ArkaEvren
Eric Bana

ACTOR · BORN 1968

Eric Bana

Born
9 August 1968
Known for
Troy (2004), Star Trek (2009), Mary and Max (2009), Chip 'n Dale: Rescue Rangers (2022)

27 archived facts 5 topics 1 source Last reviewed Nov 2026

Eric Bana (born 9 August 1968) is an actor best known for Troy, Star Trek and Mary and Max.

27 Interesting Facts About Eric Bana

Interesting Facts (9)

  1. #001

    When Eric Bana was offered the project, he had the option of playing several very different characters in the epic war film Troy (2004). He ultimately chose Crown Prince Hector because he thought Prince Hector "was such a great bloke".

    INTERESTING FACTS · SOURCED

    ShareReport
  2. #002

    In 2006, Eric Bana was invited to join the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS).

    INTERESTING FACTS · SOURCED

    ShareReport
  3. #003

    Eric Bana made his motorsport debut at the 1996 Targa Tasmania, driving the same 1974 Ford Falcon XB Coupe. His other racing events include the 2002 Classic Adelaide and the 2003 Classic Adelaide.

    INTERESTING FACTS · SOURCED

    ShareReport
  4. #004

    Ironically, Mark Brandon Read, whom Bana portrayed in Chopper (2000), has a small role in the film Trojan Warrior (2002), playing a man named "Erik Bana". This should not be confused with Troy (2004), in which Bana also appeared and which features a Trojan horse.

    INTERESTING FACTS · SOURCED

    ShareReport
  5. #005

    Asked who his idols were, Eric Bana named Richard Pryor, Paul Newman and Barry Humphries.

    INTERESTING FACTS · SOURCED

    ShareReport
  6. #006

    On Full Frontal (1993), whenever the show did a spoof of a Tom Cruise film or a sketch involving Tom Cruise, Eric Bana played "Cruise", even though in real life he is 8 inches taller than him.

    INTERESTING FACTS · SOURCED

    ShareReport
  7. #007

    Two of Eric Bana's characters had appeared in television films played by John Rhys-Davies before Bana took the roles. In The Trial of the Incredible Hulk (1989), Rhys-Davies played Wilson Fisk, also known as The Kingpin, while Bill Bixby played the role of Dr. Banner that Bana would later take on. Rhys-Davies also played King Priam in Helen of Troy (2003); Priam is the father of Prince Hector, whom Bana played in Troy (2004).

    INTERESTING FACTS · SOURCED

    ShareReport
  8. #008

    The role of Avner Kaufman in the 2005 film Munich was written specifically for Eric Bana.

    INTERESTING FACTS · SOURCED

    ShareReport
  9. #009

    In interviews, Eric Bana has stated that he personally hates guns and did not grow up around them.

    INTERESTING FACTS · SOURCED

    ShareReport

Behind the Scenes (10)

  1. #010

    Penleigh and Essendon Grammar School, he attended Associated Grammar Schools of Victoria.

    BEHIND THE SCENES · SOURCED

    ShareReport
  2. #011

    He supports the St. Kilda Australian football team.

    BEHIND THE SCENES · SOURCED

    ShareReport
  3. #012

    At least three of his feature films are remakes of a television film or share the same source material as a television film. The Incredible Hulk comic book series was made as the television film and series The Incredible Hulk (1977) and the theatrical film Hulk (2003). Homer's "Iliad" was made for television as Helen of Troy (2003) and as the theatrical film Troy (2004). George Jonas's book "Vengeance" was made for television as Sword of Gideon (1986), then remade by Steven Spielberg as Munich (2005).

    BEHIND THE SCENES · SOURCED

    ShareReport
  4. #013

    He was a big fan of The Incredible Hulk (1977) before playing the same role in Ang Lee's theatrical film Hulk (2003). He was a big fan of Star Trek (1966) before playing the villain Nero in J. J. Abrams' remake Star Trek (2009), which Abrams produced and directed.

    BEHIND THE SCENES · SOURCED

    ShareReport
  5. #014

    He is an ambassador for Father Chris Riley's charity for homeless youth, Youth Off the Streets, and appeared in television commercials alongside Riley to support the organization's annual appeal. He is also an advocate for the Mental Illness Fellowship and appeared in several television commercials for the fellowship in 2004 to raise awareness of mental disorders in Australia.

