Elijah Jordan Wood was born on January 28, 1981, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, to Warren and Debbie Wood. He has an older brother Zack and a younger sister Hannah Wood. Elijah owns two dogs, Rascal and Levonne. At an early age Elijah showed a knack for entertaining and wowing audiences, and his mother decided to take him to Los Angeles for an Annual International Modeling and Talent Association convention. He quickly landed himself an acting job. Soon he began popping up in commercials and then in small parts on television, but he got his first major part appearing in Avalon in 1990. His acting career took off from there, and he began appearing in films such as Paradise, Radio Flyer and Forever Young, with Mel Gibson. After The Good Son with Macaulay Culkin, Elijah appeared in North. Although the film was deemed a flop at the box office, Elijah was praised as the only good thing to come out of it. In 1996 Elijah starred in a movie remake of an old TV show, Flipper, and immediately regained his old strength. He appeared in countless films after that. Many critics wondered if his ability as a child actor to capture an audience was wearing thin, as had many child actors', but Elijah has proved that it has only made him stronger. Deep Impact and The Faculty were produced after that, and were quite successful. In 1999 Elijah was in three movies that never made it into wide release: The Bumblebee Flies Anyway (released on satellite TV), Black and White (released on home video) and Chain of Fools. Elijah next went to work on what has been called the biggest project ever to hit the movies, the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy, based on the books by J.R.R. Tolkien.


Try Seventeen (2002): $250,000

Melissa Joan Hart wanted him to play the male lead in Drive Me Crazy (1999) because she thought it would take some of the pressure off her in her first leading role. However, she was told that he looked too young next to her, and the role went to Adrian Grenier. Elijah has an older brother Zachariah (b. 1974) who works in video games and a younger sister Hannah Wood (born 7th October 1983). He was the first recipient of the NATO/ShoWest Young Star of the Year Award. Smashing Pumpkins is his favorite band. Plays piano. He became a child model when his mother wanted him to burn off excessive energy. Two of his favorite books are "The Hobbit" and "The Hunchback of Notre Dame." Considers Frodo Baggins to be his best role. Studies singing professionally. Wears clear contact lenses. Dressed up and rode on a float as the god of wine and mirth to head the Bacchus 2004 parade in New Orleans, Louisiana, for Mardi Gras in February, 2004. Loves The Hives. His uncle is Turk E. Krause from the band Molly Nova and the Hawk. Served as the Bacchus of the 2004 Mardi Gras Parade, and returned the next year. Favorite food is fried artichoke hearts dipped in ranch dressing. During the filming of The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001), he found a small restaurant that served him artichokes at least three times a week. In 2005, he started his own record label. Among his favorite actresses are Liza Minnelli and Vanessa Redgrave. Roger Ebert called him "The most talented actor in his age group in Hollywood history.". Godzilla (1998) is his least favorite movie. Was ranked #2 on Entertainment Weekly's '30 Under 30' the actors list. (2008). Lives in Santa Monica and Venice, California.