Justin Chatwin

Justin Chatwin (born October 31, 1982) is a Canadian actor. He began his career in 2001 with a brief appearance in the musical comedy ''Josie and the Pussycats''. Following his breakthrough role as Robbie Ferrier in the blockbuster ''War of the Worlds'' (2005), Chatwin headlined studio films such as '' The Invisible'' (2007) and ''Dragonball Evolution'' (2009), an action-adventure feature based on the Japanese manga '' Dragon Ball''. In the 2010s, Chatwin acted mostly in small independent films. He starred as rock star idol Bobby Shore in the surreal sci-fi musical ''Bang Bang Baby'' (2014), which earned him a Canadian Screen Awards nomination for Best Supporting Actor, and appeared in the romantic comedy ''Unleashed'' (2016), and drama '' Summer Night'' (2019).

Throughout the 2000s, Chatwin made guest appearances in several television series including '' Weeds'' and ''Lost'', later being cast in his first regular role on the Showtime comedy-drama '' Shameless'', portraying Jimmy Lishman between 2011 and 2015. Chatwin starred as a cartoonist in the CBS murder mystery drama '' American Gothic'' (2016), and also that year he appeared as superhero Grant Gordon / The Ghost in the '' Doctor Who'' Christmas special "The Return of Doctor Mysterio". From 2019 to 2021, Chatwin played scientist Erik Wallace in Netflix's '' Another Life''.

Aside from acting, he has a long-time passion for motorcycles, extreme sports and travelling. Chatwin's journey from Vancouver to Patagonia on motorcycle was depicted in the documentary series '' No Good Reason'' (2020), which he also executive produced.

Early life

Chatwin was born in Nanaimo, British Columbia. He is the son of Suzanne (née Halsall), a mixed-media artist, and Brian, an engineer who founded in 1982 Chatwin Engineering, a civil engineering and construction company based in British Columbia, where he served as President and CEO. Chatwin's parents divorced in 2010. His late grandfather was of French-Canadian ancestry. Chatwin has a younger sister, Brianna, who works as a tattoo artist. They were raised Catholic.

After graduating from high school, Chatwin followed in his father's footsteps and began to study engineering at the University of British Columbia, but after one week he switched to commerce. He dropped out after one semester. Chatwin fell into acting and decided to pursue a career after he was "dared by a friend to go on an audition for a TV show in Canada", he recalls. "I took the dare, not knowing what I was getting into. I was called back and hired..."

In 2005, Chatwin moved to Los Angeles, where he rented an apartment with fellow actor Noel Fisher. Prior to this, he lived for a month in a travel trailer with a friend, stating, "We didn't have girlfriends; we were reading Kerouac and Ginsberg, driving up to the desert, walking in the dunes, and showering at 24 Hour Fitness. It was an exciting time, but would I do it again? No."

Career

2001–2004: Early work

Chatwin made his debut in the musical comedy ''Josie and the Pussycats'' (2001), in which he played an enthusiastic fan. The film, based on the Archie Comics series and the Hanna-Barbera cartoon of the same name, was a commercial failure upon its initial release, but has enjoyed later success as a cult film.

Soon after, Chatwin starred as John Spencer in the two-part miniseries ''Christy, Choices of the Heart''. He went on to guest-star in several television series such as '' Smallville'', '' Mysterious Ways'', ''Night Visions'', '' Just Cause'', '' Glory Days'', '' Beyond Belief: Fact or Fiction'' and '' Taken'', playing also a juvenile delinquent in the television film '' The Incredible Mrs. Ritchie'' (2003), directed by Paul Johansson. One year later, Chatwin played an aspiring guitarist murdered by a serial killer who takes on the identities of his victims in D. J. Caruso's psychological thriller '' Taking Lives'', based on the novel of the same name by Michael Pye. He was also a helper and friend of the title characters in the family-oriented comedy '' Superbabies: Baby Geniuses 2'', a sequel to the 1999 film ''Baby Geniuses''. The feature is considered one of the worst films of all time, receiving an approval rating of 0% on Rotten Tomatoes. Ellen Fox of the ''Chicago Tribune'' called Chatwin "the only bright spot" of the film.

In 2004, ''Newsweek'' magazine labeled Chatwin an "Actor to Watch" based on his performance as Tyler McKay in the three-part miniseries ''Traffic''. He also starred opposite Kate Mara in The WB pilot ''Prodigy'', about a child prodigy.

2005–2010: Breakthrough

Chatwin was chosen out of several young actors to play Tom Cruise's rebellious adolescent son in the alien invasion film ''War of the Worlds'' (2005), directed by Steven Spielberg, based on the 1898 novel by H. G. Wells's '' Doctor Who'', portraying superhero The Ghost and his alter ego Grant Gordon in 2016 Christmas special "The Return of Doctor Mysterio". The episode pays homage to the comic book films, Christopher Reeve's Superman and Tobey Maguire's Spider-Man serving as inspiration for his character. ''Vulture'' critic Ross Ruediger praised Chatwin's "splendid" performance.

