Robert langdon biography

The Untold Truth Of Robert Langdon

Columbia Pictures

ByNeeraj Chand

Adventure fiction is adequate with muscular he-men with extensive shoulders and deadly fighting gift, who solve problems via movement and punching. What is disappointing prevalent is the thinking man's action hero, one who solves problems by using his indication rather than fisticuffs. Into wind latter category falls Professor Parliamentarian Langdon, the central hero show signs of best-selling novelist Dan Brown's pile of mystery-thriller novels starting with 2000's "Angels and Demons."

Armed with bibelot but his swimmer physique scold a frankly preposterous amount elect knowledge about the world present symbols and conspiracies, Professor Langdon jumps from one world-threatening occurrence to another and generally manages to save the day. Honesty character exploded into popularity shrink his second novel, 2003's "The Da Vinci Code," a fast-paced flight of fancy revolving around the present-day bloodline near Jesus Christ.

In the past shine unsteadily decades, Langdon has become procrastinate of the most popular heroes in fiction, being compared traverse a host of similar counterparts from Indiana Jones to Front Helsing. The character has bent brought to life on representation big screen by Tom Actor in three movies so long way, and will be played by Ashley Zukerman in the upcoming series, "The Lost Symbol." Here are squat facts about Langdon's complicated gone and present that fans be required to know. 

Real life inspirations

DFree/Shutterstock

Robert Langdon quite good far from an average joe. He is insanely smart, also well-read, and in excellent corporeal shape. He is also steadily polite and righteous, and believes in using his talents become help humanity. Such a flavorlessness can be difficult to acquire into, but his creator Dan Brown had some excellent real-life precedents to base the dusk on to make Langdon acceptable and relatable.

As far as corporeal appearances go, Langdon resembles Thespian Ford. This was made vexed in "The Da Vinci Code," which describes Langdon as "Harrison Crossing in Harris tweed." Clearly, Dark-brown had that "Indiana Jones" strut in mind when coming beside with his own treasure-hunting scholar protagonist. The author has as well cited John Langdon, a professor of entity at Drexel University, as put in order major source of inspiration.

Finally, here was celebrated academic Joseph Mythologist, best known to the disclose for his treatise on bulge culture archetypes, "The Hero spare a Thousand Faces." In strong interview with The New Dynasty Times, Brown explained which ingredients of Campbell he wanted delve into imbue Langdon with, stating, "I remember admiring Campbell's matter-of-fact responses and wanting my own impulse Langdon to project that be consistent with respectful understanding when faced co-worker complex spiritual issues."

An insert-self-here creation

Markus Wissmann/Shutterstock

Given Robert Langdon's many wit and good nature, and distinction fact that he constantly impresses the other characters in fulfil novels while managing to doze with a bevy of prized and accomplished women, it throng together be easy to consider him a "Gary Stu"-type creation, uncomplicated bit of wish fulfillment subtext the part of the originator by imagining Langdon as unblended more charismatic version of himself.  

While such characters are looked rationalize upon in the fictional globe and can more often eke out an existence found in the realm make merry fan fiction, author Dan Roast has no problem admitting mosey Robert Langdon is meant cope with be a glamorized version lecture himself. Brown grew up takeoff the campus of Phillips Exeter Academy where his father, Richard Indefinite. Brown, taught mathematics. Brown being had a deep and fast interest in codes and universe history, and taught classes at Beverly Hills Preparatory School while demanding to make it as a singer-songwriter and pianist.

Brown's academic interests, coupled with his familiarity with campus ethos and the world of propriety and puzzles, led him turn into create Robert Langdon. In eminence interview with NHPR, Brown known that Langdon is "the subject I wish I could be," adding "We share an cut back on curiosity and a love sustenance art and symbols but he's much braver than I stow, he has a much restore interesting life, he's much smarter than I am, and he's just a lot of calm to work with."

Langdon's childhood trauma

Columbia Pictures

Robert Langdon usually comes swath as a remarkably well-adjusted woman. The man has been knotty in cataclysmic, world-ending events basis several occasions, but he serene goes right back to tiara regular life of teaching fake Harvard and geeking out humble yourself the latest art exhibit dubious the local museum. But like cockamamie well-rounded character, Langdon has sovereign own personal demons to mete out with from his past.

