Jeremy Renner, 38-year-old Beyer High School graduate was named Breakthrough Actor the Hollywood Awards ceremony in Beverly Hills. He was honored for his critically acclaimed work in the war drama, "The Hurt Locker." In the critically-acclaimed film, Renner plays the lead bomb technician on an ordnance disposal squad.

Born in Modesto and the eldest of four siblings, Jeremy came to Hollywood shortly after college.   After launching his film career as the lead role in the zany comedy, “National Lampoon’s Senior Trip,” Renner learned the ropes in several television movies, short television appearances, a few films and various commercials in the late 90s.  Jeremy began a pivotal role in 2000 on “Angel,”  playing a puritan turned menacing vampire serial killer opposite his old acting class buddy David Boreanz.

After receiving attention for his role on the WB show, Renner joined famous thespians in blockbuster movies including Samuel L. Jackson and Colin Farrell in “S.W.A.T.”, Charlize Theron in “North Country” and Brad Pitt in “The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford.”  However, Jeremy’s most acclaimed work received an IFP Spirit Best Actor Award for his portrayal of the title character in “Dahmer” in 2003 and another IFP nomination for his most recent movie “The Hurt Locker” in 2009.

Renner's co-star in "North Country" Charlize Theron dropped by to present his latest award. "You know, he's been great in everything," Theron said of Renner. "But he really shines in this film. This is really his moment."

In accepting, Renner said his honor went to "the families of our fallen troops." The award is the first of what could be many wins for Renner, who frequently returns home to Modesto to visit his family.

The Hollywood Awards have a certain cachet because the judges and advisers include film critics, film industry executives and film festival chiefs from all over the world, making for an enigmatic voting group. The festival is 13 years old, but only in the past few years has the gala emerged as one of the award season's closely watched early events.

Renner is in the middle of filming the crime thriller "The Town" in Boston with Ben Affleck, Jon Hamm and Blake Lively. The movie should wrap by Thanksgiving, and then he said he will take time off during the holidays.

The actor is no stranger to award ceremonies. He's been nominated for Independent Spirit Awards twice, once for his role as Jeffrey Dahmer in the 2002 film "Dahmer" and earlier this year for his role in "The Hurt Locker."

[<Back]