Jeremy Renner has become one of Hollywood’s most resilient and versatile actors, known for his intense character portrayals and remarkable career comeback following a near-fatal accident.
As the star of Paramount+’s gritty crime thriller “Mayor of Kingstown,” Renner continues to captivate audiences with his portrayal of Mike McLusky, a power broker navigating the treacherous landscape of a prison town.
Future Projects
Jeremy Renner’s most immediate and highly anticipated project is the fourth season of “Mayor of Kingstown,” which is set to premiere on October 26, 2025 on Paramount+ .
The series, co-created by Taylor Sheridan and Hugh Dillon, has been renewed following its successful third season that aired in 2024 .
In the upcoming season, Renner’s character Mike McLusky faces perhaps his greatest challenges yet. According to the official logline, “Mike’s control over Kingstown is threatened as new players compete to fill the power vacuum left in the Russians’ wake, compelling him to confront the resulting gang war and stop them from swallowing the town.
Meanwhile, with those he loves in more danger than ever before, Mike must contend with a headstrong new Warden to protect his own while grappling with demons from his past” .
The season will introduce several new characters, most notably Edie Falco as Nina Hobbs, the new prison warden who immediately clashes with Mike.
Series producers have hinted that this dynamic will be central to Season 4, with David Glasser noting that “She’s making the decisions.
She’s calling the shots. It isn’t Mike’s world. It’s her world, and we’re going to watch this battle between the two of them” .
This power struggle is evident in the season trailer, where Falco’s character tells Mike: “You’re an ex-con who ran this place for years [leaving an] ocean of blood in your wake, and now you can’t do that. This is my castle now, do we understand each other?” .
Other new cast members include Lennie James as Frank Moses, a respected Detroit gangster, and Laura Benanti as correctional officer Cindy Stephens .
The season will also see the return of series regulars including Hugh Dillon as Ian, Taylor Handley as Kyle McLusky, Tobi Bamtefa as Bunny, and Necar Zadegan as Evelyn .
Series co-creator Hugh Dillon has teased that Season 4 represents “a detonation, not an escalation,” adding that “The blade’s sharper.
The cuts go deeper. It’s about the intricacies of human emotion under pressure, and the choices we make when we have no good choices left. It’s an incendiary season 4″ .
He also hinted that the past would play a significant role, noting that “The past doesn’t catch up, it reloads” , suggesting that Mike’s history as a former inmate may become increasingly relevant as his brother Kyle faces prison time.
Table: Jeremy Renner’s Confirmed Upcoming Projects
| Project Title | Role | Release Date/Status | Key Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mayor of Kingstown (Season 4) | Mike McLusky | October 26, 2025 on Paramount+ | Power vacuum after Russian mafia’s demise; new warden (Edie Falco) challenges Mike’s authority |
| Wake Up Dead Man | Unknown | 2025 (Post-production) | Rian Johnson mystery film; Renner’s first major feature role following accident recovery |
Following his near-fatal snowplow accident in January 2023, Renner’s return to “Mayor of Kingstown” for Season 3 was emotionally charged, with the actor admitting he felt “a little bit scared” but ultimately excited about the character and storyline .
His commitment to the series remains strong, as evidenced by his Instagram post in June 2025 announcing that filming had wrapped on Season 4: “Thank you to the cast and crew and most importantly … the FANS — this season will be worth the wait I promise” .
Biography & Early Life
Jeremy Lee Renner was born on January 7, 1971, in Modesto, California .
He was raised by his parents, Valerie Cearley (née Tague) and Lee Renner, who managed McHenry Bowl, a bowling alley in Modesto, during the 1980s .
His parents married as teenagers and divorced when Renner was ten years old .
He is the oldest of seven siblings, with the youngest born in 2011 .
Renner graduated from Fred C. Beyer High School in Modesto in 1989 before attending Modesto Junior College, where he initially studied computer science and criminology .
His path toward acting began somewhat unexpectedly when he took a drama class as an elective requirement.
This experience proved transformative, as Renner discovered that the theater department offered “freedom of emotional expression” that appealed to him more than his other fields of study .
An interesting early career moment that solidified his interest in performance came during his second year at Modesto Junior College when he earned $50 for role-playing a domestic disturbance perpetrator as part of a police-training exercise .
This experience, coupled with his growing passion for drama, convinced him to shift his focus away from traditional academics toward acting.
After leaving college, Renner moved to San Francisco to study at the American Conservatory Theater before eventually relocating to Los Angeles in 1993 to pursue acting professionally .
In Los Angeles, he devoted himself to theater work, most notably starring in and co-directing the critically acclaimed “Search and Destroy” .
Like many aspiring actors, he took on various jobs to make ends meet, including working as a makeup artist while auditioning for roles .
Table: Jeremy Renner – Key Facts
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Jeremy Lee Renner |
| Date of Birth | January 7, 1971 (age 54) |
| Place of Birth | Modesto, California, USA |
| Education | Modesto Junior College (studied computer science, criminology) |
| Early Career | Theater performances, makeup artist, first film role: “National Lampoon’s Senior Trip” (1995) |
| Breakthrough Role | Portrayal of Jeffrey Dahmer in “Dahmer” (2002) earned Independent Spirit Award nomination |
Renner’s film debut came in 1995 with a role in the comedy “National Lampoon’s Senior Trip” .
