Brad Pitt, born on December 18, 1963, is a famous American actor and film producer. He has won many awards, including two Academy Awards, two Golden Globe Awards, two BAFTA Awards, and a Primetime Emmy Award. Pitt is one of the most famous stars in Hollywood. He was listed in Forbes’ Celebrity 100 list from 2006 to 2008 and in Time’s 100 list in 2007. By 2025, his movies have earned over $6.9 billion worldwide.
Pitt became well-known for playing a hitchhiking cowboy in Thelma & Louise (1991). He went on to star in movies like A River Runs Through It (1992), Legends of the Fall (1994), Interview with the Vampire (1994), Seven (1995), and Fight Club (1999). He gained even more fame with films like Ocean’s Eleven (2001) and its sequels. Pitt starred in big hits such as Troy (2004), Mr. & Mrs. Smith (2005), World War Z (2013), and Bullet Train (2022).
Pitt won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role as a stuntman in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood (2019). He was also nominated for awards for his roles in 12 Monkeys (1995), The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008), and Moneyball (2011). He starred in other notable films like Babel (2006), The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford (2007), Burn After Reading (2008), Inglourious Basterds (2009), The Tree of Life (2011), and The Big Short (2015).
In 2001, Pitt helped create the production company Plan B Entertainment. He produced 12 Years a Slave (2013), which won the Academy Award for Best Picture, and was also nominated for the same award for Moneyball (2011) and The Big Short (2015). He was named People’s Sexiest Man Alive in 1995 and 2000.
Early life of Brad Pitt
Brad Pitt, whose full name is William Bradley Pitt, was born on December 18, 1963, in Shawnee, Oklahoma. His father, William Alvin Pitt, owned a trucking company, and his mother, Jane Etta (née Hillhouse), worked as a school counselor. The family soon moved to Springfield, Missouri, where Brad grew up with his two younger siblings: Douglas Pitt (born in 1966) and Julie Pitt Neal (born in 1969).
Raised in a conservative Christian household, Brad was brought up as a Southern Baptist but later explored different beliefs, moving between agnosticism and atheism before ultimately finding his own spirituality. He has described Springfield as a place full of “hills and lakes” and called it “Mark Twain country” and “Jesse James country.”
Brad attended Kickapoo High School, where he was active in sports, playing golf, swimming, and tennis. He also participated in the Key Club, Forensics Club, school debates, and musicals.
After graduating from high school, Brad went to the University of Missouri in 1982, majoring in journalism with a focus on advertising. As his graduation neared, Brad realized he wasn’t ready to settle into a traditional career. His love for films inspired him to move to a place where movies were made. Two weeks before finishing his degree, Brad left the university and moved to Los Angeles to pursue acting. He took acting lessons and worked various odd jobs. Brad has often mentioned that his early acting heroes included Gary Oldman, Sean Penn, and Mickey Rourke.
The career of Brad Pitt
Brad Pitt is a renowned actor and producer known for his versatile performances and critically acclaimed films.
Early Work (1987–1993)
Brad Pitt moved to Los Angeles to pursue acting and studied under coach Roy London. His career began in 1987 with small, uncredited roles in No Way Out, No Man’s Land, and Less than Zero. That same year, he appeared in two episodes of the NBC soap opera Another World. He also had guest roles on Trial and Error, Growing Pains, and Dallas.
In 1988, Pitt appeared on the TV show 21 Jump Street. He also starred in his first leading film role in The Dark Side of the Sun, but the film was delayed due to the war in Yugoslavia and wasn’t released until 1997. In 1989, he had supporting roles in the comedy Happy Together and the horror film Cutting Class, which was his first movie to hit theaters.
Pitt also made appearances on shows like Head of the Class, Freddy’s Nightmares, Thirtysomething, and Growing Pains. He played a drug addict in the 1990 TV movie Too Young to Die?, which earned praise for his performance. That year, he co-starred in the TV show Glory Days and took a role in the HBO film The Image.
In 1991, Pitt gained wider attention with his role in Thelma & Louise, where he played a small-time criminal named J.D. His performance, especially a famous love scene, made him a sex symbol. After that, he starred in Johnny Suede and Cool World, but neither film was a success.
In 1992, Pitt starred in A River Runs Through It, directed by Robert Redford. His performance as Paul Maclean earned him critical praise and helped shape his career. He later said it was a pressure-filled role but felt lucky to work with talented people.
In 1993, Pitt starred in California, playing a serial killer named Early Grayce. His performance was praised for being both charming and menacing. He also had a memorable cameo as a stoner in True Romance. That year, he won a ShoWest Award for Male Star of Tomorrow.
Breakthrough (1994–1998)
In 1994, Brad Pitt played the Vampire Louis in Interview with the Vampire: The Vampire Chronicles. Despite being part of a star-studded cast, his performance received mixed reviews. Critics felt he didn’t show enough depth in his role.
