Jeremy Lee Renner (born January 7, 1971) is an American actor and musician. Renner appeared in films throughout the 2000s, mostly in supporting roles, and came to prominence with his performances in Dahmer (2002), S.W.A.T. (2003), Neo Ned (2005), 28 Weeks Later (2007) and The Hurt Locker (2009). He was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actor for his starring role in the 2009 Best Picture-winning war thriller The Hurt Locker. The following year he appeared in the critically acclaimed film The Town. His work as James Coughlin in the film received a nomination for the 2010 Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor plus nominations in the Supporting Actor category at the SAG Awards and the Golden Globes.
Renner was born in Modesto, California, the first child of Valerie Cearley (née Tague) and Lee Renner, who managed a bowling alley. His parents married as teenagers and divorced when he was ten. He has five younger siblings. Renner is of part Irish ancestry from his mother's side. He graduated from Fred C. Beyer High School and attended Modesto Junior College.
Renner's film debut came in 1995 when he played an underachieving student in National Lampoon's Senior Trip. Although the film was critically panned, he went on to guest star in two television shows, Deadly Games and Strange Luck and had a minor role in the television movie, A Friend's Betrayal as the friend of Brian Austin Green's character. Over the next few years Renner had guest roles in Zoe, Duncan, Jack and Jane (1999), The Net (1999), The Time of Your Life (1999) and Angel (2000). Renner also had a small role in an episode of CSI: Crime Scene Investigation in 2001.
In 2002, Renner had a starring role in the film Dahmer playing serial-killer Jeffrey Dahmer. He found the role a challenge to cope with after he had finished shooting after seeing how easily Dahmer took advantage of his victims. His performance was well-received and he gained a nomination for the Independent Spirit Award for Best Lead Male. He also starred in Monkey Love alongside Amy Stewart and Seamus Dever. He also appeared in Pink's 2003 music video for her song "Trouble" as a Bad Boy Sheriff. Renner went on to appear in S.W.A.T. as the former police partner of Colin Farrell's character in 2003 and The Heart Is Deceitful Above All Things in 2004.
Renner was born in Modesto, California, the first child of Valerie Cearley (née Tague) and Lee Renner, who managed a bowling alley. His parents married as teenagers and divorced when he was ten. He has five younger siblings. Renner is of part Irish ancestry from his mother's side. He graduated from Fred C. Beyer High School and attended Modesto Junior College.
Renner's film debut came in 1995 when he played an underachieving student in National Lampoon's Senior Trip. Although the film was critically panned, he went on to guest star in two television shows, Deadly Games and Strange Luck and had a minor role in the television movie, A Friend's Betrayal as the friend of Brian Austin Green's character. Over the next few years Renner had guest roles in Zoe, Duncan, Jack and Jane (1999), The Net (1999), The Time of Your Life (1999) and Angel (2000). Renner also had a small role in an episode of CSI: Crime Scene Investigation in 2001.
In 2002, Renner had a starring role in the film Dahmer playing serial-killer Jeffrey Dahmer. He found the role a challenge to cope with after he had finished shooting after seeing how easily Dahmer took advantage of his victims. His performance was well-received and he gained a nomination for the Independent Spirit Award for Best Lead Male. He also starred in Monkey Love alongside Amy Stewart and Seamus Dever. He also appeared in Pink's 2003 music video for her song "Trouble" as a Bad Boy Sheriff. Renner went on to appear in S.W.A.T. as the former police partner of Colin Farrell's character in 2003 and The Heart Is Deceitful Above All Things in 2004.