Despite the film’s critical panning, he continued to pursue acting with guest spots on television shows like “Deadly Games,” “Strange Luck,” and “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation” throughout the late 1990s and early 2000s .
His breakthrough performance came in 2002 when he portrayed serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer in the film “Dahmer,” a role that earned him an Independent Spirit Award nomination and critical recognition for his ability to portray complex, disturbing characters with humanity and depth .
Filmography (Past Work)
Jeremy Renner has built an impressive and diverse filmography spanning three decades, moving seamlessly between independent films and major blockbuster franchises.
His career is notable for its range, with compelling performances in character-driven dramas, action thrillers, and superhero epics.
Renner’s early career was marked by independent films where he often portrayed dark, complex characters.
His portrayal of Jeffrey Dahmer in 2002’s “Dahmer” established his ability to tackle challenging roles with depth and nuance .
He continued to build his reputation with performances in “Neo Ned” (2005) as a neo-Nazi skinhead, which won him awards at multiple film festivals , and “The Hurt Locker” (2009), which earned him his first Academy Award nomination for Best Actor .
His commercial breakthrough came with supporting roles in major franchises. Renner joined the Mission: Impossible series as William Brandt in “Ghost Protocol” (2011) and later “Rogue Nation” (2015) .
He entered the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Clint Barton/Hawkeye, first with a cameo in “Thor” (2011) before appearing in “The Avengers” (2012), “Avengers: Age of Ultron” (2015), “Captain America: Civil War” (2016), and “Avengers: Endgame” (2019) . He later starred in his own Disney+ series, “Hawkeye” (2021) .
Renner also took on the challenge of joining another established franchise, playing Aaron Cross in “The Bourne Legacy” (2012) . Other notable films include “The Town” (2010), which earned him his second Academy Award nomination (Best Supporting Actor) , “American Hustle” (2013) , “Arrival” (2016) , and “Wind River” (2017) .
Table: Selected Notable Filmography of Jeremy Renner
| Year | Title | Role | IMDb Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | The Hurt Locker | Sergeant First Class William James | 7.5/10 |
| 2010 | The Town | James “Jem” Coughlin | 7.5/10 |
| 2012 | The Avengers | Clint Barton / Hawkeye | 8.0/10 |
| 2012 | The Bourne Legacy | Aaron Cross | 6.6/10 |
| 2013 | American Hustle | Mayor Carmine Polito | 7.2/10 |
| 2015 | Avengers: Age of Ultron | Clint Barton / Hawkeye | 7.3/10 |
| 2016 | Arrival | Ian Donnelly | 7.9/10 |
| 2017 | Wind River | Cory Lambert | 7.7/10 |
| 2019 | Avengers: Endgame | Clint Barton / Hawkeye | 8.4/10 |
| 2021-present | Mayor of Kingstown | Mike McLusky | 8.2/10 |
On television, Renner’s most significant role has been as Mike McLusky in “Mayor of Kingstown” (2021-present), which marks his first leading television series role .
His performance as the power broker in a prison town has earned critical acclaim and demonstrates his ability to carry a complex, character-driven drama over multiple seasons.
Career Patterns Analysis
Genre Preferences and Patterns
Throughout his career, Jeremy Renner has demonstrated a distinct preference for gritty, intense dramas and action thrillers, often playing characters who operate in morally complex environments. His filmography shows a consistent pattern of selecting roles that allow him to explore flawed, complicated, three-dimensional characters .
Renner has shown particular affinity for:
- Crime dramas:
- Action thrillers:
- Character-driven independent films:
As observed by IMDb, “Renner gravitates toward flawed, complicated, three-dimensional characters that allow him to explore new territory within himself” .
This pattern is evident across both his independent films and big-budget features, suggesting that character complexity is more important to him than genre classification or budget size.
Television vs. Film Work
While Renner established his career primarily in feature films, his work in television has become increasingly significant in recent years.
His role in “Mayor of Kingstown” represents his most substantial television commitment to date .
Prior to this, his television work consisted mainly of guest appearances early in his career and the short-lived series “The Unusuals” in 2009 .
Based on his filmography, Renner has worked more extensively in movies than television series, though his current leading role in “Mayor of Kingstown” indicates a growing engagement with premium television formats .
Frequent Collaborators
Throughout his career, Renner has developed working relationships with several prominent directors and producers:
- Taylor Sheridan: Renner starred in Sheridan’s feature directorial debut “Wind River” (2017) , and now stars in Sheridan’s television series “Mayor of Kingstown” (2021-present) . This ongoing collaboration suggests a strong creative partnership focused on gritty, contemporary American dramas.
- Kathryn Bigelow: Bigelow cast Renner in “The Hurt Locker” (2009) after being impressed by his performance in “Dahmer” . This collaboration resulted in Renner’s first Academy Award nomination.
- Ben Affleck: Affleck directed Renner in “The Town” (2010), which earned Renner his second Academy Award nomination .
