Trivia

Performed magic shows at children's birthdays as a child as the Amazing Adrien.

He attended a charity auction in November 2011 for Artists for Peace & Justice, which was offering "Tea with Gerard Butler" as a bidding item; it was a chance to meet and chat with Butler. Brody's $15,000 bid was the winner. On a whim, Brody offered to host "Champagne with Adrien Brody" as a last-minute addition to the auction, if it could take place later that day; he had a bottle available. Brody's offer was accepted, and it earned an additional $17,000 for the charity.

In 2003, at the age of 29, he replaced Richard Dreyfuss as the youngest actor ever to win the Best Actor Academy Award, for his role in The Pianist (2002).

To prepare for his title role in The Pianist (2002), he learned to play Frédéric Chopin pieces on the piano and shed 30 pounds off his already-thin frame. He cut himself off from his real life by giving up his car and apartment because he felt responsible to those Polish Jews who had suffered greatly and wanted to connect, to some small degree, with their hurt and despair.

Did sessions in an isolation tank, performed prison exercises, and went on a protein diet for his role in The Jacket (2005).

Was friends with the late Tupac Shakur, with whom he starred in the little-known film Bullet (1996).

He and Marion Cotillard are the only actors to win both a César and an Oscar for the same performance. Brody won both awards in 2003 for The Pianist (2002) and Cotillard won in 2008 for La Vie En Rose (2007).

He was furious when his nose was broken during the final fight in Summer of Sam (1999). When he had it fixed, he didn't change it: his nose is one of his most distinctive features and sets him apart from other actors.

Is one of only two American actors to win a César, the French equivalent to the Oscar. The other one is Kristen Stewart.

In 1992, he was seriously hurt in a motorcycle accident in which he flew over a car and crashed feet-first into a crosswalk. He spent months recuperating.

Adrien's father, Elliot Brody, is a retired history teacher; Elliot is of Polish Jewish descent, and lost family members in the Holocaust. Adrien's mother, Sylvia Plachy, the renowned Hungarian-born photographer, fled Communist Hungary as a child during the 1956 revolution against the Soviets. Adrien's maternal grandfather was from an aristocratic Hungarian background, while Adrien's maternal grandmother was of Czech Jewish descent (her own parents, Adrien's great-grandparents, were killed in the Holocaust). Adrien's mother was not aware of her own mother's Jewish background until later in life.

Is the only actor to win a Best Actor Oscar when nominated alongside four previous Oscar winners.

He has expressed considerable interest in playing The Joker in a Batman film.

Has been compared to Robert De Niro and Al Pacino for his unconventional acting skills and unique looks.

Took acting classes as a youth; by age 13 he had done an off-Broadway play and a PBS-TV movie.

He signed on to make Bread and Roses (2000) without a script because he trusted the director Ken Loach. Prior to filming, he also went undercover to research life as a union member in Los Angeles, California. He went to conventions and sat in on strike talks. A couple of the members recognized him, but Brody persuaded them not to blow his cover.

Admits a shot of his parents in a passionate, back-bending embrace inspired his famous kiss with Halle Berry at the Oscars in 2003.

As of 2015, has appeared in four films that were nominated for the Best Picture Oscar: The Thin Red Line (1998), The Pianist (2002), Midnight in Paris (2011) and The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014).

In 2004, Esquire Magazine named him the Best Dressed Man in America.

Is a big hip-hop fan and plans on becoming a producer. He is being mentored by The RZA.

His maternal great-great-grandfather was noted Hungarian painter Ábrányi Lajos.

Was engaged to Elsa Pataky, having been in a relationship with her since June 2006 after meeting on the set of The Passion Within (2008) (April 2008-May 2009).

Put on 25 pounds of muscle for the role of Royce in Predators (2010).

Fought hard to convince producer Robert Rodriguez and director Nimród Antal that he was a good choice for the lead role of "Royce" in Predators (2010).

Grew up in the Woodhaven section of Queens in New York.

Appears in the music video of the song "A Sorta Fairytale" by Tori Amos.

He was considered for the role of The Joker in 'The Dark Knight (2008)'.

He was considered for the role of Spock in 'Star Trek (2009)'.

He, Marisa Tomei and Marcia Gay Harden won an Oscar without being awarded for the same performance in one of its precursor awards (Golden Globe, Critics Choice Awards, SAG and BAFTA).

Was considered for a role in Pearl Harbor (2001).

Has expressed a desire to star in a comic book film as a hero or villain. He has said he would love to play The Joker or The Riddler in a Batman film.

Has great appreciation for hip-hop music. Like the Beatnuts, one of his favorite groups, Brody is also from Queens.

Alumnus of the AADA (American Academy of Dramatic Arts), Class of 1993.

Ranked #21 on VH1's 100 Hottest Hotties.

Very good friends with Neal McDonough.

Attended CUNY Queens College in the Flushing section of Queens, New York.

Attended Stony Brook University before transferring to CUNY-Queens College.

Shares a birthday with Sarah Michelle Gellar.

Close friends with Asia Argento.

Once owned and drove a Hummer H2.

Was dressed by Zegna for the Academy Awards.

Attended the CatHouse grand opening at the Luxor Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada on Dec. 29th. (December 2007)

Attended the Hugo Boss: Paris Fashion Week Menswear in Paris, France on June 25th. (June 2009)

Attended the BOSS Orange Fashion Party: Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Berlin in Berlin, Germany on July 2nd. (July 2009)

Haikou, China: Attended the World Celebrity Pro-Am golf tournament. (October 2012)

Attended the 64th Venice Film Festival in Venice, Italy on September 3rd. (September 2007)

Attended the 2008 Toronto International Film Festival in Toronto, Ontario, Canada on Sept. 9th. (September 2008)

Attended the 2006 MTV European Music Awards in Copenhagen, Denmark on November 2nd. (November 2006)

Attended the 2008 Cannes Film Festival in Cannes, France on May 19th. (May 2008)

Attended the Elle Magazine 20th Anniversary Party in Valenica, Spain on October 20th. (October 2006)