Adrien Nicholas Brody is an acclaimed American actor known for his role in The Pianis, for which he won an Academy Award at age 29, becoming the youngest Best Actor winner.
His recent work includes winning the Golden Globe for Best Actor in a Drama for The Brutalist, where he portrays a Holocaust survivor and architect.
Brody has also appeared in notable films like King Kong and The Grand Budapest Hotel, and has received accolades for his performances in both film and television.
Parents
Adrien’s parents are Sylvia Plachy and Elliot Brody.
Sylvia, a photographer, fled Hungary during the 1956 revolution, while Elliot is a retired history professor of Polish Jewish descent.
Adrien has credited both parents for their significant influence on his artistic development, expressing gratitude during his Golden Globe acceptance speech for his role in The Brutalist.
Early career
Brody’s journey in acting began at a young age in Queens, New York, where he was raised in a creative household.
This artistic environment nurtured his interest in performance, leading him to attend the Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts.
Brody’s early career included small roles in independent films and television shows, such as The New Adventures of Peter Pan (1990) and The High Life (1996).
His first significant break came with the 2002 film The Pianist, directed by Roman Polanski. In this film, he portrayed Władysław Szpilman, a Jewish pianist struggling to survive during the Holocaust.
Brody’s intense preparation for the role involved losing weight and deeply immersing himself in Szpilman’s life story.
The film received critical acclaim, and his performance earned him an Academy Award for Best Actor, making him the youngest winner in that category at just 29 years old.
Later career
Following his Oscar win, Brody’s career flourished as he took on a variety of roles that showcased his versatility as an actor.
He starred in King Kong (2005), directed by Peter Jackson, where he played Jack Driscoll alongside Naomi Watts.
In addition to action films, he explored drama and comedy in works like The Darjeeling Limited (2007), directed by Wes Anderson, where he portrayed one of three brothers on a journey through India.
His collaboration with Anderson continued with The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014), where he played Dmitri.
Brody also ventured into television, earning acclaim for his role in the HBO series Succession (2018-2023), where he portrayed Josh Aaronson, a billionaire investor.
In recent years, Brody has continued to take on challenging roles that reflect his commitment to artistic projects.
In 2025, he starred in The Brutalist, portraying an architect who survives the Holocaust.
This performance earned him a Golden Globe for Best Actor in a Drama.