Later, in 1994, Pitt starred in Legends of the Fall, playing Tristan Ludlow. His performance earned him a Golden Globe nomination, and critics praised his acting, though the film’s reception was mixed.
In 1995, Pitt starred in Seven, a crime thriller with Morgan Freeman. He played a detective hunting a serial killer. His performance was well-received, and the film made $327 million worldwide. That same year, Pitt took on a role in 12 Monkeys, playing the anarchist Jeffrey Goines. His performance earned him a Golden Globe Award and an Academy Award nomination.
In 1996, he appeared in Sleepers, but the film had mixed reviews. In The Devil’s Own (1997), Pitt played an Irish terrorist. Critics were divided on his Irish accent, but the film was a commercial success, grossing $140 million.
Later, in 1997, he starred in Seven Years in Tibet, playing an Austrian mountaineer. He trained for months for the role. In 1998, Pitt played Death in Meet Joe Black. The film received mixed reviews, and critics felt Pitt’s performance didn’t quite capture the essence of death.
Rise to Prominence (1999–2003)
In 1999, Brad Pitt played Tyler Durden in Fight Club, a film based on Chuck Palahniuk’s novel. He trained in boxing, taekwondo, and grappling for the role. He even had part of his front teeth removed for the character. The film received mixed reviews, but Pitt’s performance was praised. Fight Club later became a cult classic after its DVD release.
In 2000, Pitt starred in Snatch, a gangster film where he played an Irish boxer with a hard-to-understand accent. Critics were divided, but most praised Pitt’s performance.
In 2001, Pitt starred with Julia Roberts in the romantic comedy The Mexican, which was successful at the box office. He also appeared in the Cold War thriller Spy Game, which did well financially, though some felt the emotional connection was lacking.
That same year, Pitt made a guest appearance on the TV show Friends, playing a man who hated Rachel (played by his real-life wife, Jennifer Aniston). He earned an Emmy nomination for this role.
In December 2001, Pitt played Rusty Ryan in the heist film Ocean’s Eleven, which was a huge success, earning $450 million worldwide.
In 2002, Pitt appeared on MTV’s Jackass and in George Clooney’s Confessions of a Dangerous Mind. In 2003, he voiced the lead character in Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas and also voiced a character in King of the Hill.
Worldwide Recognition (2004–2008)
In 2004, Brad Pitt played Achilles in Troy and returned as Rusty Ryan in Ocean’s Twelve. He trained for six months for Troy but had a tendon injury that delayed filming. Troy was the first film from Pitt’s production company, Plan B Entertainment. Ocean’s Twelve made $362 million worldwide.
In 2005, Pitt starred in Mr. & Mrs. Smith, an action comedy about a married couple who are secretly assassins. The movie was a huge success, grossing $478 million. The chemistry between Pitt and Angelina Jolie was praised.
In 2006, Pitt appeared in Babel, which earned him critical praise for his performance. The film won the Golden Globe for Best Drama, and Pitt was nominated for Best Supporting Actor. Pitt’s company also produced The Departed, which won the Best Picture Oscar.
Pitt returned for Ocean’s Thirteen in 2007, which earned $311 million worldwide. He also played Jesse James in The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford. His performance won the Volpi Cup for Best Actor at the Venice Film Festival.
In 2008, Pitt starred in Burn After Reading, which received good reviews. He also played Benjamin Button in The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, which earned him multiple nominations, including a Golden Globe and an Academy Award for Best Actor. The film grossed $329 million worldwide.
Established Actor (2009–Present)
In 2009, Brad Pitt starred in Inglourious Basterds as Lt. Aldo Raine. The film was a hit, earning $311 million. He voiced Metro Man in Megamind (2010) and starred in The Tree of Life, which won the Palme d’Or at Cannes. He also appeared in Moneyball (2011), earning Oscar nominations for Best Actor.
In 2012, Pitt played Jackie Cogan in Killing Them Softly. He starred in World War Z (2013), which grossed $540 million worldwide, making it his highest-grossing film. He also produced 12 Years a Slave, which won Best Picture at the Oscars.
In 2014, Pitt starred in Fury, a World War II film, which grossed $211 million. He appeared in By the Sea with Angelina Jolie in 2015, followed by The Big Short, which earned five Oscar nominations. In 2016, Pitt starred in Allied and in 2017, he featured in War Machine and starred in The Jim Jefferies Show.
Pitt’s role as Cliff Booth in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood (2019) won him multiple awards, including an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. He also starred in Ad Astra (2019). In 2021, Pitt entered the music business and opened Miraval Studios. He starred in Bullet Train (2022) and Babylon (2022). A racing film titled F1 is also in the works.
Acting Credits and Accolades
Brad Pitt has won many awards in his career. These include two Academy Awards, two BAFTA Awards, two Golden Globe Awards, a Primetime Emmy, and two Screen Actors Guild Awards.
