Justin Theroux

Early life and education

Theroux was born on August 10, 1971, in Washington, D.C. His mother, Phyllis Grissim Theroux, is an essayist and author, and his father, Eugene Albert Theroux (b. 1938), is a lawyer at Baker & McKenzie in Washington. Theroux is the nephew of the travel writer and novelist Paul Theroux, novelist and poet Alexander Theroux, author Peter Theroux, and novelist and educator Joseph Theroux; he is the cousin of British journalists and documentary filmmakers Louis and Marcel Theroux. His father is of half French-Canadian and half Italian descent. Through his mother, Theroux is a great-great-grandson of financier, banker and railroad magnate H. B. Hollins, and of music critic and author Gustav Kobbé.

Theroux attended Lafayette Elementary School, Annunciation School, and the Field School. He first started acting while in high school at the Buxton School, in Williamstown, Massachusetts. He graduated from Bennington College in 1993 with a B.A. in visual arts and drama.

Career

Theroux made his film debut in 1996 in Mary Harron's I Shot Andy Warhol. Since then he has performed both on Broadway, starring in Observe the Sons of Ulster Marching Towards the Somme; in numerous off-Broadway productions; and in comedy films such as Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle, The Baxter, Romy and Michelle's High School Reunion, Broken Hearts Club, and Zoolander.

Theroux has also performed in more serious films such as American Psycho. He appeared in the film versions of the cult television shows Strangers With Candy and Michael Mann's Miami Vice. He starred in David Lynch's films Mulholland Drive and Inland Empire.

In 2003, Theroux was featured in a music video for the British band Muse for their song "Hysteria". Theroux also has appeared on television, having starred in The District and appeared on episodes of shows such as Alias, Ally McBeal, Sex and the City (in which he guest starred in two episodes as different characters), and Six Feet Under (in which he played a recurring character in the third and fourth seasons).

In 2006, Theroux directed his first film, Dedication, which premiered at the 2007 Sundance Film Festival. A fan of the band Deerhoof, Theroux chose them to score Dedication. Theroux also had roles in two other films at the festival, Broken English and The Ten, in which he played Jesus Christ alongside Gretchen Mol. Theroux co-wrote the Ben Stiller film Tropic Thunder, and also appeared in the behind-the-scenes mockumentary Tropic Thunder: Rain of Madness.

In 2008, Theroux played John Hancock in the HBO miniseries John Adams. In 2009, Theroux made up part of the voice cast for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2. He also played Justin in Parks and Recreation. Theroux wrote the screenplay for the 2010 film Iron Man 2. Following Theroux's work on Tropic Thunder, actor Robert Downey Jr. recommended Theroux as a screenwriter to the film's director, Jon Favreau.

Theroux returned to acting in the film Your Highness (2011), as Leezar, an evil wizard who kidnaps a princess. He starred in the 2012 comedy Wanderlust, playing the leader of a hippie commune. By August 2012, Theroux was hired to direct and rewrite the script for the comedy film Swear to God.{{cite web | access-date = July 7, 2014

In June 2013, Theroux was cast as the lead character in HBO's TV pilot The Leftovers, which HBO ordered as a 10-episode season in September 2013.{{cite web | access-date = July 7, 2014 The series, which premiered June 29, 2014, is based on a book of the same name by Tom Perrotta, which follows a group of people left behind in the suburban community of Mapleton after mysterious disappearances worldwide. Theroux received widespread critical acclaim for his performance throughout the three seasons.{{cite web | access-date = July 7, 2014

Theroux co-wrote the sequel Zoolander 2 (2016), and reprised his role, Evil DJ, in the film.

Theroux also voiced the character The Evil Lord Garmadon in the 2017 film The Lego Ninjago Movie.

In 2018, Theroux played savant neurochemist James Mantleray in the 2018 Netflix comedy drama miniseries Maniac opposite Emma Stone and Jonah Hill.

In 2019, Theroux produced the ABC television event Live in Front of a Studio Audience alongside Norman Lear, Jimmy Kimmel and Will Ferrell. Theroux received a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Variety Special (Live) for producing the event. He also voiced Tramp in the Disney+ live-action film Lady and the Tramp, a remake of the 1955 film with the same name.

In 2021, Theroux portrayed brilliant inventor and stubborn idealist Allie Fox in the Apple TV+ television series The Mosquito Coast, a television adaptation from the 1981 novel of the same name written by Paul Theroux, Justin Theroux's uncle. Theroux also served as executive producer for the series.

