Justin Theroux

Justin Paul Theroux is an American actor, screenwriter, and director. He gained widespread recognition for his work in David Lynch's surrealist films Mulholland Drive and Inland Empire, as well as his starring role as Kevin Garvey in the HBO mystery drama series The Leftovers. Beyond acting, Theroux has written screenplays for prominent feature films, directed feature-length projects, and served as a producer for major television events.

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, works as a lawyer. He comes from a family of writers and filmmakers, including his uncles Paul, Alexander, Peter, and Joseph Theroux, and his cousins Louis and Marcel Theroux. His paternal heritage includes French-Canadian and Italian ancestry, while his maternal lineage connects him to banker H. B. Hollins and music critic Gustav Kobbé. Theroux attended elementary and preparatory schools in Washington and began acting while attending the Buxton School in Massachusetts. He graduated from Bennington College in 1993 with a Bachelor of Arts in visual arts and drama.

Making his feature film debut in 1996 in I Shot Andy Warhol, Theroux went on to perform in both stage and screen productions. He appeared on Broadway in Observe the Sons of Ulster Marching Towards the Somme and acted in numerous off-Broadway plays. His early film credits span a range of comedies and dramas, including Romy and Michele's High School Reunion, American Psycho, Zoolander, Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle, The Baxter, and Miami Vice. On television, he held guest and recurring roles in series such as Sex and the City, The District, Alias, Ally McBeal, and Six Feet Under.

In 2006, Theroux made his feature directorial debut with the romantic comedy Dedication, which premiered at the 2007 Sundance Film Festival. He expanded into screenwriting, co-writing the comedy Tropic Thunder and penning the screenplays for Iron Man 2 and Rock of Ages. He later co-wrote and reprised his acting role in Zoolander 2. Theroux has also contributed voice acting to projects such as Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, The Lego Ninjago Movie, and the live-action remake of Lady and the Tramp.

Theroux's television career expanded with major roles in the HBO miniseries John Adams, Parks and Recreation, and Netflix's Maniac. From 2014 to 2017, he starred in The Leftovers, receiving critical acclaim and a Critics' Choice Television Award nomination. He subsequently starred in and executive produced Apple TV+'s adaptation of The Mosquito Coast. In 2025, he joined the cast of Fallout as Robert Edwin House.

In addition to his acting and writing achievements, Theroux won a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Variety Special (Live) as a producer on Live in Front of a Studio Audience. His film work continued with roles in Bumblebee, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, and The Devil Wears Prada 2. In his personal life, Theroux was in a long-term relationship with Heidi Bivens, was married to actress Jennifer Aniston from 2015 to 2018, and married Nicole Brydon Bloom in March 2025, with whom he has a son.