Eric Banadinovic was born on 9 August 1968, in Melbourne, Victoria Australia, of German and Croatian descent. Eric is an actor best known for taking part in various films such as “Black Hawk Down”, “Troy”, and “Star Trek”. He was also part of the series “Full Frontal”, and the film “Chopper”. All of his efforts have helped put his net worth to where it is today.
How rich is Eric Bana? As of mid-2016, sources estimate a net worth that is at $35 million, mostly earned through a successful career as an actor. He’s won numerous awards and has also worked on video games. He’s also very active in terms of charity, but as he continues his career, his wealth will likely increase.
Eric Bana Net Worth $35 million
Bana attended Penleigh and Essendon Grammar School where he started getting noticed for his acting talents. He started out doing impressions of family members and teachers, before watching the film “Mad Max”, he decided that he wanted to become an actor, but he worked as a barman before deciding to seriously pursue the career.
In 1993, he made his television debut in “Tonight Live”, after which he was offered a part in “Full Frontal”. He served for four years in the show as a writer and performer, getting recognition for his impressions of numerous celebrities. This led to a comedy album “Out of Bounds”, and his own television special entitled “Eric”. It also led to his first film opportunity in “The Castle” which was highly successful, earning $A 10 million at the box office in Australia. In 1997, he appeared in the biographical film “Chopper”, which was about the criminal Chopper Read. Read suggested that Eric Bana should play the role and Bana would then invest a lot of time getting the look and movement of the character. Despite a limited release, Eric gained a lot of good reviews and the film would earn several awards. In 2001, he was then cast in “Black Hawk Down” which was given to him thanks to a recommendation from Russell Crowe.
After “Black Hawk Down”, he would appear in “The Nugget”, before becoming part of Marvel’s “Hulk”. Despite low ratings for the film, Bana’s performance still earned a lot of praise, which led to his next role in “Troy” as Prince Hector, which was a huge international success, earning $364 million at the box office. He was then cast in “Munich” alongside Daniel Craig and Geoffrey Rush; in the film he portrayed an agent who was ordered to track and kill the terrorists who were responsible for the 1972 Summer Olympics massacre, and despite being controversial, the film would be nominated for five Academy Awards. After appearing in a few more projects, he would then be cast in “The Other Boleyn Girl” with Natalie Portman and Scarlett Johansson, before playing the villain Nero in the “Star Trek” film which was another big success. Other projects he has appeared in include “The Time Traveler’s Wife”, ‘Hanna”, and “Lone Survivor”. One of his latest projects is the horror film “Deliver Us from Evil”.
For his personal life, it is known that Eric married publicist Rebecca Gleeson in 1997, and they have two children; they currently reside in Melbourne. Aside from acting, he is a motor racing enthusiast. He participates in various races in Australia and owns a 1974 XB Ford Falcon coupe. He is also a fan of Australian Rules football, and often watches games in Australia.
AACTA Award for Best Lead Actor, Australian Film Institute Award for News Limited Readers' Choice Award, Boston Society of Film Critics Award for Best Cast, Logie Award for Most Popular Comedy Personality
Nominations
MTV Movie Award for Best Fight, Critics' Choice Movie Award for Best Acting Ensemble, Australian Film Institute International Award for Best Actor, Teen Choice Award for Choice Movie Villain
Movies
Hulk, Troy, Deliver Us from Evil, Star Trek, The Time Traveler's Wife, Black Hawk Down, Munich, Hanna, Deadfall, The Other Boleyn Girl, The Finest Hours, Lone Survivor, Closed Circuit, Funny People, Special Correspondents, Chopper, Romulus, My Father, Lucky You, Finding Nemo, The Castle, Mary and Ma...
TV Shows
Full Frontal, Something in the Air, HBO First Look, 4Pop
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Quote
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[2009] I've always been someone that sets achievable short-term goals. I've never been someone that's had a five-year plan, or a three-year plan. That just seems to lead to a lot of disappointment, and doesn't give you the chance to be flexible. So I've just always been someone that's sort of reassessed where I'm at, and set goals that are realistic. And luckily, I've had plenty of chances to recalibrate and adjust, and good fortune has come my way.
2
I hate to break it to you but actors really do love each other. It's a crazy job and we put ourselves in vulnerable positions. I don't care if it sounds corny but it's true: you're part of a brotherhood, and protect each other.
3
I deliberately fly in and out of L.A. for as small a time as humanly possible.
4
I wanted to be a racing driver but, you know - this will do.
5
When I go on the plane to fly home, I'm literally capable of forgetting what I do for a job. That also comes about because I choose to take massive breaks between projects, and because I choose to do this ridiculous thing of keeping home, home.
6
My favorite part of the interview is the 401 assumptions before you've even started speaking, based on what you're wearing, what you've chosen to eat, how the waiter looks at you.
7
[on training for Troy (2004)] You couldn't have bluffed your way through. It takes a lot of bloody arrogance even with six months' preparation.
8
I think I've been fortunate, and right now I'm in an incredibly fortunate position, which I'm totally aware of. I think luck gets you on to the stage. But it has nothing to do with keeping you there.
9
I love being at home, being with friends and family. I'm of European stock, brought up in Australia. I'm a passionate guy. I just love life.
10
The Hulk is definitely what I would categorize as un-fun. I don't think it always needs to be fun. It doesn't always need to be one big happy family. Everyone got along, but it was a difficult, hard shoot. And I think you see every ounce of sweat on the screen.