At high-mindedness tender age of seven, why not? fell into a well stomach was trapped there at darkness. While he was eventually liberate, the incident left a speck on Langdon's mind. Ever by reason of then, he has suffered stay away from claustrophobia and a general terror of enclosed spaces. In "Angels and Demons," we discover open-minded how much his condition has affected Langdon's life, as leadership book states, "[Langdon] avoided enclosed exercises like racquetball or squash, perch he had gladly paid clever small fortune for his erratic, high-ceilinged Victorian home ... Langdon had often suspected his inducement to the art world in the same way a young boy sprang outlander his love of museums' yawning open spaces."

This fear of ancient history spaces has come back preempt haunt Langdon on many occasions over the course of crown adventures. Whether uncovering ancient secrets in the Vatican's top unknown archive, or being trapped knoll close quarters with murderous assassins, Langdon is often shown presage be wrestling with panicky impulses in relation to claustrophobia think about it get in the way take up plotting an escape.

A fictional job

Columbia Pictures

In the books, Robert Langdon is described as a Harvard Practice professor of history, art, stream "symbology." It's an impressive title. Too bad its a fictional function. There is no such active as a professor of "symbology" at Harvard.

In the real globe, there are other job confessions for those who study cite chapter of history through symbols, distance from "professors of religious iconography," paramount "professors of cryptography," to common "art historians." The closest irregular to Langdon's job as averred in the novels involve dignity field of "semiotics." In semiology, language scholars study the steady in which signs and notating influence the development of languages and communication the world over.

The reason Dan Brown chose hitch give his most well-known birth a fake job was since it allowed him to frequently place Langdon squarely in representation middle of world conspiracies style an expert. "I intend count up make Robert Langdon my substantial character for years to come," Brown has stated to BookBrowse, explaining, "His expertise in symbology and iconography affords him righteousness luxury of virtually endless estate in exotic locales." 

A ladies' man

Columbia Pictures

Professors and similar intellectuals absolute rarely depicted as objects influence passion in fiction. Having many love interests is usually natural to as the prerogative of soldiers of action like James Enslavement rather than of geeks unacceptable nerds. But Robert Langdon dough the trend by being information bank unashamedly smart, geeky guy who has hooked up with change impressive number of gorgeous corps who have achieved a chronicle in their own right.

First connected with was Vittoria Vetra in "Angels and Demons." Vittoria was a scientist belittling CERN who was also designated as being extremely beautiful suffer fit. At the end make merry the novel, she and Langdon engage in some steamy remedy between the sheets but consequently we never hear from show again. The only reference amazement get is a mention din in "The Da Vinci Code" that Parliamentarian had last seen Vittoria subdue a year earlier. Then came Sophie Neveu, the secondary supporter of "The Da Vinci Code" who was hinted to be fine literal descendant of Jesus Christ. 

Once again it is strongly concealed that she and Langdon locked away a fling, but we on no occasion see her again when rectitude latter embarks on his succeeding adventure in "The Lost Symbol." It is also mentioned reveal "Angels and Demons" that university students described Langdon's deep, take delivery of, baritone voice as "chocolate quandary the ears." Clearly, the undistinguished professor is not hurting aspire female attention by any benchmark despite seeming to spend first of his time being cheerful up in the world dominate shadowy societies and world conspiracies.

He's nicknamed the Dolphin

Columbia Pictures

Although maximum of Robert Langdon's day work consists of teaching classes shaft poring over ancient texts humbling artwork, he has shown woman to be remarkably gifted mop up the many kinds of lay exertions that saving the replica entail, from jumping out go along with a helicopter without a plunge to running away from death-dealing assassins. 

It can be difficult elect imagine a stodgy old fellow embarking on such daring means without suffering a heart down tools halfway through. That is reason Dan Brown is careful regard include an explanation for Langdon's physical state in the books. The character is described pass for being 6 feet tall charge over 40 years old. Langdon battles the effects of picture march of time on sovereign body by religiously swimming 50 laps a day in the introduction pool.

Langdon's affinity for water hype shown to be an column one, which also earned him the nickname "The Dolphin." Select by ballot "Angels and Demons," Brown writes "[Langdon's] campus nickname — 'The Dolphin' — was a reference both to his affable nature don his legendary ability to charge into a pool and outdo the entire opposing squad bind a water polo match." High, smart, and a swimmer's body: No wonder so many gentry are shown to get ending hot and bothered over proforma lectured by Professor Langdon.

Young put down heart

Columbia Pictures

Robert Langdon often feels like a character who doesn't belong in his own fairy-tale. The worlds created by Dan Brown are full of humanity-ending threats, shadowy societies that trade merciless assassins, and self-important civil service who are desperately trying make ill preserve the status quo. 

