Eric Bana

Eric Banadinovich was introduced into the world on August 9, 1968 in Melbourne (say Mel-ben), Australia. Eric's brother, Anthony, is three years older. Anthony was was an 'A' student, and an athlete who went to the United States to play basketball. Eric, on the other hand, was the popular class clown and won school talent contests. His German mother (Eleanor) was a hairdresser, and his Croation father (Ivan) was involved in logistics while working at Caterpillar, an American tractor company.

After leaving school, Eric traveled and had odd jobs including working for a transport company down on the wharf in Melbourne. Other jobs jobs included washing cars at a service station, pushing trolleys at Coles New World, and picking up glasses at a Melbourne pub.

At this Melbourne bar, he was "somehow lured onto the pub's stage to perform a comedy routine." This was the event that sparked his comedic career. His comedic talent led to his television debut with a performance on Steve Vizard's "Tonight Live" show. His big television break was in 1993, writing and performing for "Full Frontal," an Australian comedy series (similar to "Saturday Night Live" in the United States). With his impersonations including Ray Martin Tom Cruise Arnold Schwarzenegger Stan Grant and Mike Willesee, audiences howled with laughter. Eric's increasing popularity on "Full Frontal" led to his own special "Eric" in 1996, a collection of sketches with amusing characters. "The Eric Bana Show Live" launched a year later, but the show was soon cancelled for low ratings.

Eric had obvious talent in comedy, and his popularity in the previous television shows led to his feature film debut in 1997's "The Castle." In the film about an Australian family's happy times despite struggles, he played a supporting role as the hilarious Con Petropoulous, a kickboxing accountant.

That same year, Eric married Rebecca Gleeson, former publicist with the Seven Network (home of "Full Frontal"). "I honestly felt as though I'd found the nugget when I met my wife. Without a doubt. I knew in an instant." Presently, they have two children, Klaus and Sophie.

Then, "Chopper" came. The 2000 dramatic independent film featured Eric as Mark "Chopper" Read, one of Australia's most notorious criminals.

The film that introduced Eric to a large audience was 2001's "Black Hawk Down," a film based on the American siege of Mogadishu, Somalia in October of 1993. Eric trained for the role at Fort Bragg, before spending five months in a dusty outpost in Morocco to shoot the film. The film was a critical and blockbuster success, which was a impressive way to start off a Hollywood career.

The calming antidote for the grueling "Black Hawk Down" shoot was shortly afterwards. Eric bulked up his filmography in "The Nugget," an Australian comedy about three road workers who discover the world's biggest gold nugget.

Things are looking good. Also, remember that "Chopper" film in 2000? Fortunately for Eric and the world, director Ang Lee and the producers for the soon-to-be film called "The Hulk" were facinated by Eric's rage-filled performance. They had found Bruce Banner, the mild-mannered scientist that transforms into a green giant when angered. On Lee casting him as the lead for the 2003 film, "I was obviously humbled by it and flattered, but it actually gave me a lot of confidence because it made me think that there was a reason why he’s chosen me, and without knowing that reason, I’ll just go in and do the work and give everything I can." After wrapping up "The Hulk," Eric spent nine months at home with his family.

In April of 2003, production for "Troy" began. For this epic film directed by Wolfgang Peterson and inspired by Homer's "The Illiad," Eric played Hector, leader of the Trojan forces battling against Achilles (played by Brad Pitt Since production for the film wrapped for Eric a few days before Christmas, he then returned back to Australia to spend time with his family.

A self-proclamined "revhead" (also known as "petrol-head" in Australia, "motor-head" in the United States), Eric is completely interested in cars and motorcycles; he's been a "lover of all things automotive since a child" and he's been racing cars for a long time. His first car was an old XB Coupe, purchaced for $1000 when he was 15.

At the moment, Eric wears two rings on his hands: one gold, one silver. The gold ring on his left hand is his wedding ring, and the silver ring was the "first thing my wife bought me when we were dating. It's a big silver ring with coraggio engraved in it, which is Italian for courage." He certainly does have courage - from comedy to the big screen, Eric will be aweing audiences for a long, long time.


Filmography

The Other Boleyn Girl (2007) (post-production) .... King Henry VIII
Romulus, My Father (2007) (post-production) .... Romulus
Lucky You (2007) (completed) .... Huck Cheever
Munich (2005) .... Avner
Troy (2004) .... Hector
Hulk (2003) .... Bruce Banner
The Nugget (2002) .... Lotto
Black Hawk Down (2001) .... Sfc. Norm 'Hoot' Hooten
Chopper (2000) .... Mark Brandon 'Chopper' Read
"Eric" .... Various Characters / ... (9 episodes, 1997)
The Castle (1997/I) .... Con Petropoulous