Biografía

Retired from skateboarding in 1995 after being pro for 7 years.

Was cast as Loki in Dogma (1999), but had to take a smaller part (Azrael) because of scheduling conflicts, so the role went to Matt Damon. His performance as Azrael would lead to him being cast in Los Increíbles (2004)

Dropped out of high school to be a pro skate boarder.

Mentioned a number of occasions in the autobiography of skating legend Tony Hawk, "Hawk: Occupation Skateboarder".

Godfather of Kevin Smith's daughter, Harley Quinn Smith.

(On skateboarding injuries) I have scars on my knees from smashing into the corner of cement benches. I have scars on my pelvis from jumping off my board and sliding like Superman down a hill. One time I snapped my wrist in half and had to get a cast on my arm. Like an idiot, I skated before the cast was taken off, and I fell again and broke my other arm. For the next three months I had to brush my teeth using only my thumb and pinkie.

(2006 quote on fame) When you reach a certain status in Hollywood, you have to play a lot of games to stay in the limelight. It becomes more about being famous than being an actor. It's a cult of personality. Who's the It person this week? Who has the hottest girlfriend and the most bling-bling? Who showed up at the MTV Video Music Awards in a Hummer limousine? For me it's always more rewarding when people come up to me and say, "I loved you in Mumford. What's your name again?" That's how I've always wanted it to be.

(On getting into acting) I was just curious about it, in much the same way you might be curious about how cars are made or how to get to the moon. It was naiveté. My girlfriend's mother was a talent manager, and when I told her I wanted to do movies, she said, "Okay, let's give it a shot." So many people would have said, "Oh, I don't know. Let's get you into some acting classes first and see how it goes." That would have been a bit deflating, and I think I would've lost interest.

(On retiring from skateboarding) When I decided to retire, I thought I was getting a little too old to be skating for a living. There was a lot of pressure to be at the top of my game all the time, and my heart just wasn't in it anymore. But I haven't given up skating completely. I still cruise around now and then just for fun. I'm way past my prime, so nobody expects much from me anymore.

(On Mi nombre es Earl (2005)) I was apprehensive about doing TV, because I didn't want to be known for a certain character. When I did Kissing a Fool (1998) with David Schwimmer, I realized how trapped he was by his role on Friends (1994). Everywhere we'd go, people would shout out to him, "Ross! Hey, Ross!" It's difficult to get away from the shadow of a TV character. I hope I've done enough movies that I won't be pigeonholed as "Earl" for the rest of my life.