Brad Pitt Biography
Brad Pitt is an American actor and film producer whose career spans more than three decades. Born William Bradley Pitt on December 18, 1963, in Shawnee, Oklahoma, Pitt was raised in Springfield, Missouri. He attended the University of Missouri, where he studied journalism with a focus on advertising, but left shortly before completing his degree to pursue acting in Los Angeles.
Pitt initially appeared in television roles before gaining widespread attention as the charismatic cowboy hitchhiker J.D. in Ridley Scott’s Thelma & Louise (1991). The performance helped establish him as a rising Hollywood star.
He followed that breakthrough with major roles in films including A River Runs Through It, Legends of the Fall, Interview with the Vampire, Se7en, 12 Monkeys and Fight Club. His career subsequently expanded into action films, comedies, historical dramas, science fiction and prestige projects.
Beyond acting, Pitt became an established producer through Plan B Entertainment, the production company he co-founded. His producing credits include acclaimed films such as The Departed, 12 Years a Slave, Moonlight and Women Talking.
Early Career
Brad Pitt began his professional acting career with television appearances during the late 1980s. His early credits included guest roles on shows such as Dallas, 21 Jump Street and Growing Pains.
His supporting appearance in Thelma & Louise became the breakthrough that introduced him to a much wider audience. Pitt’s role as J.D. was relatively brief, but his performance attracted substantial attention and led to increasingly prominent film opportunities.
Hollywood Breakthrough
Following Thelma & Louise, Pitt took leading roles in films such as A River Runs Through It (1992) and Legends of the Fall (1994).
In 1994, he starred alongside Tom Cruise in Interview with the Vampire. The same period also saw Pitt appear in Legends of the Fall, establishing him as one of Hollywood’s most recognizable leading actors.
His role as Jeffrey Goines in Terry Gilliam’s 12 Monkeys (1995) earned him his first Academy Award nomination and a Golden Globe win for Best Supporting Actor.
Brad Pitt Movies
Brad Pitt’s filmography includes some of the most recognizable movies of the 1990s, 2000s, 2010s and 2020s.
Notable Brad Pitt Movies
- Thelma & Louise (1991) — Pitt’s breakthrough film role as J.D.
- A River Runs Through It (1992) — Pitt played Paul Maclean in Robert Redford’s drama.
- Legends of the Fall (1994) — Pitt starred as Tristan Ludlow.
- Interview with the Vampire (1994) — Pitt played Louis de Pointe du Lac opposite Tom Cruise.
- Se7en (1995) — Pitt played Detective David Mills alongside Morgan Freeman.
- 12 Monkeys (1995) — His performance as Jeffrey Goines earned an Academy Award nomination.
- Fight Club (1999) — Pitt played Tyler Durden in David Fincher’s cult classic.
- Snatch (2000) — Pitt played the memorable bare-knuckle fighter Mickey O’Neil.
- Ocean’s Eleven (2001) — Pitt played Rusty Ryan alongside George Clooney.
- Troy (2004) — Pitt portrayed the legendary Greek warrior Achilles.
- Mr. & Mrs. Smith (2005) — Pitt starred opposite Angelina Jolie.
- The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008) — Pitt received an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor.
- Inglourious Basterds (2009) — Pitt played Lieutenant Aldo Raine.
- Moneyball (2011) — Pitt portrayed baseball executive Billy Beane and earned an Oscar nomination.
- World War Z (2013) — Pitt starred as Gerry Lane.
- Fury (2014) — Pitt played tank commander Don “Wardaddy” Collier.
- Once Upon a Time in Hollywood (2019) — Pitt played stuntman Cliff Booth and won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor.
- Bullet Train (2022) — Pitt starred as the assassin known as Ladybug.
- Babylon (2022) — Pitt played silent-film star Jack Conrad.
- F1 (2025) — Pitt played veteran Formula One driver Sonny Hayes.
Brad Pitt in Fight Club
Fight Club (1999), directed by David Fincher and based on Chuck Palahniuk’s novel, became one of Pitt’s most recognizable films.
Pitt played Tyler Durden, an enigmatic character who becomes central to the narrator’s increasingly complicated life. The film also starred Edward Norton and Helena Bonham Carter.
Although its initial theatrical performance was modest compared with later cultural attention, Fight Club developed a major following over time and became an influential film of the late 1990s.
Brad Pitt in Ocean’s Eleven
Pitt played Rusty Ryan in Steven Soderbergh’s Ocean’s Eleven (2001), appearing alongside George Clooney, Matt Damon, Julia Roberts and Don Cheadle.
The film became a major commercial success and was followed by Ocean’s Twelve (2004) and Ocean’s Thirteen (2007), with Pitt returning as Rusty in both sequels.
Pitt is currently attached to the upcoming Ocean’s 14, with IMDb listing the project as being in pre-production and Pitt reprising Rusty Ryan.
Brad Pitt in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood
In Quentin Tarantino’s Once Upon a Time in Hollywood (2019), Pitt played stuntman Cliff Booth opposite Leonardo DiCaprio’s Rick Dalton.
The performance earned Pitt his first Academy Award for acting. He won Best Supporting Actor at the 2020 Academy Awards.
The role also became the basis for an upcoming continuation of the character, The Further Mis-Adventures of Cliff Booth.
Brad Pitt in F1
Brad Pitt starred as veteran Formula One driver Sonny Hayes in F1, directed by Joseph Kosinski.
The film was released in 2025 and was produced by Jerry Bruckheimer, Joseph Kosinski, Lewis Hamilton, Brad Pitt and others. Apple identifies Pitt as both a cast member and producer of the film.
F1 follows Sonny Hayes, a former racing phenom who returns to Formula One decades after an accident ended his competitive career. He joins a struggling team and becomes teammates with rookie driver Joshua Pearce, played by Damson Idris.
The film became a major commercial success, and discussions about a possible sequel followed.
Brad Pitt as a Producer
Brad Pitt is also a prominent Hollywood producer. Through Plan B Entertainment, he has been involved with numerous acclaimed film projects.
Among the company’s notable films are The Departed, which won Best Picture at the Academy Awards, 12 Years a Slave, which also won Best Picture, and <e