Jeremy Renner

Jeremy Renner is an American actor known for intense dramatic roles and for his portrayal of the superhero Hawkeye in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. After years of supporting parts in independent films and television, he broke through with leading and acclaimed performances that earned him two Academy Award nominations and established him as a versatile performer comfortable in both prestige dramas and large-scale blockbusters.

Early life

Renner was born in Modesto, California, the eldest of several siblings. He attended Modesto Junior College, where he initially studied criminology and computer science before taking a drama class that redirected his interest toward acting. He moved to Los Angeles to pursue the profession, supporting himself with various jobs while seeking roles. During his early years in the city he reportedly renovated and resold houses on the side, a side venture he maintained for some time as he built his acting career.

Career

Renner appeared in independent films and television through the late 1990s and early 2000s, including a notable lead performance as serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer in the 2002 film Dahmer, which drew critical attention. He gained broader recognition with supporting roles in films such as the horror sequel 28 Weeks Later before his breakthrough as Sergeant William James, a bomb-disposal specialist, in Kathryn Bigelow's The Hurt Locker (2008). The performance earned him an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor. He received a second nomination, for Best Supporting Actor, for his role as a Boston criminal in The Town (2010), directed by Ben Affleck. Renner then joined major franchises, playing Clint Barton, also known as Hawkeye, beginning with Thor and The Avengers, and taking over the lead in The Bourne Legacy and appearing in the Mission: Impossible series alongside Tom Cruise. He also drew praise for his work in the crime drama Wind River, in which he played a wildlife agent investigating a death on a Native American reservation.

Recent work

Renner reprised the role of Hawkeye in subsequent Avengers films and headlined the Disney+ limited series Hawkeye in 2021, which introduced the character Kate Bishop. He starred in and produced the crime drama series Mayor of Kingstown, in which he plays a power broker navigating a town built around the prison system. In early 2023 he suffered serious injuries in a snowplow accident near his Nevada home, leading to a prolonged and widely documented recovery during which he detailed his rehabilitation publicly. He subsequently returned to work and continued in Mayor of Kingstown. He has also pursued music, releasing songs and an EP, and remains recognized for combining mainstream blockbuster work with grittier independent and television projects.