Eckhart

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Lore & Background

Eckhart was a mednoble knight of House Eckhart in Ehrenfest, known for his strict adherence to tradition. He was the younger brother of the head of the house and the older brother of Ferdinand, whose biological father was the former Aub Ehrenfest and adoptive father was Sylvester. Clara, the wife of his older brother, was his sister-in-law. Eckhart survived the civil war in Ehrenfest, leaving behind a legacy of duty and honor within his house.

In Their Own Story

Eckhart's next major role was Nick Naylor in *Thank You for Smoking* (2006), a tobacco lobbyist whose firm researched the link between smoking and lung cancer. Eckhart said he felt challenged playing the role: 'You have to say these words that are crazy, and yet do it with a smile on your face and have the audience like you. At one point, I'm doing a talk show with a kid who's dying of cancer, and he's going through chemotherapy and the whole thing, and I spin it so the anti-smoking people are the bad guys and I'm the good guy, and I'm this guy's best friend. I mean, it's whacked out.' For his performance, Eckhart received a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actor in a Motion Picture Musical or Comedy. A contributor of *USA Today* wrote that he gave a 'standout, whip-smart performance.' In 2008, he played a major role in Christopher Nolan's blockbuster *The Dark Knight* as District Attorney Harvey Dent / Two-Face.

Reader's Guide

Eckhart's filmography includes a wide range of roles across genres. After *Erin Brockovich*, he co-starred with Renée Zellweger in LaBute's *Nurse Betty* (2000). He appeared in Sean Penn's *The Pledge* (2001) as a young detective partnered with Jack Nicholson. In 2003, he co-starred with Hilary Swank in *The Core* and appeared in *The Missing* and *Paycheck*. In 2004, he guest-starred in two episodes of NBC's *Frasier* and starred in *Suspect Zero*. That same year, he performed on the London stage in David Mamet's *Oleanna* at the Garrick Theatre. In 2005, he appeared in *Neverwas*. Later films include *Love Happens*, *Rabbit Hole*, *Battle: Los Angeles*, *The Rum Diary*, *Olympus Has Fallen*, *I, Frankenstein*, *Sully*, and *Midway*.

Did You Know?

• Eckhart was a member of House Eckhart, not its head; his older brother was the head of the house.
• He was Ferdinand's older brother, not his uncle; Ferdinand's biological father was the former Aub Ehrenfest, and his adoptive father was Sylvester.
• Clara was his sister-in-law, not his wife; she was married to his older brother.
• Eckhart was a mednoble and knight, not a laynoble.
• House Eckhart is located in the duchy of Ehrenfest, not in the Royal Capital.