Two-Faced Aaron Eckhart
Starring in The Dark Knight, Aaron Eckhart plays Harvey Dent, who is eventually called Two-Face. Having two sides can also apply to his life outside of movies. On one side, he was raised in the Latter-day Saint Church; however, on the other side, he no longer lives the lifestyle of a Mormon.
Aaron Eckhart was born in California but moved to London when he was thirteen. In London, Eckhart discovered acting in a school performance of Charlie Brown. Through the years, he continued to develop as an actor. His family moved from London to Australia where he dropped out of high school, but he later finished in order to receive his diploma. After finishing high school, Eckhart served a two year mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in France and Switzerland. He then enrolled in Brigham Young University – Hawaii, but then transferred to Brigham Young University. As a student, he starred in the LDS seminary film Godly Sorrow. In Godly Sorrow, Eckhart plays the role of a return missionary about to be married in the temple. His fiancée in the film, though, has broken the law of chastity and must go through the repentance process before they can be married in the temple. Shortly after acting in Godly Sorrow, he graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts, and moved to New York where he struggled to make a living. Luckily, he had made a friend at BYU: Neil LaBute. LaBute cast Eckhart in a few of his movies, the first film being In the Company of Men, which got Eckhart’s career started. Aaron Eckhart is now mostly known for his role as Harvey Dent in The Dark Knight (“Aaron Eckhart”).
After becoming a movie star, Eckhart’s religious background has become a topic for discussion. Is he still a Latter-day Saint? In answer to this question, Eckhart told the Straight online journal, “I think you’re always Mormon. But I’m, you know, in and out” (McArthur). He also reaffirmed that he believes in God and prayer. Two years later, in another interview, Eckhart says, “'I'm sure people think I'm a Mormon, but I don't know that I'm a Mormon anymore, you know? To be honest, to be perfectly clear, I'd be a hypocrite if I did say that I was, just because I haven't lived that lifestyle for so many years” (Kirschling).
Five months later, he told an interviewer that he still considers himself a Mormon but admits that he’s more open-minded with his beliefs. Eckhart says, “All the things you associate with the Mormon church – being against alcohol, tobacco, and homosexuals – well I am more liberal about those things.” However, he confesses that Brigham Young University hasn’t invited him back to the campus to be a speaker; Eckhart sees this as a sign that they don’t approve of him and his actions (“Smoke and Mirrors”).
Eckhart has stopped smoking and drinking, though. He is one of the few “spiritually grounded” actors in Hollywood. Although he is struggling to decide if he is still a Latter-day Saint or not, he hopes to be in more movies “that show the good side of people” (Kirschling).
Aaron Eckhart was born in California but moved to London when he was thirteen. In London, Eckhart discovered acting in a school performance of Charlie Brown. Through the years, he continued to develop as an actor. His family moved from London to Australia where he dropped out of high school, but he later finished in order to receive his diploma. After finishing high school, Eckhart served a two year mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in France and Switzerland. He then enrolled in Brigham Young University – Hawaii, but then transferred to Brigham Young University. As a student, he starred in the LDS seminary film Godly Sorrow. In Godly Sorrow, Eckhart plays the role of a return missionary about to be married in the temple. His fiancée in the film, though, has broken the law of chastity and must go through the repentance process before they can be married in the temple. Shortly after acting in Godly Sorrow, he graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts, and moved to New York where he struggled to make a living. Luckily, he had made a friend at BYU: Neil LaBute. LaBute cast Eckhart in a few of his movies, the first film being In the Company of Men, which got Eckhart’s career started. Aaron Eckhart is now mostly known for his role as Harvey Dent in The Dark Knight (“Aaron Eckhart”).
After becoming a movie star, Eckhart’s religious background has become a topic for discussion. Is he still a Latter-day Saint? In answer to this question, Eckhart told the Straight online journal, “I think you’re always Mormon. But I’m, you know, in and out” (McArthur). He also reaffirmed that he believes in God and prayer. Two years later, in another interview, Eckhart says, “'I'm sure people think I'm a Mormon, but I don't know that I'm a Mormon anymore, you know? To be honest, to be perfectly clear, I'd be a hypocrite if I did say that I was, just because I haven't lived that lifestyle for so many years” (Kirschling).
Five months later, he told an interviewer that he still considers himself a Mormon but admits that he’s more open-minded with his beliefs. Eckhart says, “All the things you associate with the Mormon church – being against alcohol, tobacco, and homosexuals – well I am more liberal about those things.” However, he confesses that Brigham Young University hasn’t invited him back to the campus to be a speaker; Eckhart sees this as a sign that they don’t approve of him and his actions (“Smoke and Mirrors”).
Eckhart has stopped smoking and drinking, though. He is one of the few “spiritually grounded” actors in Hollywood. Although he is struggling to decide if he is still a Latter-day Saint or not, he hopes to be in more movies “that show the good side of people” (Kirschling).
Works Cited
“Aaron Eckhart.” Turner Classics Movies. A Time Warner Company, 2009. Web. 7 Nov 2009. http://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/participant.jsp?participantId=353925
Kirschling, Gregory. “Aaron Eckhart Unfiltered.” EW.com. Entertainment Weekly. 17 March 2006. Web. 7 Nov 2009.
http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,1174151,00.html
Kit, Borys. “Aaron Eckhart Leading Action Movie for First Time.” Reuters. Thomson Reuters Corporate. 17 Nov 2008. Web. 8 Nov 2009. http://www.reuters.com/article/entertainmentNews/idUSTRE4AG0PX20081117
McArthur, Beth. “Devout Eckhart Prays His New Film is a Hit.” Straight.com – Vancouver’s Online Source. Vancouver Free Press. 26 August 2004. Web. 7 Nov 2009. http://www.straight.com/article/devout-eckhart-prays-his-new-film-is-a-hit
Moore, Roger. “Movie Review: Love Happens.” Orlando Sentinel. A Tribune Web Site. 18 Sept 2009. Web. 8 Nov 2009. http://www.orlandosentinel.com/entertainment/orl-movie-review-love-happens,0,4497205.story
“Smoke and Mirrors.” The Age. The Age Company Lid. 13 August 2006. Web. 7 Nov 2009. http://www.theage.com.au/news/film/smoke-and-mirrors/2006/08/10/1154803022834.html?page=3
