Brad Pitt
American actor and producer with over $7.5 billion in box office.
William Bradley Pitt was born on December 18, 1963, in Shawnee, Oklahoma, to a trucking company owner and a school counselor. The family soon moved to Springfield, Missouri, where he grew up with a younger brother and sister in a conservative Christian home. Raised Southern Baptist, he later described himself as fluctuating between agnosticism and atheism before eventually coming to believe that people are all connected. In high school, he played golf, swam, and was on the tennis team, also taking part in debate, musicals, and clubs. He studied journalism and advertising at the University of Missouri but left two weeks before finishing his degree to move to Los Angeles, where he studied acting and worked odd jobs. He has named Gary Oldman, Sean Penn, and Mickey Rourke as early inspirations.
His screen career began in 1987 with uncredited film roles and a two-episode stint on the soap opera *Another World*. That year he also appeared on *Growing Pains* and *Dallas*, where he played a boyfriend for several episodes. Over the next few years, he landed guest spots on shows like *21 Jump Street* and *Thirtysomething*, acted in a Pringles commercial, and took his first leading role in *The Dark Side of the Sun*, a film that was not released until 1997 due to the outbreak of war. His first film to reach theaters was the horror *Cutting Class* in 1989. In 1990, he played a menacing drug addict in the TV movie *Too Young to Die?*, and critics noted his scary performance. He also appeared in the short-lived series *Glory Days* and a Levi’s jeans ad.
Wider recognition came in 1991 with his supporting role as a small-time criminal in Ridley Scott’s *Thelma & Louise*. His love scene with Geena Davis was widely cited as the moment that established him as a sex symbol. That same year, he appeared in *Across the Tracks*. Over the next few years, he took on leading roles in *A River Runs Through It*, *Legends of the Fall*, *Interview with the Vampire*, *Seven*, *Fight Club*, and *Snatch*. He then anchored major blockbusters including the *Ocean’s* trilogy, *Troy*, and *Mr. & Mrs. Smith*. Later hits include *Inglourious Basterds*, *World War Z*, *Bullet Train*, and the 2025 film *F1*.
Pitt received Academy Award nominations for his performances in *12 Monkeys*, *The Curious Case of Benjamin Button*, and *Moneyball*. He won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor for playing a stuntman in Quentin Tarantino’s *Once Upon a Time in Hollywood*. He also starred in acclaimed films such as *Babel*, *The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford*, *Burn After Reading*, *The Tree of Life*, *Fury*, *The Big Short*, *Ad Astra*, and *Babylon*.
In 2001, he co-founded the production company Plan B Entertainment. As a producer, he won the Academy Award for Best Picture for *12 Years a Slave* and was nominated for *Moneyball* and *The Big Short*. He appeared on the *Forbes* Celebrity 100 list from 2006 to 2008 and on the *Time* 100 list in 2007. Named *People*’s Sexiest Man Alive in 1995 and again in 2000, his personal life—especially his marriages to Jennifer Aniston and Angelina Jolie—has drawn heavy media attention. His films as a leading actor have earned more than $7.5 billion worldwide.
- born
- December 18, 1963, in Shawnee, Oklahoma
- field
- Actor and film producer
- nationality
- American
- known_for
- Leading roles in films such as Thelma & Louise, Fight Club, Ocean's trilogy, and Once Upon a Time in Hollywood; co-founder of Plan B Entertainment
Lore & Background
Pitt first gained recognition as a cowboy hitchhiker in Ridley Scott's Thelma & Louise (1991). He emerged as a star with leading roles in A River Runs Through It (1992), Legends of the Fall (1994), Interview with the Vampire (1994), Seven (1995), Fight Club (1999), and Snatch (2000). He cemented his leading man status in blockbusters including the Ocean's trilogy (2001–2007), Troy (2004), and Mr. & Mrs. Smith (2005). He earned Academy Award nominations for 12 Monkeys (1995), The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008), and Moneyball (2011), and won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for Once Upon a Time in Hollywood (2019).
Born in Shawnee, Oklahoma, Pitt grew up in Springfield, Missouri, in a conservative Christian household. He attended Kickapoo High School and enrolled at the University of Missouri in 1982, majoring in journalism with a focus on advertising. Two weeks short of completing his degree, he moved to Los Angeles to pursue acting. His early career included uncredited film roles, television guest appearances, and a Pringles commercial. He took acting lessons from Roy London and named Gary Oldman, Sean Penn, and Mickey Rourke as his early acting heroes.
In 2001, Pitt co-founded the production company Plan B Entertainment. As a producer, he won the Academy Award for Best Picture for 12 Years a Slave (2013) and was nominated for Moneyball (2011) and The Big Short (2015). He appeared on Forbes' Celebrity 100 list from 2006 to 2008 and the Time 100 list in 2007. He was named People's Sexiest Man Alive in 1995 and 2000. His marriages to actresses Jennifer Aniston and Angelina Jolie, with whom he shares six children, have been subject to widespread media attention.
Reader's Guide
Brad Pitt's significance lies in his sustained success as both a leading man and a producer over more than three decades. His filmography spans genres from crime thrillers to historical dramas, and his box office gross of over $7.5 billion underscores his commercial appeal. As a producer through Plan B Entertainment, he helped bring critically acclaimed films like 12 Years a Slave to the screen, winning an Academy Award for Best Picture. His influence extended beyond film into popular culture, with multiple appearances on Forbes' Celebrity 100 and Time 100 lists. Pitt's personal life, particularly his high-profile marriages, also kept him in the public eye. His legacy includes a range of acclaimed performances, from his early breakout in Thelma & Louise to his Oscar-winning role in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, and his work as a producer on award-winning films.
Did You Know?
- Pitt left the University of Missouri two weeks short of completing his degree to move to Los Angeles for acting.
- He co-founded the production company Plan B Entertainment in 2001.
- Pitt won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role as a stuntman in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood (2019).
- He was named People's Sexiest Man Alive in 1995 and 2000.
Notable Quotes (Wikiquote)
"William Bradley "Brad" Pitt (born 18 December 1963) is an American actor and film producer." — Brad Pitt "I keep hearing I'm a crazy party guy … I'm not. I'm boring... At least by party standards." — Brad Pitt "I've always paid attention to religion … because I grew up in a religious background, but I've never felt a part of any of them. I think there's something to be drawn from most of them — other than goat sacrificing." — Brad Pitt "Being married means I can break wind and eat ice cream in bed." — Brad Pitt
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