What happened to Eric Bana? From big Hollywood roles to a quiet life in Australia
What happened to Eric Bana? He moved away from Hollywood productions to lead a quiet, more grounded life in Australia, where he continues to act on his terms. While he no longer seeks global stardom, Bana remains active in the film industry, choosing projects that reflect his values, interests, and deep connection to his home country.
Source: Getty Images
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Key takeaways
- Eric Bana is an Australian actor and former comedian who rose to global fame through roles in Chopper, Black Hawk Down, and Troy.
- His work in Munich earned critical acclaim and confirmed his ability to handle intense, dramatic roles on an international scale.
- After Hulk received mixed reviews, Bana shifted away from franchise films and chose more meaningful roles.
- Bana has continued acting in Australian films, including The Dry and its 2024 sequel, which were commercial hits locally.
- He is married to Rebecca Gleeson, a former TV publicist, and the couple enjoys a quiet family life with their two children.
- Today, he undertakes selective projects that align with his interests, often drawing on Australian stories and characters.
Eric Bana’s profile summary
| Full name | Eric Banadinović |
| Nickname | Eric Bana |
| Gender | Male |
| Date of birth | August 9, 1968 |
| Zodiac sign | Leo |
| Place of birth | Melbourne, Victoria, Australia |
| Current residence | Melbourne, Victoria, Australia |
| Nationality | Australian |
| Ethnicity | Croatian-German |
| Religion | Roman Catholic |
| Sexual orientation | Straight |
| Height in feet | 6'2'' |
| Height in centimetres | 188 |
| Weight in pounds | 196 |
| Weight in kilograms | 89 |
| Body measurements in inches | 44-34-16 |
| Body measurements in centimetres | 112-86-41 |
| Shoe size | 12 (US) |
| Hair colour | Dark brown |
| Eye colour | Hazel |
| Mother | Eleanor Banadinović |
| Father | Ivan Banadinović |
| Siblings | Anthony Banadinović (brother |
| Relationship status | Married |
| Partner | Rebecca Gleeson |
| Children | Klaus Bana and Sophia Bana |
| School | Penleigh and Essendon Grammar School |
| Profession | Actor, comedian, producer |
| Net worth | $45 million |
What happened to Eric Bana?
He stepped back from Hollywood blockbusters to live a quieter life in Australia. Eric is now based in Melbourne and works on projects that reflect his interests rather than chasing global fame.
Early career
What does Eric Bana do? He is an actor and comedian. Eric began his entertainment career as a stand-up comedian in Melbourne before gaining national attention on the Australian sketch comedy show Full Frontal in the 1990s.
Source: Getty Images
His breakout dramatic role came in 2000 with the film Chopper, where he portrayed notorious Australian criminal Mark Read. The performance earned him critical acclaim and the Australian Film Institute Award for Best Actor.
Big Hollywood roles
Following the acclaim, Hollywood producer Ridley Scott cast him as Delta Force soldier Norm Hooten in Black Hawk Down (2001), which introduced him to a global audience. In 2003, he starred as Bruce Banner in Hulk, but didn’t last long in the role.
Why was Eric Bana removed from Hulk? He was not officially removed from the Hulk franchise; rather, the studio decided to reboot the series with a new direction and cast. After the movie received mixed reviews and underperformed at the box office, Marvel Studios chose to reboot the character with The Incredible Hulk (2008).
Later on, Eric solidified his status as a leading actor with appearances in top movies such as Troy (2004), Munich (2005), and Lone Survivor (2013) and TV shows like Something in the Air (2000 –2001), Dirty John (2020), and Top Gear (2009).
Selective roles and career shift
After landing major Hollywood roles, the acclaimed actor started choosing projects that resonated with him. As a result, he turned down franchise-heavy roles and steered clear of the U.S. celebrity spotlight.
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Instead of chasing commercial hits, he took parts in quieter, dramatic films like The Other Boleyn Girl (2008), The Time Traveller’s Wife (2009), and Closed Circuit (2013). He often plays complex or emotionally driven characters.
Eric Bana’s wife and children
Is Eric Bana married in real life? Yes. He is married to Rebecca Gleeson, a former publicist for the Seven Network and the daughter of former Chief Justice Murray Gleeson. They met in 1995 while Bana starred on Full Frontal and Rebecca worked in publicity.
Eric proposed to her during a trip to the U.S., a prize he’d won after being named Cleo’s “Bachelor of the Year” in 1996. The couple married on August 2 , 1997. Eric and Rebecca have two children together, Klaus and Sophia.
Their firstborn, Klaus, completed his film studies at the Victorian College of the Arts, while Sophia spent two years in full-time dance training. She is now studying part-time at the University of Melbourne. The family lives in Melbourne, far from the Hollywood spotlight.
Eric Bana now
Today, Eric focuses almost entirely on Australian film projects since returning to Australian filmmaking in the 2010s. He made his major comeback with his performance as Federal Agent Aaron Falk in The Dry (2020). The box office hit reintroduced him to Australian audiences in a powerful lead role.
Source: Getty Images
Following the success of The Dry, Bana reprised the role in its sequel, Force of Nature: The Dry 2 (2024), further cementing his renewed commitment to Australian stories. His recent appearances are in A Sacrifice (2024), Memoir of a Snail (2024), Apex (TBA), and Untamed (2025)
FAQs about Eric Bana
- Who is Eric Bana? Eric Bana is an Australian actor and former comedian best known for his roles in Chopper, Black Hawk Down, Hulk, Troy, and Munich.
- Where did Eric Bana go to school? Eric Bana attended Penleigh and Essendon Grammar School, a private boys' school in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
- Who are Eric Bana’s parents? Eric Bana is the son of Ivan Banadinović, a Croatian-born logistics manager, and Eleanor Banadinović, a German-born hairdresser.
- How many siblings does Eric Bana have? Eric Bana has one older brother named Anthony.
- How much did Eric Bana get paid for Troy? Eric Bana has never publicly confirmed his salary for Troy. However, Brad Pitt paid him $750 as part of a friendly on-set bet on their fight scene.
- What is Eric Bana’s net worth? Eric Bana has an estimated net worth of approximately $45 million as of 2025.
- What happened to Eric Bana? Eric Bana stepped away from Hollywood blockbusters to focus on a quieter life in Australia, where he acts in selective local films and lives privately with his family.
- Who is Eric Bana married to? Eric Bana is married to Rebecca Gleeson, a former publicist and the daughter of former Australian Chief Justice Murray Gleeson.
- How many children does Eric Bana have? Eric Bana has two children with his wife Rebecca: a son named Klaus and a daughter named Sophia.
Final word
What happened to Eric Bana? He stepped away from big Hollywood blockbusters and returned to a quieter life in Australia, where he focuses on personal projects. After starring in major films like Troy, Munich, and Hulk, Bana chose to remain in Melbourne, taking on roles that align more with his values than global fame.
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Proofreading by Masolo Mabonga, copy editor at TUKO.co.ke.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