2016 saw Chatwin appear in four independent films. He played Jackie Clean in the western drama '' Poor Boy'', which premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival, as part of the Viewpoints section, followed by a limited release two years later. Chatwin was cast opposite Pierce Brosnan in the allegorical thriller '' Urge'', where he starred as an artist unaffected by the title drug which is said to remove your inhibitions. Christy Lemire from RogerEbert.com called Aaron Kaufman's film "empty and unlikable as the characters themselves". The romantic comedy ''Unleashed'', written and directed by Finn Taylor, stars Kate Micucci as a woman whose cat and dog are transformed into men (Chatwin and Steve Howey). In preparation for his role, Chatwin studied animal movement with Jean-Louis Rodrigue and Kristof Konrad, in order to embody the specific mannerisms and behavior. As the Audience Award winner at the 39th Mill Valley Film Festival, the film was met with generally positive reviews; Frank Scheck of ''The Hollywood Reporter'' opined that ''Unleashed'' works "thanks to its engaging female lead and the exuberantly physical performances of her co-stars". Lastly, Chatwin and Anna Camp played a couple trying to save their marriage in the time travel drama ''One Night''. Following its world premiere at the Austin Film Festival, Minhal Baig's directorial debut was released nationwide early next year, with a mixed-to-negative response; despite noting the film's flawed script, Kimber Myers of the ''Los Angeles Times'' praised the "solid" performances of the cast.

Chatwin starred in the Joachim Rønning-directed pilot ''The Doomsday Project'' (2017) as Navy SEAL instructor Chris Wyatt. Also that year, he appeared in three films, starting with a cameo as Vincent D'Onofrio's drug-addicted son in the action-comedy ''CHiPs'', directed by Dax Shepard, based on the television series of the same name. Chatwin then portrayed modern cowboy Hugh Jay Linder in Blake Robbins' western noir '' The Scent of Rain and Lightning'', based on the 2010 novel of the same name by Nancy Pickard. Led by Maika Monroe, the film follows a young woman's attempt to uncover the truth behind the death of her parents (Chatwin and Maggie Grace in the flashback sequences). After making its debut at the Atlanta Film Festival, the critically acclaimed film was released to a general audience one year later, Frank Scheck deeming it "a well-acted, intelligent thriller", while another critic praised Chatwin's "subtle and strong" performance. He also had a role in the independent drama ''We Don’t Belong Here'', sharing the screen with Riley Keough and Anton Yelchin.

Chatwin later headlined Crackle's original sci-fi movie '' In the Cloud'' (2018), in which he plays a computer scientist. That same year, he starred as a rookie detective working on his first major case in the dramatic thriller '' The Assassin's Code'', which was screened at the 42nd Cleveland International Film Festival. Chatwin also featured as a hedonistic bartender named Andy in the ensemble coming-of-age drama '' Summer Night'' (2019), directed by Joseph Cross in his directorial debut. Following its premiere at the Atlanta Film Festival in the spring, the film opened in theaters that summer to mixed reviews; ''Los Angeles Times'' critic Carlos Aguilar called it "mediocre and forgettable", however, ''The Hollywood Reporter'' critic found Chatwin "very funny" providing the comic relief.

From 2019 to 2021, over the course of two seasons, Chatwin played scientist Erik Wallace in the television series '' Another Life''.

2021–present: Subsequent career

Chatwin co-starred opposite Diego Boneta, Alexandra Daddario and Travis Fimmel in the romantic crime film '' Die in a Gunfight'' (2021), which has been described as a modern version of William Shakespeare's '' Romeo and Juliet''. He plays an unscrupulous stalker loosely based on Tybalt and Count Paris. Although it garnered a negative response, Mae Abdulbaki of '' Screen Rant'' opined that Chatwin is "chewing up scenery with gusto and a glint in his eyes" as the film's villain.

In 2022, Chatwin starred as a conflicted police officer in the period drama film '' The Walk'', directed by Daniel Adams. Based on true events, it centers upon the desegregation of school busses in 1974 Boston. Chatwin will portray Jack Reagan, the father of United States President Ronald Reagan in Sean McNamara's biopic ''Reagan''.

Other ventures

Motorcycles

Chatwin said many times that his biggest passion is motorcycles. He owns a Harley-Davidson Night Train which he named Charlie Crowe. Talking about the beginnings, he said: "I had bought my first motorcycle after riding a scooter on the Amalfi Coast in 2009. Five years later, and a full blown obsession under my belt, I'm back in Italy standing at the epic Ducati factory", adding, "A perfect day for me is when I wake up and know that all I have to do is ride my motorcycle for the next ten hours in a particular direction".

