Edward Norton
Few actors in cinematic history burst onto the scene with such an impression as Edward Norton. He received a Best Supporting Actor nomination for his film debut, Primal Fear, in 1996 and followed that up two years later with a raw, unnerving performance in American History X. He starred in a Woody Allen musical (Everyone Says I Love You), held his own among a dynamic Woody Harrelson in The People Vs. Larry Flynt, and sparred with an existential dilemma in bruising fashion in Fight Club, which became one of the biggest cult hits in recent memory. Arguably, his best performance came in Spike Lee’s 25th Hour, a film with such an entrenched setting and nuanced performances that it could have been extended into a six-episode miniseries on HBO or Showtime.
Many were quick to label him the next Robert De Niro, and like that esteemed actor, Edward Norton has done little over the last 10 years to recall his captivating first features. Recent comedic turns in Moonrise Kingdom and on Modern Family show a willingness to shed his brooding, angrier persona (he is known for sparring with producers and directors over final cut). Whether he continues to dedicate himself to acting, in either wry comedies or complex character studies, cable is certainly a place that can give the Norton the room and range to commit himself to a remarkable performance.
