Welcome to my tribute to one of the best actors of all-time.
An extraordinary talent doesn't come along very often in anyone's lifetime. No matter the field, no matter
the subject. Art had Van Gogh and Monet, physics had Galileo and Newton, dance had Fosse and Graham,
biology had Watson and Crick. There is never a shortage of people who wish to achieve greatness - but there
are only a select few that actually reach the peak - a privileged, talented bunch who look upon
everyone else from their vantage point - at the top.
For a while, in the middle of the 20th century, the acting profession had several actors noted for their on-screen brilliance and
versatility. Classics like Cary Grant and Jimmy Stewart - along with the "new breed" of actors like
Robert DeNiro and Tom Hanks. It's funny I should mention Jimmy Stewart - because I don't remember who it was who said it in an article,
but in the '90s we were treated to a new kid in town - a Jimmy Stewart for my generation - our generation.
I am, of course, referring to the great Edward Norton.
Don't call him Ed, he's never readily allowed anyone to really use that as one of his nicknames. He is reticent,
sometimes painfully, beyond compare. I can't imagine anyone writing a biography on his life, and actually
having the authorization to do so - since he doesn't give any much about his personal life in any
of his interviews. He was asked recently in an CNN interview, "So, who is the real Ed Norton?" To which he
answered, "That's not relevant. It's really not. It's not relevant and it's also counterproductive to things I'm doing within the
sphere of being effective." That is, I gather that he wishes that the details of his private life
don't muddle the real business at hand - creating a believeable character with just the right
persona for whatever role he's doing.
He is an "true artiste" in every sense of the phrase. His friends in the business, among them Drew Barrymore and
Courtney Love (talk about two extremes) have nothing to say but good things about the quiet but talented
Edward Norton - "classy," "genuine," and "Old Hollywood." Edward has been nominated for an Oscar twice - for
best supporting actor as the schizophrenic Aaron Stampler in "Primal Fear" (1996), and for the reformed
neo-Nazi skinhead Derek Vinyard in "American History X" (1998). Besides having incredible talent
as an actor, he has already directed his first feature film, "Keeping the Faith",
in which he also starred in, and helped in production. You can't easily find another actor of today more respected
by his peers and audiences alike.
Thanks for visiting littlewillow's tribute to Edward Norton. Feel free to check out the site
fully - and I'd appreciate it if you signed my guestbook and left your comments and suggestions
there. I would lastly like to quote here from the tagline for "Keeping the Faith" because I feel that it
echoes my sentiments for all people, in every nation, all over the globe...
If you have to believe in something, you might as well believe in love.
This page and its related links were written solely by littlewillow, 2000.
For use exclusively at littlewillow's tribute to Edward Norton page.
This page is in no way officially associated with Edward Norton, and is simply a fan's tribute to the
work of Edward Norton.