- Joss Whedon: Whedon directed Renner in “The Avengers” (2012) and “Avengers: Age of Ultron” (2015), establishing Renner’s presence in the Marvel Cinematic Universe .
Personal Life
Relationships and Family
Jeremy Renner was married to Canadian actress Sonni Pacheco for a brief period. The couple married in 2014 but divorced in 2015 .
They have one child together, a daughter named Ava, born in 2013 . Renner has been relatively private about his romantic relationships since his divorce, focusing instead on his career and role as a father.
Renner frequently shares glimpses of his relationship with his daughter on social media and in interviews. He has spoken about their morning routines together, noting “We make breakfast together, or I teach her to make breakfast, so I don’t always have to do it for her.
I try to get her on my health and wellness sort of stuff” . This commitment to parenting has been particularly evident during his recovery from his snowplow accident, with Renner emphasizing the importance of being present for his daughter.
Regarding his character’s relationships on “Mayor of Kingstown,” Renner has expressed strong opinions about keeping certain dynamics platonic.
When producers suggested a romantic storyline between Mike and Iris (Emma Laird), Renner opposed the idea, stating: “They asked about writing [a romance], and I just thought it goes against the purity [of] Mike and that relationship.
You can still have love for people, you can still take care of them and look after them. Doesn’t mean you have to hook up” .
Family Background
Renner remains closely connected to his roots in Modesto, California, where he was raised by his parents, Valerie and Lee Renner, who managed a local bowling alley .
He has six younger siblings, making him the oldest of seven children . Despite his Hollywood success, Renner has maintained humility and gratitude, attributes he credits to his upbringing .
In 2010, Modesto Junior College presented him with the Distinguished Alumnus award in recognition of his acting achievements .
He has also headlined benefits for Modesto’s Gallo Center for the Arts, demonstrating his ongoing connection to his hometown community .
Personal Habits and Lifestyle
Renner has developed a strong focus on health and wellness, particularly following his near-fatal accident in January 2023. This commitment extends to his dietary choices and parenting approach:
- Nutrition Focus: Renner has partnered with nutrition expert Alicia “Chacha” Miller and Silk plant-based milk to promote healthy eating habits. He believes that “food is our medicine and it’s important to put good things in our body” .
- Family Health Routines: He incorporates healthy habits into his mornings with his daughter, preparing protein shakes and “super green gummies” .
- Philanthropic Health Advocacy: Through his charity, The RennerVation Foundation, which supports at-risk youth and children in foster care, Renner hosted “Camp RennerVation” where nutritionists taught children about healthy eating .
Beyond dietary habits, Renner has a lifelong passion for music.
He is a singer-songwriter, guitarist, keyboardist, and drummer who has performed on several film soundtracks and released his own EP, “The Medicine,” in 2024 .
Early in his acting career, he performed with the band Sons of Ben .
Renner also has an interest in renovating and restoring old Hollywood homes, an enterprise he began during his early days in Los Angeles.
This hobby aligns with his appreciation for history and preservation, with Renner noting that he “values loyalty and a sense of both age and history, and enjoys the opportunity to help conserve these qualities in a town that favors the young and the new” .
Rumors
Addressing Speculation About Mike and Iris Romance
One of the more persistent rumors among “Mayor of Kingstown” fans has been the possibility of a romantic relationship developing between Renner‘s character, Mike McLusky, and Iris, played by Emma Laird.
Renner directly addressed this speculation in an interview with Us Weekly, firmly shutting down the idea .
According to Renner, producers had indeed approached him about potentially writing a romantic storyline between the characters, but he opposed the concept, believing it would “negate” what he described as a “real relationship” between Mike and Iris .
He explained his perspective: “You can still have love for people, you can still take care of them and look after them. Doesn’t mean you have to hook up” .
This clarification from Renner himself should put to rest any speculation about a romantic future for these characters, as he clearly views their connection as more profound and pure without romantic entanglement.
Recovery and Return to Work After Accident
Following Renner’s near-fatal snowplow accident in January 2023, there was significant speculation about whether he would be able to return to the physically demanding role of Mike McLusky in “Mayor of Kingstown.”
The actor addressed these concerns directly, admitting to PEOPLE that he felt “a little bit scared” to return for Season 3 but found confidence once he got into the rhythm of work .
Renner’s successful return to filming and the subsequent renewal for Season 4 have effectively put these concerns to rest, demonstrating his remarkable recovery and commitment to his craft . His Instagram post in June 2025, announcing the wrap of Season 4 filming, further confirmed his full return to acting .
Conclusion
Jeremy Renner’s career trajectory—from character actor to blockbuster star to television lead—demonstrates remarkable versatility and resilience.
His upcoming return in “Mayor of Kingstown” Season 4 represents not just another season of television, but a testament to his personal and professional recovery following life-threatening injuries. As Mike McLusky faces new challenges in Kingstown, Renner continues to prove why he remains one of Hollywood’s most compelling actors, capable of bringing depth and humanity to even the most complex characters.
Information in this article is based on publicly available sources and may be subject to change as new projects are announced and developed.
Last modified: September 23, 2025
