Personal Profile About Bruce Dern
Bruce Dern was born on June 4, 1936 in Chicago, Illinois and grew up in Kenilworth, Illinois. His paternal grandfather, George Dern, was a Utah governor and Secretary of War, his maternal granduncle was poet Archibald MacLeish, and his godfather was governor and two-time presidential nominee Adlai Stevenson II.
He was a track star as a student in school and university, and studied at the Actors Studio through the 1950s, starting his career with bit parts on stage and Broadway. Dern made his film debut in 1960 with the film Wild River, and after a slew of supporting roles, he first gained recognition for his performance in 1969's They Shoot Horses, Don't They?. Further notable turns included The Cowboys (1972), The Great Gatsby (1974), and The Driver (1978), before his turn in 1978's Coming Home opposite Jane Fonda, which got him an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor.