Elijah Wood biography, net worth, age, wife, baby, height, movies 2025

Elijah Wood's Biography

Elijah Wood became a star as a child, but he doesn't rest on his achievements and continues to reach for new heights. Elijah won't accept offers he doesn't find interesting and believes his biggest success is still ahead of him. Net worth: $20 million.

Childhood

Elijah was born on January 18, 1981, in the picturesque town of Cedar Rapids, right in the heart of Iowa. He is the second child born to Debbie and Warren and has two siblings. From early childhood, the boy showed creative potential, learning to play piano and sing.

When Elijah turned seven, his mother took him to Avant Studios, a talent agency, and she was soon accompanying him to the Young Actors Conference, where the boy was noticed by Gary Scalzo, a jury member who would eventually become Elijah's manager. According to Scalzo, you couldn't take your eyes off adorable Elijah, who captivated everyone's attention at the conference.

After signing the contract with Elijah's manager, the family relocated to Los Angeles, where the young boy started to shoot commercials and study acting. In 1989, he appeared in Paula Abdul's hit music video Forever Your Girl, written and directed by David Fincher.

The start of the creative career

Since his first roles, no one ever doubted that the boy with unruly hair would be a future star. His first role was in a small episode of the sequel to the beloved fantasy comedy Back to the Future.

In 1990 Elijah appeared in the period drama Avalon, portraying Jules's son (played by legendary Aidan Quinn), and was immediately nominated for the Young Artists Awards.

In the following two years the boy participated in several movies, the most notable of which were Paradise, Radio Flyer, and, of course, Disney's classic The Adventures of Huck Finn. In the latter, Elijah acted together with Ron Perlman and Robbie Coltrane. Although he was just 12, Elijah excelled in his first leading role.

The thriller The Good Son, which premiered in 1993, impressed audiences with its sophisticated plot and the powerful performances of two young actors: Elijah portraying Mark, a boy wise beyond his years, and Macaulay Culkin as Henry, a nice sweet-faced boy with sadistic tendencies.

In 1994 Elijah got the lead in a family movie North. This charming cautionary tale, where Wood co-starred with Bruce Willis, was equally well-received by adults and children alike.

In 1995 Elijah Wood took part in the filming of the Cranberries' music video for their song Ridiculous Thoughts. He played a lonely and somewhat lost young man who has nothing but the music in his earbuds.

The Cranberries – Ridiculous Thoughts

1997 brought standout performances as Jack Dawkins in Oliver Twist and Mikey in the drama The Ice Storm.

1998 saw the release of two more films featuring the young star. The sci-fi thriller Deep Impact, where Elijah played Leo, who heroically saves his girlfriend and her brother from certain death, and the genre-blending The Faculty. In these movies, the actor collaborated with Josh Hartnett, Famke Janssen, and Sigourney Weaver. Both films are considered pivotal in the actor's career, cementing his rising fame. However, the real success was still ahead.

The Lord of the Rings

According to Zoomboola.com, Peter Jackson conceived the idea of filming the Middle Earth sagas in 2000. In the legendary Lord of the Rings, the young actor portrayed brave Frodo, which brought him worldwide fame.

Interestingly, no one invited Elijah to audition for the picture. When the actor heard Jackson was starting to cast the film, he filmed a couple of scenes from the book and sent them to the director. In the end, Peter Jackson, who had been considering Jake Gyllenhaal for the role of the head hobbit, gave the role to Elijah. Later, the director would confirm on multiple occasions that he was thrilled with his choice and couldn't imagine anyone else as Frodo.

After the end of shooting, each actor could keep a souvenir from the set, and Elijah chose one of the two rings, with Andy Sirkis taking the second one.

After the end of The Lord of the Rings, Elijah received the ring as a souvenir

But that's not the only memory Elijah kept from the set: he also got the number nine tattooed in Elvish on his hip.

For his role in the legendary trilogy, Elijah was nominated for all the major movie awards but only won the Empire Award.

It is just the beginning

After the astounding success of the Lord of the Rings, many critics predicted that Elijah would remain trapped in good guy roles – just like his character Frodo. But Wood did not agree to take on similar roles.

