[[quoteright:300:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/aaron_eckhart.jpg]]
->''"You never really know as an actor; it's completely out of your control, in terms of editing, and music, and film stock, shot selection, and what takes they use."''
-->''- Aaron Eckhart''

[[Film/TheDarkKnight You either die a hero, or you live long enough to see yourself]] [[JustForFun/DescribeTopicHere be described on TV Tropes.]]

Aaron Edward Eckhart (born March 12, 1968 in Cupertino, California) is an American film and stage actor.

He was born in Cupertino, California, but his family relocated to England in 1981, where he attended American Community School. At ACS he was first introduced to acting. In 1985 he moved to Sydney and attended American International School of Sydney for his high school senior year and further developed his acting skills in productions like ''Theatre/WaitingForGodot''. He left school during his senior year to take a job at the Warringah Mall movie theatre, and later earned his diploma through an adult education course. In 1988, Eckhart returned to the United States and enrolled in Brigham Young University-Hawaii as a film major, but later transferred to Brigham Young University in Utah ultimately graduating in 1994.

Eckhart's first professional role was in the film ''Godly Sorrow'' while he attended BYU. After graduation he moved to New York City, acquired an agent, and worked a number of odd jobs in between roles in television commercials. In 1994 he appeared as an extra on ''Series/BeverlyHills90210'', which he followed with roles in documentary re-enactments, made-for-television movies, and short-lived programs. In 1997 Eckhart starred in the film adaptation of ''Film/InTheCompanyOfMen'', followed by ''Film/YourFriendsAndNeighbors'' (both directed by Neil [=LaBute=]) and ''Film/AnyGivenSunday'' the following year.

He gained wide exposure in 2000 as biker love-interest George in ''Film/ErinBrockovich'', followed by ''Film/NurseBetty'' in the same year and ''Literature/ThePledge'' in 2001. After this his film career faltered a bit with roles in lackluster films, but regained traction with ''Film/ThankYouForSmoking'' in 2006. Since then he has landed several major roles, including playing Harvey Dent in ''Film/TheDarkKnight''.
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!!Film roles with TV Tropes pages:
* ''Film/DoubleJeopardy'' (1992)
* ''Film/InTheCompanyOfMen'' (1997)
* ''Film/YourFriendsAndNeighbors'' (1998)
* ''Film/{{Thursday}}'' (1998)
* ''Film/Molly1999''
* ''Film/AnyGivenSunday'' (1999)
* ''Film/ErinBrockovich'' (2000)
* ''Film/NurseBetty'' (2000)
* ''Literature/ThePledge'' (2001)
* ''Film/TheCore'' (2003)
* ''Film/{{The Missing|2003}}'' (2003)
* ''Film/{{Paycheck}}'' (2003)
* ''Film/SuspectZero'' (2004)
* ''Film/{{Neverwas}}'' (2005)
* ''Film/ThankYouForSmoking'' (2006)
* ''[[Film/TheWickerMan2006 The Wicker Man]]'' (2006)
* ''Film/TheBlackDahlia'' (2006)
* ''Film/{{No Reservations|2007}}'' (2007)
* ''Film/TheDarkKnight'' (2008)
* ''Film/LoveHappens'' (2009)
* ''Film/BattleLosAngeles'' (2011)
* ''Film/TheRumDiary'' (2011)
* ''Film/OlympusHasFallen'' (2013)
** ''Film/LondonHasFallen'' (2016)
* ''Film/IFrankenstein'' (2014)
* ''Film/{{Sully}}'' (2016)
* ''Film/Midway2019'' (2019)
* ''Line of Duty'' (2019)
* ''Wander'' (2020)
* ''Ambush'' (2023)
* ''Muzzle'' (2023)
* ''Rumble Through the Dark'' (2023)
* ''Chief of Station'' (2024)

!!Television roles with TV Tropes pages:
* ''Series/BeverlyHills90210'' (1994)
* ''Series/{{Frasier}}'' (2004)
* ''Series/TheFirstLady'' (2022)
* ''WesternAnimation/{{Pantheon}}'' (2022)

!! Tropes associated with Aaron Eckhart:
* AwesomeDearBoy: ''Film/BattleLosAngeles'' was one of Eckhart's favorite roles, and he has stated that he would happily do a sequel.
* LanternJawOfJustice: Just look at him!
* OldShame: Eckhart isn't particularly fond of ''Film/TheCore''.
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