Ed Harris's remarkable ability to fully embody his characters and draw the audience in has solidified his position as one of the most skilled and accomplished actors of our time.
Born in Tenafly, New Jersey, Ed Harris was raised by his parents, Margaret (Sholl),a travel agent, and Robert Lee Harris, a bookstore worker who also had a successful singing career. Interestingly, both of his parents were originally from Oklahoma, where they later relocated. As the middle child, Harris grew up surrounded by a loving family environment.
After completing high school, Harris attended Columbia University in New York, where he actively participated in football. However, it was his exposure to local theater productions that sparked a sudden and intense interest in acting. This newfound passion led him to leave Columbia and head to Oklahoma, where his parents were living, to enroll in the University of Oklahoma's theater department.
Upon graduating, Harris relocated to Los Angeles to pursue a career in acting. He started by taking on roles in theater and television guest spots. His breakthrough in film came with the cult classic Knightriders (1981),where he landed his first leading role. Two years later, he received critical acclaim for his portrayal of astronaut John Glenn in The Right Stuff (1983). Additionally, that year, he made his New York stage debut in Sam Shepard's "Fool for Love", earning him an Obie Award for Outstanding Actor.
This marked the beginning of a remarkable career trajectory for Harris. In 2000, he made his directorial debut with the Oscar-winning film Pollock (2000),cementing his status as a talented and versatile actor and director.