In 2024, Theroux co-starred in the Beetlejuice (1988) sequel, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice.

In 2025, beginning with Season 2 of the Amazon Prime Video adaptation of Fallout, Theroux took over the role of Robert Edwin House, a genius roboticist and ruthless entrepreneur who predicted the coming nuclear apocalypse via mathematical algorithms. The character was originally voiced by René Auberjonois in Fallout: New Vegas, and briefly portrayed by actor Rafi Silver in Season 1 of the adaptation. In Season 2, Silver's role was revealed to be a body double for the real House, portrayed by Theroux.

Personal life

Theroux was in a relationship with stylist and costume designer Heidi Bivens from 1997 until 2011. Theroux began dating actress Jennifer Aniston in 2011 after working with her on the film Wanderlust. They became engaged in August 2012, and were married on August 5, 2015, at their estate. On February 15, 2018, Theroux and Aniston announced they had separated at the end of 2017. In August 2024, Theroux became engaged to actress Nicole Brydon Bloom. The couple married in March 2025.

Filmography

Film

Television

Awards and nominations

List of awards and nominations received by Theroux.

References

References

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2. "Justin Theroux Biography: Screenwriter, Actor, Director (1971–)". [[A&E Networks]].
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4. Arnold, Gary. (October 12, 2001). "Smoke and Mirrors". [[The Washington Times]].
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6. . (n.d.). ["Biography"](http://www.paultheroux.com/biography/index.html). *Paultheroux.com*.
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12. Chaney, Jen. (May 5, 2010). "Talking with Justin Theroux, Writer of 'Iron Man 2'". [[The Washington Post]].
13. (June 6, 2011). "Meet Justin Theroux, Jennifer Aniston's new man". USA Today.
14. (August 21, 2007). "Excl: Justin Theroux Has ''Dedication''". [[ComingSoon.net]].
15. West, Kelly. (June 4, 2013). "Damon Lindelof's HBO Pilot The Leftovers Casts Justin Theroux". cinemablend.com.
16. (February 24, 2010). "Justin Theroux to Co-Write and Direct 'Zoolander 2'". Collider.com.
17. Ausiello, Michael. (2019-11-04). "Melissa George Joins Justin Theroux in Mosquito Coast at Apple TV+".
18. Rosenbloom, Alli. (November 30, 2023). "Tim Burton says 'Beetlejuice 2' has officially wrapped production". [[CNN]].
19. Rusak, Rotem. (2025-12-17). "Don't Call Mr. House a Villain Around Justin Theroux (FALLOUT Season 2 Interview)".
20. Hayner, Chris. (2026-01-14). "Will Fallout's real Mr. House please stand up?".
21. (June 14, 2011). "Five Things to Know About Justin Theroux's Ex-Girlfriend, Heidi Bivens". eonline.com.
22. Jordan, Julie. (August 12, 2012). "Jennifer Aniston Is Engaged to Justin Theroux!". [[People (magazine).
23. Zauzmer, Emily. (August 6, 2015). "Jennifer Aniston and Justin Theroux Are Married!". [[People (magazine).
24. Kohen, Sandy. (February 15, 2018). "Jennifer Aniston and Justin Theroux announce separation". [[Associated Press]].
25. Warner, Kayleigh. (30 August 2024). "The special detail in Justin Theroux’s engagement ring for Nicole Brydon Bloom".
26. Rockington, Arianna. (4 September 2024). "What to know about actor Nicole Brydon Bloom, Justin Theroux’s fiancée".
27. D’Zurilla, Christie. (Aug 29, 2024). "Justin Theroux engaged to actor Nicole Brydon Bloom of ‘The Gilded Age’".
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32. "Gay and Lesbian Entertainment Critics Association (GALECA) (2016)".
33. "IGN Summer Movie Awards (2017)".
34. "21st Annual TV Awards (2016–17) – Online Film & Television Association".
35. "Live in Front of a Studio Audience: Norman Lear's "All in the Family" and "The Jeffersons"". [[Academy of Television Arts & Sciences]].
36. "Live in Front of a Studio Audience: "All in the Family" and "Good Times"". [[Academy of Television Arts & Sciences]].
37. "Live in Front of a Studio Audience: "The Facts of Life" and "Diff'rent Strokes"". [[Academy of Television Arts & Sciences]].
38. Brathwaite, Lester Fabian. (January 14, 2024). "Oppenheimer, Barbie, The Bear lead 2024 Critics Choice Awards: See the full winners list".