11
I already loved Orlando like a little brother before we started shooting. We did spend five months together in Morocco during Black Hawk Down (2001). And you have to take care of Orlando. He doesn't even know how to make coffee. (Starts imitating Orlando's voice) Do you want coffee, Eric? How is it done again? Do you put the coffee in the water? Or in the filter? Can you make the coffee, Eric?
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[on his influences to become an actor] Early, it was Richard Pryor. I did stand-up for 10 years before acting. And the movie Mad Max (1979). It cemented in my mind that I wanted to be an actor.
13
I could become characters and to me that's what acting was - I didn't want to shroud it in mystery.
14
I wasn't a religious follower of comic book activity as a kid, but I was a fanatical fan of the television show with Bill Bixby and Lou Ferrigno. So my memories of "The Hulk" were very vivid.
15
When I shoot I'll take my family with me - one movie a year and then the rest of the time at home.
16
I race historic muscle cars back in Australia. And I try to race home as soon as I'm finished a movie but don't tell anyone.
17
I wanted to be a mechanic. When I was 14, I wanted to quit school and go work on my car. But my dad said, "Son, you shouldn't do that. You should stay in school until your education is finished, and when you're done, don't make your hobby your job.".
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Fact
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Is a huge fan of the original Star Trek (1966) series.
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Has one brother: Anthony Banadinovic, three years older.
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Parents are Ivan and Eleanor Banadinovic.
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Has declined to reprise his role as Bruce Banner/the Hulk in an Incredible Hulk sequel. [July 2006]
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Has appeared twice on the cover of GQ magazine: July 2003 and March 2008.
6
Completed the customary "Star in a Reasonably-Priced Car" lap in 1m:47.5s on Top Gear: Episode #14.1 (2009).
7
In April 2009, along with several of the cast and crew, he visited Camp Arijan in Kuwait to show Star Trek (2009) to a group of US service members.
8
In Full Frontal (1993), whenever the show was spoofing a Tom Cruise movie, or had a sketch that involved Tom Cruise, he would play "Cruise", even though he is 7 inches taller than him in real-life.
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Choosen by Empire magazine as one of the 100 Sexiest Movie Stars in the World (#61) (2007).
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Invited to join the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) in 2006.
No fewer than three of his theatrical films are remakes of, or share the same source material with, a television movie. The Incredible Hulk comic book series was filmed as the television movie and series The Incredible Hulk (1978), and the theatrical film Hulk (2003). Homer's "Iliad" was filmed as Helen of Troy (2003) for television, and the theatrical film Troy (2004). George Jonas' book "Vengeance" was filmed for television as Sword of Gideon (1986), then remade by Steven Spielberg as Munich (2005).
Was the first choice to play Xander Cage in xXx (2002), which he turned down to do The Nugget (2002).
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A picture of his wife and child was used in Black Hawk Down (2001) for the scene where helicopter pilot Mike Durant is captured by Somalis. The prop department had forgotten to grab a picture of a wife and child for the shot, so they asked Bana's wife, who was traveling with him, if they could use a picture of her and their child for the shot and she agreed.
17
Is a supporter of the St. Kilda Australian rules football team.
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First car was an old 1974 Ford Falcon XB Coupe, purchased for $1000 at age 15.
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Father-in-law is High Court Chief Justice Murray Gleeson.
20
Brad Pitt personally requested Bana as a co-star for Troy (2004) because he was a huge fan of Chopper (2000).
21
Had the option of playing several different characters in Troy (2004) when he was approached for the project. He chose Hector because he thought Hector "was such a great bloke".
Tall by almost any standards at 6'3", he is actually medium-sized or small by his family's standards. For instance, his brother stands 6'8".
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Has two children with his wife Rebecca Gleeson: Klaus Bana (born August 1999) and Sophia Bana (born April 2002).
25
Two of his characters previously appeared in television movies starring John Rhys-Davies before Bana came into the roles. Rhys-Davies played Wilson Fisk, aka The Kingpin, in The Trial of the Incredible Hulk (1989), which starred Bill Bixby as Dr. Banner, a role later played by Bana. Rhys-Davies also played King Priam in Helen of Troy (2003). Priam is the father of Hector, played by Bana in Troy (2004).
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Had never ridden a horse before Troy (2004), and had to start from scratch without a saddle.
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He loves racing both bikes and cars in Australia.
28
In an ironic twist, Mark Brandon Read, who was portrayed by Bana in the movie Chopper (2000), has a small role in the film Trojan Warrior (2002); which he plays a guy named "Erik Bana". This is not to be confused with Troy (2004) which also stars Bana and features a Trojan horse.
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First jobs: Washing cars at a service station, pushing trolleys at Coles New World, barman at Melbourne's Castle Hotel in 1991.
30
After wrapping Hulk (2003), he spent nine months at home with his family.
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He made his motorsport debut in 1996's Targa Tasmania, driving that same 1974 Ford Falcon XB Coupe. Other competitions include the 2002 and 2003 Classic Adelaide.
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Has said that Sam Elliott and Nick Nolte are two of his favorite actors, and got to work with both in Hulk (2003).
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Underwent weight training and fight training for his role as Hector in Troy (2004).
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Admitted to eating junk food for four weeks to put on the extra weight needed to play Chopper (2000). He gained 30 pounds for the role.
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He hates guns.
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His deal for Hulk (2003) includes an option for two sequels, with substantial salary raises for each film.