Hollywood Rising Star: Garrett Hedlund of Tron Legacy

Actor Garrett Hedlund is one of Hollywood's rising stars. He's been acting for several years but really just now has caught the attention of a wider audience since starring in the Disney remake "Tron: Legacy". The following is a look at the actor from a brief bio to some little known facts:

Garret Hedlund biography: Born in 1984, the Tron Legacy actor grew up on a 400 acre farm in Minnesota where his family had a 100 head of cattle. Eventually he left Minnesota and moved to Phoenix, Arizona with his mom. His big break came when he was cast in the 2004 movie Troy as Patroclus.

Garrett Hedlund filmography: So far, the actor has played the roles of Patroclus in Troy (2004), Don Billingsley in Friday Night Lights (2004), Jack Mercer in Four Brothers (2005), Murtagh in Eragon (2006), Harlan in Georgia Rule (2007), Billy Darley in Death Sentence (2007), Beau Hutton in Country Strong (2010), and Sam Flynn in Tron Legacy (2010).

Little known fact: The actor has a funny laugh by most accounts. You can hear this laugh in his interview with Jimmy Kimmel via YouTube.

About what brought him to tears: In an interview with Cinema Blend, he said the script for his most recent movie, Country Strong, brought tears to his eyes when he first read it.

Little known fact: It wouldn't be apparent from his performance in the movie Country Strong, but before that role, the actor had no musical experience.

On what he likes about his Country Strong character Beau Hutton: "I like just the soul of him. He's kind of a young Kris Krisstoferson. Sort of poetic and tender, and just happy to be playing for a bunch of hard working people that like to have a beer while they listen to good music. This was a happy home for him. I think I like the message of what he was about at the end of the day." Quote by Garrett Hedlund via Cinema Blend.

Little known fact: Don't tell PETA, but the actor used to kill pocket gophers.

Upcoming movies: Fans can look forward to seeing him soon as the character Dean Moriarity in the film On the Road (2011). The movie is based upon the novel On the Road by Jack Kerouac.

Little known fact: His favorite movie is Being There.

Said of Garrett Hedlund: "I found Garrett to be an extremely thoughtful and sensitive guy, very mature and very much in tune with Neal's place in history." Quote by Jerry Cimino from The Beat Museum.

Fact Sources:

Mclean, Thomas J. Variety: "Garret Hedlund: From Troy to Tron." URL: http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118025285

Eisenberg, Eric. "Interview: Country Strong's Garret Hedlund." URL: http://www.cinemablend.com/new/Interview-Country-Strong-s-Garrett-Hedlund-22491.html

Jimmy Kimmel Live Interview. URL: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bj4rGV7n5fA

Cimino, Jerry. "On the Road - Movie Update." URL: http://www.thebeatmuseum.org/ontheroad-movie/