Brad Pitt

Brad Pitt
Harald Krichel · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
Name	Brad Pitt
Birth name	William Bradley Pitt
Birth date	18 December 1963
Birth place	Shawnee, Oklahoma, United States
Alma mater	University of Missouri
Occupation	Actor, producer
Years active	1987–present

Brad Pitt is an American actor and film producer noted for leading roles in both mainstream Hollywood blockbusters and independent films, and for his work as a producer through his company, Plan B Entertainment. With a career spanning from the late 1980s to the present, he has collaborated with directors such as David Fincher, Steven Soderbergh, Quentin Tarantino, Ridley Scott, and Bennett Miller. Pitt's public profile encompasses film work, high-profile relationships, business ventures, and philanthropy connected to projects in New Orleans and Haiti.

Early life and education

Pitt was born William Bradley Pitt in Shawnee, Oklahoma, and raised in Springfield, Missouri near Lake Springfield, the son of Jane Etta (née Hillhouse), a school counselor, and William Alvin Pitt, a truck company owner. He attended Kickapoo High School in Springfield, Missouri and enrolled at the University of Missouri, where he studied journalism and advertising before leaving to pursue an acting career in Los Angeles. During his college years he was a member of the Zeta Theta chapter of Kappa Sigma and worked briefly in modeling and as a paid extra in productions around Hollywood.

Acting career

Pitt began with television guest appearances on series such as Dallas and minor film roles in titles like Less Than Zero and Cutting Class. He rose to prominence with a breakout role in Thelma & Louise directed by Ridley Scott, and continued with leading roles in films including A River Runs Through It (directed by Robert Redford), Legends of the Fall (directed by Edward Zwick), and Interview with the Vampire (adapted from the novel by Anne Rice and directed by Neil Jordan). In the 1990s and 2000s he worked with auteur filmmakers such as David Fincher on Se7en and Fight Club, Steven Soderbergh on Ocean's Eleven and its sequels, and Quentin Tarantino on Inglourious Basterds and later Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. His roles have ranged from period dramas to psychological thrillers and action films, including collaborations with Anthony Minghella, Terry Gilliam, and Alejandro González Iñárritu. More recent acting work includes acclaimed performances in Moneyball (directed by Bennett Miller), 12 Years a Slave (produced by Plan B Entertainment and directed by Steve McQueen), The Big Short (directed by Adam McKay), Ad Astra (directed by James Gray), and Bullet Train (directed by David Leitch). His portrayals have earned nominations and awards from institutions such as the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, the British Academy of Film and Television Arts, the Golden Globe Awards, and the Screen Actors Guild Awards.

Producing and business ventures

Pitt co-founded Plan B Entertainment with partners including Jennifer Aniston (early association), and later with Dede Gardner and Jeremy Kleiner, producing films such as The Departed (directed by Martin Scorsese), 12 Years a Slave, and Moonlight (directed by Barry Jenkins). Plan B's slate expanded into documentaries and international co-productions, collaborating with companies like New Line Cinema, Warner Bros., Paramount Pictures, and Annapurna Pictures. Pitt has invested in business ventures including Miraval (a winery in France) and co-owned production facilities and tech partnerships in Hollywood. He has served as executive producer on television projects for networks and services including HBO and Netflix, and his producing work intersects with producers such as Brad Grey and Scott Rudin.

Personal life

Pitt married actor Jennifer Aniston in a ceremony that attracted global media attention; they later divorced. He subsequently had a high-profile relationship and marriage with actress Angelina Jolie, with whom he has six children; their relationship and later custody proceedings were widely covered in outlets associated with the Entertainment industry. Pitt's family life involved residences in locations including Los Angeles, New Orleans, and Château Miraval in Correns, France, and his personal circle has included collaborators such as Gwyneth Paltrow, George Clooney, and Matt Damon.

Public image and philanthropy

Pitt's public image has been shaped by celebrity coverage, advertising campaigns, humanitarian efforts, and advocacy for reconstruction projects after Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans and relief initiatives in Haiti. He co-founded the Make It Right Foundation aimed at rebuilding low-income housing in the Lower Ninth Ward and partnered with organizations such as Habitat for Humanity and Architects Without Borders. Pitt has engaged with cultural institutions including the Cannes Film Festival and the Academy Awards, and has been involved in environmental and sustainability dialogues connected to his vineyards and film production practices.

Awards and honors

Pitt has received major awards including Academy Award statuettes for producing work and an acting Academy Award for Once Upon a Time in Hollywood; honors also include Golden Globe Awards, BAFTA awards, and recognition from festivals such as Venice Film Festival and Cannes Film Festival. He has been listed in rankings by publications like Time (magazine) and People (magazine) and honored by industry bodies including the Producers Guild of America and the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists.

Category:American film actors Category:American film producers