Adam Douglas Driver was born in San Diego, California, to a family with a rich cultural heritage. His mother, Nancy (Needham) Wright, is a paralegal from Mishawaka, Indiana, while his father, Joe Douglas Driver, has deep roots in the American South, hailing from Little Rock, Arkansas. His stepfather is a Baptist minister. Adam's ancestry is a fascinating blend of Dutch, English, German, Irish, and Scottish.
After his parents' divorce, Adam was raised in Mishawaka, attending Mishawaka High School, where he developed a passion for the performing arts, appearing in numerous school plays. The events of 9/11 had a profound impact on Adam, leading him to enlist in the Marines, serving for more than two years before being medically discharged due to an injury that prevented him from being deployed.
Adam's academic journey took him to the University of Indianapolis for a year before he transferred to the prestigious Juilliard School in New York City, where he graduated in 2009 with a degree in drama. He began his acting career on the stage, appearing in various Broadway productions, before being cast in Lena Dunham's critically acclaimed television series, Girls, as the love interest of her character, Adam Sackler.
Adam's breakout role in Girls led to a robust film career, with small roles in J. Edgar and Lincoln, followed by supporting roles in Frances Ha and Inside Llewyn Davis. He then landed major roles in This Is Where I Leave You, Silence, and as Kylo Ren in the Star Wars movie saga, beginning with Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens.
Adam is widely regarded as one of the greatest actors of his generation, both in the United States and internationally, due to his exceptional qualities, which have been showcased in a diverse range of excellent performances. Some of his most notable roles include Paterson, Logan Lucky, The Man Who Killed Don Quixote, and The Report. His performances in BlacKkKlansman and Marriage Story earned him Academy Award nominations for Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role and Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role, respectively.
