Hart Bochner

Hart Matthew Bochner was born on October 3, 1956, in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, to Ruth Bochner (née Roher), a concert pianist, and Lloyd Bochner, an actor. He made his feature film debut in 1977, portraying George C. Scott’s son in “Islands in the Stream.” This early role marked the beginning of a long career in the entertainment industry. He gained further recognition for his role in the Academy Award-winning film “Breaking Away” in 1979.

Bochner’s career progressed through various notable roles, with an achievement in pop culture status through his portrayal of Harry Ellis in the 1988 film “Die Hard,” opposite Bruce Willis. His performance was recognized by Maxim Magazine, which placed his character at #2 on their “The Greatest Movie Sleazeballs Of All Time” list in 2005. His acting credits also include roles alongside Susan Sarandon in “Anywhere But Here” (1999) and Colin Firth in “Apartment Zero” (1988). On television, he starred in the Emmy Award-winning miniseries “War and Remembrance” (1988), and adaptations of literary works such as Ernest Hemingway’s “The Sun Also Rises” (1984) and John Steinbeck’s “East of Eden” (1981).

Transitioning to behind-the-scenes work, Bochner made his directorial debut with the comedy “PCU” (1994) for Twentieth Century Fox, followed by “High School High” (1996) for Columbia Pictures. His latest directorial and writing effort is “Just Add Water” (2008), featuring actors like Danny DeVito and Justin Long. Beyond his creative work, Bochner is actively involved in environmental causes, serving on the board of directors for the Environmental Media Association and the DGA-PAC Leadership Council, and is part of L.A.’s Green Ribbon Commission. In 2008, Time Magazine recognized him as the “Greenest Celebrity in Hollywood” for his environmental contributions.