He has been recognized by the Academy for these performances:
- 1995: Nominated for Best Supporting Actor for 12 Monkeys.
- 2008: Nominated for Best Actor for The Curious Case of Benjamin Button.
- 2011: Nominated for Best Actor for Moneyball.
- 2019: Won Best Supporting Actor for Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.
Philanthropy and Activism
Brad Pitt has supported many causes throughout his career. In 2004, he encouraged students to vote for John Kerry in the U.S. presidential election. He also supported stem-cell research and backed California’s Proposition 71 to fund it.
Pitt is a supporter of the One Campaign, which works to fight AIDS and poverty in developing countries. He narrated the 2005 PBS series Rx for Survival on global health issues. He has visited Haiti and supported Yéle Haïti, a charity by Wyclef Jean. He and Angelina Jolie donated $1 million to organizations helping Darfur victims in 2007.
In 2006, Pitt founded the Make It Right Foundation to help rebuild New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina. The project built 150 sustainable homes with the help of architects and donations. He met President Obama in 2009 to promote green housing.
Pitt and Jolie created the Jolie-Pitt Foundation in 2006. The foundation has donated millions to charities like Global Action for Children, Doctors Without Borders, and more. In 2010, they gave $1 million for earthquake relief in Haiti.
Pitt has been a strong supporter of same-sex marriage. He donated to campaigns against Proposition 8 in California and supported President Obama’s campaigns. In 2020, he narrated an ad for Joe Biden’s presidential Campaign.
Personal life
Brad Pitt’s personal life includes high-profile relationships, marriages to Jennifer Aniston and Angelina Jolie, and fatherhood to six children.
Relationships and Marriages
Brad Pitt has had several high-profile relationships. In the 1990s, he dated co-stars like Robin Givens and Gwyneth Paltrow. He married actress Jennifer Aniston in 2000, but they separated in 2005, and their divorce was finalized later that year.
Pitt’s relationship with Angelina Jolie began while filming Mr. & Mrs. Smith. They were together for seven years before getting engaged in 2012. They married in 2014 but separated in 2016. Their divorce was finalized in 2019 after a lengthy legal battle, mainly about child custody.
In 2022, Pitt started dating jewelry designer Ines de Ramon.
Children
Pitt and Jolie have six children. They adopted Zahara in 2005 and Maddox in 2006. Their biological daughter, Shiloh, was born in 2006 in Namibia. The couple later adopted Pax from Vietnam in 2007, and they had twins, Knox and Vivienne, in 2008.
Pitt and Jolie sold their children’s first photos for charity, raising millions. Their custody battle over the children started after their divorce in 2016, with Jolie initially having full custody. By 2021, Pitt was granted joint custody.
Other Matters
Pitt faced abuse allegations in 2016, but the investigations were closed without charges. He has also struggled with addiction and has been sober since 2016, crediting support from fellow actor Bradley Cooper.
Pitt has shown an interest in art and has exhibited sculptures in Finland. He also suffers from prosopagnosia (face blindness).
Public Image
Brad Pitt is often called one of the most attractive actors ever. He was named People’s Sexiest Man Alive twice, in 1995 and 2000. He has also been listed among the world’s most powerful celebrities by Forbes and was included in Time‘s list of the 100 most influential people in the world in 2007 and 2009. As of 2025, his films have earned over $6.9 billion worldwide.
Pitt’s relationship with Angelina Jolie, known as “Brangelina,” became one of the most followed celebrity stories. Their relationship and their children were constantly covered by the media. When Jolie was pregnant, the press closely followed every detail. The couple even flew to Namibia to avoid the paparazzi during the birth of their daughter in 2006.
Pitt and Jolie were also the most popular celebrity endorsers in a 2006 global survey. He has appeared in several TV commercials, including ads for Heineken, Acura, and SoftBank. He starred in a 2005 Super Bowl ad directed by David Fincher, his director in Seven and Fight Club.
In 2015, a minor planet was named Brad Pitt in his honor.
References
- “Encyclopædia Britannica“. Archived from the original on July 10, 2022. Retrieved July 25, 2022.
- “Win for Angelina Jolie as court disqualified judge in Brad Pitt divorce case.” The Guardian. Associated Press. July 23, 2021. Archived from the original on April 11, 2022. Retrieved July 25, 2021.
- “Oscar Movies Brad Pitt Has Produced Over the Years – from Minari to Moonlight.” People. Archived from the original on July 2, 2022. Retrieved July 2, 2022.
- Bunbury, Stephanie (December 14, 2008). “The business of being Brad”. Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on June 3, 2009. Retrieved May 13, 2009.
- Galloway, Stephen (January 25, 2012). “The Many Revolutions of Brad Pitt”. The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on February 15, 2014. Retrieved February 7, 2014.
