Birth name
Elijah Jordan WoodNickname
Elwood, Lij and MonkeyHeight
5' 6" (1.68 m)Mini biography
Elijah Jordan Wood was born on January 28, 1981 in Cedar Rapids, Iowa to Warren and Debbie Wood. He has an old brother Zack and a younger sister Hannah. 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 a job in the fabulous world of acting. Soon he began popping up in commercials and then in small parts on television, but he got his first major part appearing in Avalon (1990) in 1990. Elijah's acting career shot off from there, appearing in films such as Paradise (1991), Radio Flyer (1992), and Forever Young (1992) with Mel Gibson. After Good Son, The (1993) with Macaulay Culkin, Elijah appeared in North (1994). Although North was deemed a flop at the box office, Elijah was praised as the only good thing to come out of that movie. In 1996, Elijah starred in a movie remake of the old TV show Flipper (1996), and immediately regained his old strength. He appeared in countless movies after that, and increased his power on the silver screen. Many critics wondered if his childlike ability to capture an audience was wearing thin, like many child actors, but Elijah has proved that it has only made him stronger. Deep Impact (1998) and Faculty, The (1998) were produced after that, and with immense support. In 1999 Elijah was in three movies that never made it into wide release: _Bumblebee Flies Anyway, The (2000)_ (released on satellite TV), Black and White (1999) (released on home video), and Chain of Fools (2000). 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.Trivia
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 of 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.Parents' names are Warren and Debbie Wood
Elijah has an older (7 years) brother Zack and a younger sister Hannah (born 7th November 1983).
Presented at Academy Awards in place of Macaulay Culkin
He was the first recipient of the NATO/ShoWest Young Star of the Year Award
Elijah Wood heard about the Lord of the Rings trilogy while filming Faculty, The (1998). Immediately, he sensed that this was the chance of a lifetime. Director George Huang, a personal friend of Wood's, filmed his audition tape for the Lord of the Rings Trilogy. He shot the scene from different angles which were cut together for the video. They sent the video off to New Zealand for director Peter Jackson and a few months later, he got the part.
The Smashing Pumpkins are his favorite band
Brother of Hannah Wood
Owns the prop ring used in "Lord of the Rings."
Plays piano.
As of December 2003, Elijah lives in a New York apartment with sister Hannah. (Previously lived with in his mother's guest house in Santa Montica, CA.)
He became a child model when his mother wanted him to burn off excessive energy.
Admits to owning thousands of CDs in many musical genres, because he loves music so much.
Two of his favorite books are "The Hobbit" and "The Hunchback of Notre Dame."
Is a fan of ex-Smashing Pumpkin Billy Corgan's new band, Zwan.
Considers Frodo Baggins to be his best role.
Is the first member of the official "Lord of the Rings" fanclub.
Studies singing professionally.
Suffered acute appendicitis and was briefly hospitalized [August 2003]
Aspires to start a record a company.
Personal quotes
[on celebrity:] "I won't change and my perspective won't change. I want to continue my life the way I live it, and I'm not going to let anything stop me from doing that. It isn't all about acting. There's a lot more to life than Hollywood."[on worrying about the high expectations of Lord of the Rings fans when he was cast as Frodo:] "I definitely felt the pressure. I wanted to live up to all of the expectations. But when I got into costume and worked with the others, I just didn't think about it anymore.”
"If I wasn't an actor, I'd be a secret agent."
"I think being different, being against the grain of society, is the greatest thing in the world."
