Edward Norton is a person.
Edward Harrison Norton ( born August 18 , 1969 ) is an American actor , filmmaker and activist . He has been nominated for three Academy Awards for his work in the films Primal Fear ( 1996 ) , American History X ( 1998 ) and Birdman ( 2014 ) . He has also directed and co-written films , including his directorial debut , Keeping the Faith ( 2000 ) . Norton is president of the American branch of the Maasai Wilderness Conservation Trust . In July 2010 , Norton was designated as the United Nations Goodwill Ambassador for Biodiversity by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon .