Ethan Wate in the film adaptation of the novel Beautiful Creatures, and appeared as Whip Taylor in Park Chan-wook's thriller film Stoker. He then played the stepson of Cate Blanchett in the Woody Allen-directed drama film Blue Jasmine. In 2016, Ehrenreich became more widely known for his co-leading role as Hobie Doyle in the Coen brothers film Hail, Caesar!, alongside a cast that included Josh Brolin and George Clooney.[24] Many critics praised Ehrenreich's performance in particular.[25] That same year, Ehrenreich starred in the leading role of Frank Forbes in Warren Beatty's romantic comedy-drama Rules Don't Apply.[26] He then starred in The Yellow Birds with Tye Sheridan, Jack Huston, and Jennifer Aniston, which premiered at the 2017 Sundance Film Festival.[27]

Ehrenreich starred as Han Solo in the Star Wars anthology film Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018), following Solo's early life before the events of the original 1977 Star Wars. He headlined the Brave New World series on NBC, based on the 1932 novel of the same name by Aldous Huxley.[28]

Ehrenreich's recent projects include the thriller Fair Play co-starring Phoebe Dynevor,[29] Cocaine Bear, directed by Elizabeth Banks,[30] Oppenheimer, directed by Christopher Nolan,[31] and will have a role in the Marvel Cinematic Universe miniseries Ironheart.[32]

In 2024, he joined Zach Cregger's horror thriller film Weapons (2026).[33] He also joined Anton Corbijn's Switzerland, alongside Helen Mirren, set to film in Fall 2024.[34]

Filmography

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Film

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Key
† Denotes works that have not yet been released
Year Title Role Director(s) Notes
2009 Tetro Bennie Tetrocini Francis Ford Coppola
2010 Somewhere Actor at Party Sofia Coppola Uncredited
2011 Twixt Flamingo Francis Ford Coppola
2013 Beautiful Creatures Ethan Wate Richard LaGravenese
Stoker Whip Taylor Chan-wook Park
Blue Jasmine Danny Francis Woody Allen
Teenage 1940s Teenager Matt Wolf Documentary
2016 Hail, Caesar! Hobie Doyle Joel Coen & Ethan Coen
Rules Don't Apply Frank Forbes Warren Beatty
2017 The Yellow Birds Brandon Bartle Alexandre Moors
2018 Solo: A Star Wars Story Han Solo Ron Howard
2023 Fair Play Luke Chloe Domont
Cocaine Bear Eddie Elizabeth Banks
Oppenheimer Senate Aide Christopher Nolan
Shadow Brother Sunday Cole Himself Short film; also writer
2026 Weapons † TBA Zach Cregger Post-production

Television

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Key
† Denotes works that have not yet been released
Year Title Role Notes
2005 Supernatural Ben Collins Episode: "Wendigo"
2006 CSI: Crime Scene Investigation Sven Episode: "Built to Kill, Part 2"
2020 Brave New World John the Savage Main role, 9 episodes
2025 Ironheart † Joe McGillicuddy Upcoming miniseries

Video games

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Year Title Role Notes
2017 Star Wars Battlefront II Han Solo Voice and likeness. Content based on Solo: A Star Wars Story

Awards and nominations

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Year Association Category Project Result Ref.
2013 Teen Choice Awards Choice Movie Actor: Romance Beautiful Creatures Nominated
Choice Movie: Liplock (shared with Alice Englert) Nominated
2016 Chicago Film Critics Association Best Supporting Actor Hail, Caesar! Nominated
Detroit Film Critics Society Award Best Supporting Actor Nominated
Georgia Film Critics Association Award Breakthrough Actor Nominated
Indiewire Critics' Poll Award Best Supporting Actor Nominated
San Diego Film Critics Society Breakthrough Artist Nominated
Best Comedic Performance Nominated
Georgia Film Critics Association Award Breakthrough Actor Rules Don't Apply Nominated
2018 Teen Choice Awards Choice Summer Movie Actor Solo: A Star Wars Story Nominated

