Luke Wilson (actor)

**Luke Cunningham Wilson** (born September 21, 1971) is an American actor known for his roles in films such as *Idiocracy*, *The Royal Tenenbaums*, *Blue Streak*, *Old School*, and *Legally Blonde*. His television credits include the series *Enlightened* (2011–2013), *Stargirl* (2020–present) and Woody Roundup (2022-present). He is the younger brother of actors Andrew Wilson and Owen Wilson.

## Early life

Wilson was born in Dallas the youngest of three sons of Robert Andrew Wilson (1941–2017), an advertising and television executive, and his wife Laura (née Cunningham; born 1939), a photographer. His family, originally from Massachusetts, is of Irish Catholic descent.

All three Wilson boys attended St. Mark's School of Texas. According to Owen, Luke was voted class president the first year he attended St. Mark's. He became interested in acting while attending Occidental College in Los Angeles.

## Career

Wilson's acting career began with the lead role in the short film *Bottle Rocket* in 1994 which was co-written by his older brother Owen and director Wes Anderson. It was remade as a feature-length film in 1996. After moving to Hollywood with his two brothers, he was cast opposite Calista Flockhart in *Telling Lies in America* and made a cameo appearance in the film-within-the-film of *Scream 2*, both in 1997. Wilson filmed back-to-back romantic films in 1998, opposite Drew Barrymore, *Best Men*, about a group of friends who pull off a heist on their way to a wedding, and *Home Fries* which is about two brothers interested in the same woman for different reasons. He played the physician beau of a schoolteacher in *Rushmore* (also released in 1998) also directed by Anderson and co-written by his brother Owen.

In 1999, he portrayed Detective Carlson in *Blue Streak*. He later starred opposite Reese Witherspoon in the 2001 comedy *Legally Blonde*. It was followed by *Old School* and *The Royal Tenenbaums*. Wilson also had a role on *That '70s Show*, as Michael Kelso's older brother Casey Kelso appearing sporadically from 2002 through 2005.

In 2006, Wilson starred in *Idiocracy*, a dystopian comedy directed by Mike Judge. Wilson portrayed an ordinary serviceman frozen in a cryogenics project. He awakens after hundreds of years in an America which is significantly less intelligent.

In 2007, Wilson starred in the thriller *Vacancy*, opposite Kate Beckinsale, and *Blonde Ambition*. In the same year, he worked on *Henry Poole is Here* in La Mirada, California which was released in 2008. In 2009, he starred in *Tenure*. In 2010, he appeared in films *Death at a Funeral* and *Middle Men.* From 2011 to 2013 he starred in the HBO TV series *Enlightened.*

Since 2020, Wilson stars in the DC Universe/The CW series *Stargirl* as sidekick-turned-mechanic-turned superhero Pat Dugan/S.T.R.I.P.E. .

Since 2022, WIlson voiced in the Disney+/Pixar Woody Roundup as Sheriff Woody.

Wilson has written a Wright Brothers biopic with his brother Owen, in which they also plan to star.

## Personal life

Wilson was formerly in a relationship with Home Fries co-star Drew Barrymore.

In a 2019 interview, Wilson commented on the fact that he has publicly expressed interest in starting a family since 1996, stating, "I’m 47, I’m ready for that. I need to get to work."