Jeremy Renner | Movies, Biography, & Facts (2024)

Jeremy Renner (born January 7, 1971, Modesto, California, U.S.) is an American actor known for his role as Hawkeye, the bow-and-arrow–wielding superhero in the Marvel Cinematic Universe Avengers films, and for portraying bomb disposal specialist Staff Sgt. William James in the war drama The Hurt Locker (2008). Renner brings an intensity to his roles that subtly displays inner conflict, and he is known for portraying everyman characters.

Early life

Renner was born in Modesto, California, the eldest son of Valerie Cearley, who worked at a design firm, and Lee Renner, who managed a bowling alley. While attending Modesto Junior College, Renner studied computer science and criminology before discovering his passion for acting and theatre. His first acting job came through the local police department, which hired him to role-play the part of a domestic disturbance perpetrator as part of a training exercise. He chose to pursue acting and moved to San Francisco where he enrolled in the American Conservatory Theater.

Career

Renner made the leap from theatre to film with a role in the comedy National Lampoon’s Senior Trip (1995). He worked in television commercials and supporting roles before getting his first big break in 2002, when he portrayed the infamous serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer in the crime biopic Dahmer (2002). For the next few years Renner moved between big-budget studio movies such as S.W.A.T. (2003) and independent films such as the drama Neo Ned (2005). In 2007 he landed a role as a soldier in the zombie horror film 28 Weeks Later (2007), the sequel to 28 Days Later (2002).

In 2008 American director Kathryn Bigelow cast him as bomb removal expert Staff Sgt. William James in her film The Hurt Locker (2008). Renner’s role in the film led to his appointment as a United Nations Goodwill Peace Ambassador, raising awareness for mine-clearing efforts in Afghanistan. After starring with Ben Affleck in the bank heist drama The Town (2010), Renner took on a series of action movie roles, starting in 2011 with Mission: Impossible—Ghost Protocol (2011).

That same year, Renner made an uncredited cameo appearance that would later become a recurring role, that of Clint (“Hawkeye”) Barton, a member of the Avengers, in the Marvel movie Thor (2011). The role was expanded in The Avengers (2012), and Renner’s action movie streak continued with starring roles in The Bourne Legacy (2012) and Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters (2013). He continued with major roles in Mission: Impossible—Rogue Nation (2015), Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015), Captain America: Civil War (2016), and Avengers: Endgame (2019). He also starred in the drama Arrival (2016) and the comedy Tag (2018). In 2021 he returned to television to reprise his role as Hawkeye in the Marvel series of the same name and had a starring role in the American crime drama Mayor of Kingstown (2021– ).

In addition to his acting work, Renner is a singer-songwriter who has released two albums of rock music, The Medicine (2020) and Live for Now (2020). He garnered Academy Award nominations for best actor for his performance in The Hurt Locker and for best supporting actor for his role in The Town. In 2023 his reality television series Rennervations debuted. It documents his passion for renovating decommissioned buses and other large vehicles for community use.

Volunteer work and 2023 accident

Renner is a trained volunteer firefighter who also helps plow snow near his home in Washoe county, Nevada. In January 2023 he suffered severe injuries after being run over by a snowplow outside his home. In addition to 30 broken bones, Renner also had a collapsed lung and a pierced liver. Following a lengthy recovery—which included surgeries to insert metal plates and titanium rods—he returned to acting, appearing in season three (2024) of Mayor of Kingstown.