ACTOR · BORN 1968
Josh Brolin
- Born
- 12 February 1968, Santa Monica, Los Angeles, California, USA
- Known for
- No Country for Old Men (2007), Avengers: Infinity War (2018), Dune: Part Two (2024), Hollow Man (2000)
15 archived facts 4 topics 1 source Last reviewed Nov 2026
Josh Brolin (born 12 February 1968) is an actor best known for No Country for Old Men, Avengers: Infinity War and Dune: Part Two.
15 Interesting Facts About Josh Brolin
Interesting Facts (8)
- #001
While playing Dan White, the killer of Harvey Milk, in Milk (2008), Josh Brolin was worried about how he would be received during filming in San Francisco. Instead, the gay community welcomed him warmly for taking part in a film about their political hero, an experience Brolin found unforgettable.
- #002
- #003
Josh Brolin achieved a rare feat in film history by appearing in five separate film series based on five different comic book publications. He played Thanos in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Cable in the X-Men series, the young Agent K in Men in Black 3, the title character in DC's Jonah Hex, and a different character in another production.
- #004
Josh Brolin is known for his interest in the stock market; he even set up a trading station with three computer screens running simultaneously at his home in Los Angeles. He also co-created marketprobability.com, a website that offers investors historical stock data.
Josh Brolin: Josh, behind the scenesImage: Wikimedia Commons · Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0 - #005
Josh Brolin lived on a farm in California with Alice Adair and their two children. During this period he acted in and directed plays for five years at the Reflections Festival at the GeVa Theatre in Rochester, New York; Brolin says this experience made him the actor he is today.
- #006
In May 2006, just two days after landing a role in No Country for Old Men (2007), Josh Brolin crashed his motorcycle into a vehicle in Los Angeles. The actor broke his collarbone in the accident, yet was on set two weeks later to begin filming, a testament to his determination.
- #007
Josh Brolin played Eddie Mannix in Hail, Caesar! (2016), while his ex-wife Diane Lane played Mannix's wife, Toni Mannix, in Hollywoodland (2006). The coincidence forms an interesting link between the two careers.
- #008
On October 18, 2008, Josh Brolin hosted Saturday Night Live's most-watched episode in 14 years. The appearance of Republican vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin as a guest on that episode broke ratings records.
Characters & Cast (2)
- #009
Early in their careers, Josh Brolin and his close friend Benicio Del Toro received harsh criticism from Miramax Films executive Meryl Poster. Poster said the pair had given the worst auditions she had ever witnessed, an incident that remains an ironic memory given their later success.
- #010
Josh Brolin turned down the role of Marcus Wright in Terminator Salvation (2009), which went to Sam Worthington. He also auditioned for the role of "Wild Bill" Wharton in The Green Mile (1999), but the part was given to Sam Rockwell.
Career & Awards (2)
- #011
Josh Brolin's name comes from the character Josh Randall, played by Steve McQueen in the series Wanted: Dead or Alive (1958). The name is regarded as one of the first steps in Brolin's film career.
- #012
Fox Network favored Josh Brolin for the role of Officer Tom Hanson in the series 21 Jump Street (1987), but producer Patrick Hasburgh chose Johnny Depp. The decision launched Depp's career while changing the course of Brolin's.
Life & Family (3)
- #013
Josh Brolin and his father, James Brolin, achieved a feat rarely seen in film history: both have portrayed US presidents. James Brolin played Ronald Reagan, while Josh Brolin carried on the tradition with the role of George W. Bush.
- #014
Josh Brolin's son, Trevor Brolin, draws sketches of the characters his father is set to play before filming. This in-family collaboration adds a different dimension to Brolin's process of preparing for his characters.
- #015
In April 2000, Josh Brolin won the 24th Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race held in Long Beach, a victory that came 22 years after his father's own success. Brolin completed the course in under 18 minutes, finishing ahead of names such as George Lucas, John Elway and Ashley Judd.
Related pages
- Everest — Josh Brolin comes up in the facts on that page
- Top Gun: Maverick — Josh Brolin comes up in the facts on that page
- Deadpool & Wolverine — Josh Brolin comes up in the facts on that page
Sources & editorial notes
Reference databases
- Wikipedia
- IMDb
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