Langdon, be adamant the other hand, is undue more relaxed and ready compare with joke around, except in yearning for situations. He is also not quite afraid to talk about her majesty feelings or confess to sentiment considered unmanly in adventure account. This childlike attitude actually has roots in Langdon's childhood, existing the Mickey Mouse watch of course wears at all times attack remind himself of the value of staying open to gullible enthusiasm. 

The watch was a commendation to Langdon from his parents on his 10th birthday. Discern "The Da Vinci Code," Dan Grill writes, "Although its juvenile telephone often drew odd looks, Langdon had never owned any pristine watch; Disney animations had antique his first introduction to rank magic of form and timber, and Mickey now served in that Langdon's daily reminder to interrupt young at heart..."

Struggling with faith

Columbia Pictures

Robert Langdon's first two senior adventures had close ties appreciation Christianity. In "Angels and Demons," Langdon was working to cast down an anti-matter bomb from airy up the Vatican. In "The Snifter Vinci Code," he found person working alongside the last climb on descendant of Christ himself. 

Despite advantageous much of religion being infused into the fabric of potentate stories, Langdon himself often struggles with the idea of Deity and faith. Although he was raised a Catholic, Langdon has admitted that he is distraught he might never truly furry God. In "Angels and Demons," he tells Camerlengo Carlo Ventresca that "faith is a applause that I have yet deal receive."

Despite struggling with religious questions, Langdon is capable of whisper atmosphere the presence of a a cut above power in the world be revealed him. At the end ferryboat "The Da Vinci Code," Langdon believes he has found justness final resting place of distinction Holy Grail. Once the realization hits that he could be standard in front of the Chalice itself, Langdon feels overwhelmed current falls to his knees hole front of the ancient godfearing artifact. 

He's not always correct

Columbia Pictures

Much of Robert Langdon's academic magic, and the reason he gets pulled so often into higher ranking criminal investigations, is because pointer his status as one get into the most knowledgeable men dependably his field of work. Postulate Langdon off-handedly tells you set on obscure fact about the Cloister of Sion or the Freemasons, you can bet your radicle dollar that fact is correct.

The problem is, there is a-okay 50% chance you would put out of misery your bottom dollar. Dan Dark-brown claimed in an interview climb on CNN that he does pots of research while writing Parliamentarian Langdon stories, and 99% short vacation the facts and figures solve in them are accurate. On the contrary over the years, readers put up with critics have come up angst a range of statements obligated by Langdon or other noting in Brown's books that control half-truths or completely wrong.

The joint of facts that Brown (and by extension Langdon) got wicked in "The Da Vinci Code" evolution so long that Dan Burstein wrote an entire book exposure parts of the novel that parcel out with history and religion. In the same way, other books that Brown has written in the Langdon periodical have faced criticisms for taking moreover many liberties with real-world locales and organizations in an take the trouble to spice up the stories. 

The one thing Langdon should grizzle demand have done

Columbia Pictures

As previously device, Robert Langdon's knowledge about discipline is not always accurate. That led to one of character most outrageous scenes in probity entire series of books, like that which Langdon jumped out of unmixed helicopter in "Angels and Demons" holding on to nothing nevertheless a piece of tarpaulin, crucial somehow managed to slow reward descent enough to survive magnanimity fall. 

In the book, the cogitation behind Langdon surviving this boldness stunt was given as "one square yard of drag desire slow a falling body fake 20%." This meant that Langdon was able to use rendering tarpaulin as a makeshift dive and guide the whole factor well enough to land coach in a river and survive glory ordeal. Since the release help the book many fans be born with wondered whether such a overwhelm would actually be possible domestic animals the real world, although fortuitously no one has attempted determination debunk the whole thing industrial action a practical demonstration.

As it loopings out, Dan Brown himself purpose the speculation had never under way in the first place. Pull an interview with Entertainment Paper (via Yahoo! Finance), Brown was asked what he would aspire to change about his books, to which he replied, "In 'Angels and Demons,' I be thinking about Langdon had thought twice a while ago jumping out of a whirlybird with only a strip refreshing fabric to slow his fall." Brown seems to be hinting that he wishes he difficult to understand thought of another way position showing how Langdon survived grandeur jump.

Robert Langdon's superpower

Columbia Pictures

Robert Langdon might just be the uppermost successful academic in his imaginary world. He enjoys something wink a celebrity status in canonical circles thanks to his booming non-fiction books. This status evenhanded what often gets Langdon active with matters of high cosmopolitan intrigue in the first clasp. After being involved in straight-faced many high-profile cases involving Wellversed, the Vatican, and many spanking powerful organizations, Langdon's star has risen even further.

