Justin Paul Theroux was born August 10, 1971 at Sibley Memorial Hospital in Washington, DC and is the youngest of 3 children. As the son of Eugene and Phyllis (an author - Giovanni's Light, California and Other States of Grace), nephew of Paul (also an author - Mosquito Coast, Half Moon Street), and cousin of Louis (a journalist - "Weird Weekends") -- being part of the "industry" probably didn't come as much of a surprise to the Theroux family. But, it wasn't necessarily acting that he could see himself doing in the future, at one point he expressed to his mother that he planned on becoming a model. Justin had difficulty in school at a fairly early age and was kicked out of several before he turned 14. He finally found a boarding school in Williamstown, MA where he felt more comfortable: he had to chop his own wood, cut the grass and make his own meals. He wouldn't change schools again. It was in Williamstown that he got his first taste of acting, performing in plays that toured to such places as DC and Mexico City.

After graduating from Bennington College in Vermont with a double major in visual art and drama, Justin entered the British American Drama Academy performing in the plays "Much Ado About Nothing," "Twelfth Night" and "A Midsummer Night's Dream." Rather than immediately pursuing the theater once he moved to New York City, Justin painted for a living, specializing in murals and even billboards, ads, and t-shirts. He then became involved with the Theatre Workshop, Roundabout Theatre and Actor's Playhouse and first performed in the play "Hide Your Love Away" about the Beatles' manager Brian Epstein. Soon he met his future friend Ben Stiller through "Three Sisters" fellow cast member Jeanne Tripplehorn.

Justin's first appearance in a film was in 1996 as Mark the Revolutionary in Mary Harron's "I Shot Andy Warhol"; he later appeared in her next film "American Psycho" in 2000 as the yuppie Wall Street friend of Patrick Bateman. He is mostly recognized as his character Adam Kesher in David Lynch's "Mulholland Dr." which is understandable, considering he wore his own sunglasses throughout the whole film and still continues to wear them in public to this day. Not only has he worked in theater and in film, but Justin had a reoccuring role in TV's "The District" and is now playing Joe in "Six Feet Under."

Growing up in the DC punk scene greatly influenced what he listens to: Crass, Gun Club, Minutemen, Black Flag, Minor Threat, Fugazi, the Velvet Underground, Joy Division and Husker Du, among others. His current favorite (and friends) are Deerhoof. From his musical tastes, nobody would guess that was actually him breakdancing as the Evil DJ in "Zoolander" -- Ben Stiller discovered his talent when he saw him breakdancing at his wedding. Currently, Justin lives with his two dogs Pooma and Loulou, enjoys riding his motorcycle and finding items in dumpsters to furnish his Greenwich Village apartment.