    BEHIND THE SCENES · SOURCED

    ShareReport
  6. #015

    During the 2019-20 Australian bushfire season, also known as Black Summer, Bana voiced both radio and television commercials to support donations to the Gippsland Emergency Relief Fund.

    BEHIND THE SCENES · SOURCED

    ShareReport
  7. #016

    He is active in campaigns with the Australian Childhood Foundation and the Bone Marrow Donor Institute. Since 1995 he has taken part in the Motorcyclists' Association Toy Gun, which collects money and toys for children in need at Christmas.

    BEHIND THE SCENES · SOURCED

    ShareReport
  8. #017

    As of 2026, the actor, film/television producer, commercial endorsement earnings and international real estate holdings are estimated to give him a net worth of approximately 45 million US dollars from his thirty-year successful career.

    BEHIND THE SCENES · SOURCED

    ShareReport
  9. #018

    He is close friends with Bryan Brown, Sam Neill, Jay Leno, Phil McGraw, Jeremy Clarkson, Ricky Gervais, Picton Roxborough, Brad Pitt, Joel McHale, Patrick Rafter, Mark Webber and Orlando Bloom.

    BEHIND THE SCENES · SOURCED

    ShareReport
  10. #019

    He refused to reprise the role of Bruce Banner/Hulk in the Incredible Hulk sequel.

    BEHIND THE SCENES · SOURCED

    ShareReport

Characters & Cast (4)

  1. #020

    Brad Pitt, a big fan of Chopper (2000), personally requested Bana for the role of Prince Hector in Troy (2004). Russell Crowe personally asked for Bana for the role in Black Hawk Down (2001), directed by Sir Ridley Scott. Bana did not have to audition for the part.

    CHARACTERS & CAST · SOURCED

    ShareReport
  2. #021

    For the role of Prince Hector in Troy (2004), Eric Bana did weight training and fight training. Before the film, however, he had never ridden a horse and had to start from scratch riding without a saddle.

    CHARACTERS & CAST · SOURCED

    ShareReport
  3. #022

    Eric Bana was the first choice for the role of Xander Cage in the action film xXx (2002), which he turned down in favour of The Nugget (2002). The role went to Vin Diesel.

    CHARACTERS & CAST · SOURCED

    ShareReport
  4. #023

    To better understand how to play the lead in Chopper (2000), Eric Bana spent two days with Mark Brandon Read. He admitted that he ate junk food for four weeks to gain the extra weight needed to play the legendary criminal. He gained 30 kilos for the role.

    CHARACTERS & CAST · SOURCED

    ShareReport

Career & Awards (1)

  1. #024

    Eric Bana was named by Empire magazine as one of the 100 Sexiest Movie Stars in the World (#61).

    CAREER & AWARDS · SOURCED

    ShareReport

Life & Family (3)

  1. #025

    For the scene in Black Hawk Down (2001) in which helicopter pilot Mike Durant is captured by Somalis, a photo of Bana's wife and child was used. The props department had forgotten to take a photo of a wife and child for the shoot, so they asked Bana's wife, who was travelling with him, whether they could use a photo of him and their children for the scene, and she agreed.

    LIFE & FAMILY · SOURCED

    ShareReport
  2. #026

    Along with several of his fellow actors and crew, Eric Bana visited Camp Arijan in Kuwait to show Star Trek (2009) to a group of US soldiers.

    LIFE & FAMILY · SOURCED

    ShareReport
  3. #027

    Eric Bana considered dropping out of school to become a car mechanic, but his father talked him out of it. When he was at school, he imitated his teachers to avoid serious trouble with them.

    LIFE & FAMILY · SOURCED

    ShareReport

Related pages

  • Method Man — Eric Bana comes up in the facts on that page
  • Troy — Eric Bana comes up in the facts on that page
  • Hugh Jackman — Eric Bana comes up in the facts on that page

Sources & editorial notes

Reference databases

  • Wikipedia English Wikipedia article
  • IMDb IMDb name page (biography and trivia)

Information from external sources is independently selected, consolidated and edited by Arka Evren. Sources are listed for verification and further reading. Encyclopedia text is used under its licence (CC BY-SA). How we work