References

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  1. ^ "Alden Ehrenreich's Explains the Story Behind His Unusual Name" on YouTube
  2. ^ a b "Alden Caleb Ehrenreich". FamilySearch. Archived from the original on February 5, 2016. Retrieved November 9, 2015.
  3. ^ a b "Kvell Corner". Kehillat Israel Reconstructionist Congregation. Archived from the original on July 26, 2011. Retrieved May 27, 2010.
  4. ^ Pappademas, Alex (April 24, 2018). "Alden Ehrenreich Is Ready to Prove He's Worthy of Han Solo". Esquire. Retrieved May 30, 2018. His father died when he was just seven years old under tragic circumstances that he won't discuss. His mother is an interior designer who loves movies.
  5. ^ a b Allen, Robert (May 24, 2018). "Alden Ehrenreich: Going Solo". The Jewish Chronicle. Retrieved May 24, 2018.
  6. ^ Motika, Libby (May 9, 2016). "Ehrenreich Earns Raves for Acting". Palisades News. Archived from the original on May 25, 2016. Retrieved September 18, 2016.
  7. ^ a b Martin, Michael (May 1, 2010). "Alden Ehrenreich". Interview. Retrieved May 27, 2010.
  8. ^ Keeps, David A. (December 1, 2005). "Tradition, but with a twist". Hartford Courant. Archived from the original on June 11, 2011. Retrieved May 27, 2010.
  9. ^ Barshad, Amos (April 24, 2018). "Alden Ehrenreich can be your intergalactic hero". The Fader. Retrieved April 27, 2018.
  10. ^ Ayers, Mike (February 5, 2016). "Alden Ehrenreich's Road to the Coen Brothers and 'Hail, Caesar!'". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved February 5, 2016.
  11. ^ "Collectin Consciousness". Interview. July 12, 2010.
  12. ^ Sancton, Julian (April 7, 2010). "Alden Ehrenreich's Magic Show". Vanity Fair.
  13. ^ Grierson, Tim (February 4, 2016). "Meet the Coen Brothers' New Breakout Star: Alden Ehrenreich". Rolling Stone. Retrieved May 24, 2018.
  14. ^ Schneier, Matthew (May 6, 2016). "The Man Who Would Be Han Solo". The New York Times. Retrieved May 24, 2018.
  15. ^ Johnson, Zach (May 6, 2016). "Alden Ehrenreich Cast as Young Han Solo: 5 Things to Know About Star Wars' Newest Star". E! News. Retrieved May 24, 2018.
  16. ^ Tatna, Meher (May 23, 2018). "Alden Ehrenreich hits big time and flies Solo in A Star Wars Story". The New Paper. Retrieved June 21, 2018.
  17. ^ Boone, John (June 10, 2016). "EXCLUSIVE: Steven Spielberg on Discovering Young Han Solo: 'People Don't Know How Really Funny He Is'". Entertainment Tonight. Retrieved May 24, 2018.
  18. ^ Hill, Logan (June 9, 2009). "Francis Ford Coppola's New Star Alden Ehrenreich on Not 'Trickling Up' Vulture". Paste. Retrieved July 26, 2012.
  19. ^ Patel, Jay (April 15, 2016). "Alden Ehrenreich is tipped to star as Han Solo but who is he?". BBC. Retrieved May 24, 2018.
  20. ^ Hill, Logan (March 30, 2009). "Blessed". New York. Archived from the original on November 22, 2015. Retrieved November 11, 2015.
  21. ^ Corliss, Richard (June 11, 2009). "Coppola's Tetro: An Offer You Can Refuse". Time. Archived from the original on June 15, 2009. Retrieved June 23, 2009.
  22. ^ Ebert, Roger (June 17, 2009). "Tetro Movie Review". Chicago Sun-Times. Archived from the original on June 6, 2011. Retrieved June 23, 2009.
  23. ^ Han, Angie (February 22, 2011). "Watch the Sofia Coppola-directed Miss Dior Cherie TV Commercial Starring Natalie Portman". /Film. Retrieved November 21, 2015.
  24. ^ Kroll, Justin (September 2, 2014). "Alden Ehrenreich Joins Cast of Coen Brothers' 'Hail Caesar!' (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety.
  25. ^ "'Hail, Caesar!': Hooray For the Coen brothets' Hollywood Homage". Chicago Sun-Times. Archived from the original on February 4, 2016. Retrieved February 5, 2016.
  26. ^ Busch, Anita (February 24, 2014). "Warren Beatty's Untitled Howard Hughes Pic Finally Takes Flight Financed By Billionaire Boys' Club; Ehrenreich, Collins To Star In Love Story". Deadline Hollywood.
  27. ^ Busch, Anita (October 6, 2015). "Jack Huston & Jennifer Aniston Join War Pic 'The Yellow Birds'". Deadline Hollywood.
  28. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (16 April 2019). "'Solo' Star Alden Ehrenreich To Headline NBCU Series 'Brave New World'". Deadline Hollywood.
  29. ^ Kroll, Justin (December 1, 2021). "Alden Ehrenreich And Phoebe Dynevor To Star In Fair Play". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 23 December 2022.
  30. ^ Kroll, Justin (July 1, 2021). "Keri Russell, O'Shea Jackson, Ray Liotta, Alden Ehrenreich and Jesse Tyler Ferguson To Star in Elizabeth Banks' Cocaine Bear For Universal". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on July 1, 2021. Retrieved July 1, 2021.
  31. ^ Kit, Borys (February 22, 2022). "Oppenheimer: Alden Ehrenreich, David Krumholtz Join Christopher Nolan Drama (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved February 22, 2022.
  32. ^ Kroll, Justin (July 12, 2022). "'Ironheart': Alden Ehrenreich Latest To Join Cast of Marvel Series". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on July 12, 2022. Retrieved July 12, 2022.
  33. ^ "Alden Ehrenreich Joins New Line Horror Thriller 'Weapons' From Zach Cregger". deadline.
  34. ^ "Anton Corbijn set to shoot the thriller Switzerland, with Helen Mirren in the leading role". Cineuropa - the best of european cinema. 2024-03-08. Retrieved 2024-06-06.
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