Chatwin has been in many trips with his former ''Shameless'' co-stars, William H. Macy and Steve Howey. They have been riding from Los Angeles to Colorado, San Francisco and Aspen, sponsored by Harley-Davidson. In 2014, Chatwin embarked on a trip across Europe with producer Ford Smith and actor Martin Henderson, testing the new Ducati motorcycles.

In order to learn more and improve his skills, in November 2016, over the course of one weekend, Chatwin attended the Keith Code's California Superbike School, alongside actor Nicholas Hoult, motorcycle journalist Sean MacDonald, singer and music producer Albert Hammond Jr. and entrepreneur Jesse Waits. From there, he was invited to test the new AGV Corsa R helmets at Buttonwillow Raceway Park.

In 2017, Chatwin was invited at the inaugural edition of Moto Beach Classic Festival in Southern California. The one-day event was established to promote the moto culture, bringing together artists, bike builders and fans. Chatwin took part at the BMX Boxer Cup challenge against former professional freestyle motocross racer Andy Bell, custom builder Maxwell Hazan and seasoned photographer Preston Burroughs.

Chatwin is also part of WLF Enduro, a community of people from different backgrounds of work, such as teachers, salesmen or construction workers, brought together to ride in two days every year, throughout Southern California. Their mission is "Unifying riders around the globe with the common passion of two wheels and a throttle". About his decision to join the crew, he said, "This is my hobby. This is my community. This is how I stay happy in a work oriented world. These things are important to me. Because when we die these will be the memories that remain".

''No Good Reason'' (2020)

The American web documentary series was released on the internet on July 29, 2020, and stars Chatwin and Nik Markovina (credited Nik Dean), both serving also as executive producers. The seven-episode documentary centers on Chatwin and one of his best friends, a fellow actor and former model, now the co-founder of Lords of Gastown, a company specialized on clothing and accessories for motorcycles. After a couple of long rides, they decide to embark on the ultimate journey from Vancouver to Patagonia on their motorcycles named Charlie Crowe and Bobby Valentine. From Santiago to Ecuador and Bariloche, the duo visit sacred places and meet interesting people, including indigenous rights activist Nina Gualinga. Chatwin stated that he has always been inspired by Bruce Chatwin, his favorite travel writer. They are not related although they share the same surname. Even though the series was released in 2020, the events depicted in it took place in 2016.

Activism and charity

In 2011, Chatwin took part on a charitable motorcycle ride for amfAR, an American foundation for AIDS research, and was one of the celebrities who attended "Stand Up To Cancer", a special event and auction established in order to raise money in the fight against cancer, hosted by Jaime King and Nicky Hilton Rothschild.

In 2013, Chatwin joined Beau Garrett, Mark Foster and Kenna on the new edition of Summit on the Summit project, climbing Kilimanjaro. The purpose was to bring attention on the global water crisis and raise money for the people in need. Regarding the cause, he said, "We just need government will to change these things. It's something I really responded to... everyone in the world should have access to water".

Chatwin was also one of the celebrities who protested against the controversial Keystone XL pipeline. In order to show how the future could look for the environment, he starred alongside Amy Smart in ''Keystone Horror'' trailer.

In 2017, Chatwin teamed up for a special ride with Vancouver-based motorcycle company "Lords of Gastown", and charitable organization "Waves for Water", which is dedicated to provide clean water for everyone who needs it. Riding across Central America, the goal was raising money in order to purchase and install clean-water filters for the communities living in Honduras, Guatemala, El Salvador and Nicaragua. Chatwin is also one of the Canadian ambassadors for Operation Smile.

Personal life

Chatwin currently resides in Los Angeles, California, although he has considered moving many times in the past.

Chatwin is an advocate of the nomadic lifestyle. When not working on a film or a television show, he is always on the road, stating, "The anatomy of restlessness is what my fascination is. The nomadic instinct I will call it. And the need of constant movement". In these trips, he is joined usually by Ombú, a Uruguayan street dog which he adopted in 2016.

Chatwin describes himself as being a shy person and having difficulties living in the U.S.: "I've always been shy speaking in front of people maybe because I've never felt like I cared about show business or other things I had to talk about. Or maybe I'm shy because I don't really feel comfortable in my own skin in America".

Having a passion for extreme sports, Chatwin used to snowboard when he lived in Canada, during his high school years. He enjoys spearfishing and film photography. More recently, Chatwin has developed a passion for truck camping and mountain biking.

Chatwin had been in a relationship with Molly Sims. He dated ''Fallen'' actress Addison Timlin in 2010.

Filmography

Awards and nominations

See also

References

External links

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Justin Chatwin
on Instagram

{{DEFAULTSORT:Chatwin, Justin
1982 births
21st-century Canadian male actors
Canadian male film actors
Canadian male television actors
Canadian expatriate male actors in the United States
Living people
Male actors from British Columbia
People from Nanaimo