Hartnett, Josh(ua) Daniel (1978– )

US film actor. He first achieved wide acclaim for his role in the independent film The Virgin Suicides (1999), directed by Sofia Coppola and based on the novel by Jeffrey Eugenides, then rose to stardom for his leading role in the big-budget World War II epic Pearl Harbor (2001). Boosted by his classic good looks and teen heart-throb image, he went on to prove his talent in a variety of genres.

His first major role was in the ABC remake of the British television series Cracker (1997–98). Other films include the science fiction thriller The Faculty (1998), the romantic drama Here on Earth (2001), the comedy Town and Country, the war film Black Hawk Down (2001), the Shakespeare adaptation O (2001), the romantic comedy 40 Days and 40 Nights (2002), and the psychological thriller Wicker Park (2004).

He was born in San Francisco, California, but grew up in St Paul, Minnesota. He started acting when he was at South High School in Minneapolis. After an injury prevented him from playing football, he auditioned for the school play and landed a lead role. Upon graduation in 1996, he attended the State University of New York in Purchase. He moved to Los Angeles, California, and began acting in plays and television commercials, before achieving his first major film role, in the horror flick Halloween H20: Twenty Years Later (1998). He started the production company Roulette Entertainment with fellow actor Elden Hensen.