The critics predicted that Elijah will forever play good guys in his movies

In a span of several years, Elijah's filmography expanded to include such notable performances as the role of Patrick in Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind and Kevin in Sin City. This unbelievably violent and realistic 2005 story of an American student who finds himself among British football hooligans became one of Elijah's standout performances. His portrayal of ex-student Matt Buckner in Green Street Hooligans definitively ended any speculation about him being forever typecast as the innocent Hobbit. In Green Street Hooligans, Elijah starred alongside Charlie Hunnam and the magnificent Leo Gregory.

Hooligans - Trailer

The 2008 crime thriller The Oxford Murders became a true gift to the actor's fans. In the picture, he appeared together with legendary John Hurt and Dominique Pinon. His role as Martin, an Oxford student who helps investigate a series of murders at Britain's most prestigious university, earned him recognition as a serious intellectual actor. Later Elijah would prove time and again that he can master any role, including the most unimaginable ones.

The Oxford Murders - Trailer

2012 saw the horror Maniac, a remake of a 1980's classic American slasher, become a sensation. The hellish atmosphere is how critics described the picture. A deranged killer collecting human scalps became even more disturbing when portrayed by the sweet-faced Elijah.

This dark, depressing film, shot in classic noir tradition, may not have become anyone's favorite, but it showcased Elijah's incredible range – a level of talent that remains out of reach for many actors.

Maniac - Trailer

2013 saw the premiere of the film, where Wood again portrayed a maniac. However, as opposed to the 2012 slasher, this role was better received by the audience. Pawn Shop Chronicles weaves together several interconnected stories. In Wayne Kramer's solid dark comedy, Wood played a chilling maniac: a sophisticated, intelligent young man who keeps women as slaves, and disturbingly, his victims don't try to escape – much to the audience's horror.

2013 also brought the premiere of Grand Piano, a gripping thriller with a shocking twist that put Elijah's piano skills front and center. In this movie, the actor worked with John Cusack and Allen Leech.

His standout roles from 2014-2016 include the fantasy thriller The Last Witch Hunter and the intense crime drama The Trust.

The Trust - Trailer

In 2017, Wood starred in the darkly comic I Don't Feel at Home in This World Anymore as that slightly unhinged neighbor you can never quite remember the name of but who's always eager to help – a role that fit him like a glove. The film struck a chord with audiences thanks to the touching chemistry between Wood and co-star Melanie Lynskey.

I Don't Feel at Home in This World Anymore - Trailer

Wood's production company Spectre Vision partnered with game developer Ubisoft on a new title slated for late 2018 release. Fall 2018 saw the premiere of the thriller Mandy with the famous Nicolas Cage. Elijah Wood produced the picture. In a post-screening interview, he revealed his growing interest in production while quickly reassuring fans he wasn't hanging up his acting boots. He also shared his dream to appear in a movie by Lars von Trier.

Elijah Wood's Personal Life

Wood keeps his personal life largely private, rarely discussing his romantic relationships or naming names. Elijah is known to have dated Bijou Phillips and then Franka Potente. Before 2010 he had a 5-year relationship with Pamela Racine.

Since 2016, Wood has been in a relationship with producer Mette-Marie Kongsved, and the couple welcomed a child in 2019.

Elijah Wood now

2019 saw the release of "The Color Out of Space," featuring Wood in an adaptation of H.P. Lovecraft's haunting tale. The film follows a farming family's horrific ordeal after a mysterious meteorite crashes near their home. In 2020, the thriller "Come to Daddy" premiered, in which Elijah played the role of Norwell.

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Teresa Schultz

It seems to me that the stigma of the hobbit has laid down on Elijah forever :) And simply - a teenage child. not an adult. Basically like Radcliffe

2021-05-06 22:36:50
Annette Bell

I haven`t seen Elijah Wood for a long time :) Wood baby disappeared somewhere :)

2021-03-14 13:45:20
Aiden Mason Kelly

Elijah, by the way, is a very good dramatic actor. His roles are basically the same. In the Overlord, he is by far the best.

2021-03-08 18:21:55
Heather Nelson

I remember the surprise when I took him away in a different role in the movie Green Street Hooligans. After that I began to look at him differently.

2021-03-01 08:42:07
Gregory Lambert

Elijah is forever remembered from the Lord of the Rings films. Better than him, no one would definitely have coped with this role.

2021-02-26 18:08:31

Photos: Elijah Wood