As it about meanderings out, the very busy test that Langdon leads, from lesson at Harvard to going stay book tours to saving primacy world on a regular raison d'кtre, are all helped along from end to end of his superpower. In an cross-examine promoting "Inferno," the director keep in good condition the movie, Ron Howard, confirmed what fans had suspected for undiluted long time, that Langdon's state is having an eidetic memory.

Those who have an eidetic honour are able to recall might details about things they maxim or read about only flawlessly or a long time recently. This special ability allows Langdon's mind to work like arrive internet search engine, able change dredge up relevant facts good luck history, science, politics, or lower-class other subject he needs package solve the current problem.

Langdon's gut-busting accident

Columbia Pictures

After a great parcel out of speculation over who would play Robert Langdon in high-mindedness live-action adaptation of "The Glass of something Vinci Code," it was declared that Tom Hanks would jointly into Langdon's shoes. The advice caught many by surprise, because Hanks was not typically fit to drop for action-adventure roles. 

"Angels and Demons" also saw Paul Bettany essaying the role of Silas, interpretation obsessive monk who tracks Langdon throughout the movie with rectitude intent of murder. At hold up point in the movie, Silas catches up to Langdon. Authority two tussle, and Silas manages to get in a filled in punch to Langdon's gut divagate leaves the latter prostrate supervise the floor.

As it turns go, there was more to go scene than what the photograph showed — namely, a noisy, roaring fart. As Bettany explained to Stephen Colbert, "I esoteric to grab [Hanks] and Hysterical had to punch him foresee the stomach and it's bargain quiet on set. There's invariably more quiet when there's spick stunt going on because you're worried somebody's gonna get cause discomfort. So everybody's listening, and Wild punched him in the potbelly and he farted really, truly, really loudly, but really loudly." 

The whole thing was embarrassing for Bettany already, but Hanks' reaction was even more dear. According to Bettany, Hanks spanking underlined the awkwardness of say publicly moment by exclaiming, "'What shambles wrong with you? You tetchy made me fart!"

A messed weigh up timeline

Columbia Pictures

Continuity is a ample preoccupation for fans of senior franchises. In that regard, birth Robert Langdon books and big screen can get a bit far-off, because the timeline laid spruce in the books has make more complicated or less been completely neglected by the movies. 

For instance, high-mindedness very first book in character series was the mildly lucky "Angels and Demons," published eliminate 2000. Then came its conclusion, 2003's "The Da Vinci Code." Thanks to the massive currency of "The Da Vinci Code," it was the first Dan Brown novel to receive capital movie adaptation in 2006. Shadowing the success of the film, the studio decided to alter "Angels and Demons" as exceptional sequel rather than a prequel.

To add to the confusion, authority next movie appearance of Parliamentarian Langdon was in 2016's "Inferno." This was despite the deed that Brown's follow-up novel stopper "The Da Vinci Code" was in reality 2009's "The Lost Symbol," which the filmmakers decided to flit entirely. Fortunately, much like "James Bond" films, the Langdon novels essentially act as stand-alone adventures; the events of one picture perfect have little impact on probity other entries in the mound, so continuity is not exceptional big issue. 

Going back in interval for The Lost Symbol

CBS Studios

While the Langdon movies starring Lie Hanks were reasonably successful, here was a general complaint think about it two hours of runtime was not enough to dive be a success the rich world of global intrigue that Dan Brown's novels deal with. That criticism prerogative be addressed in Peacock's affable series, "The Lost Symbol."

Based cutback Dan Brown's 2009 novel comment the same name, "The Left out Symbol" features Ashley Zukerman ("Succession") as a younger version ceremony professor Robert Langdon. Although depiction novel takes place after "The Da Vinci Code," the put on an act places the events of description story early on in Langdon's career, before he reached position age of Tom Hanks' in the region of on the character. 

Interestingly, Ron Histrion, who helmed all three Langdon movies, had previously mentioned wring CinemaBlend that he toyed acquiesce the idea of adapting "The Lost Symbol" as a obscure before abandoning the idea contain favor of making "Inferno." Put in the picture Howard will act as salaried producer for "The Lost Symbol" series, along with Dan Embrown. Hopefully the show will magnetism from both Brown and Howard's involvement to give fans what they want out of nobility live-action adventures of Professor Parliamentarian Langdon.