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Biography

Renee Kathleen Zellweger was born on April 25, 1969, in Katy, Texas, a small town outside Houston. The daughter of European parents (her father is Swiss and her mother Norwegian), Renee had an older brother that she greatly admired. As she approached fame, Renee was encouraged to change her name to one that would be more marketable. She refused to do so, as her and her brother were the first Zellwegers born in the United States. After graduating from Katy High School in 1987, where she was a cheerleader, gymnast and member of the drama club, Renee went off to the University of Texas at Austin, where she majored in English. An excellent student (she made the dean's list several times), Renee took a drama class only because she needed a fine arts credit to complete her degree. Prompting her to recall how much she loved acting, Renee's participation turned out to be much more than just a requirement. In 2008 she has been producing a film starring Harry Connick, Jr., about the true story of Dr. Denny Slamon. The film, called Living Proof, premiered in October 2008 on Lifetime Television.