Brad Pitt
Sagittarius
62 years old
Who Is Brad Pitt?
William Bradley Pitt, known to the world as Brad Pitt, is one of the most celebrated actors in Hollywood history. He was born on December 18, 1963, in Shawnee, Oklahoma. He is an American actor, film producer, and cultural icon whose career has spanned more than three decades.
His films are bold. They are unforgettable. They have collectively grossed over $7.5 billion at the worldwide box office.
Pitt has received numerous accolades, including two Academy Awards, two British Academy Film Awards, two Golden Globe Awards, two Primetime Emmy Awards, and one Volpi Cup. Furthermore, in 2001, Pitt co-founded the production company Plan B Entertainment. As a result, he has built a parallel legacy behind the camera that is just as impressive as his work in front of it.
Today, Brad Pitt remains one of Hollywood’s most bankable and beloved stars.
Early Life: Oklahoma Roots and a Missouri Upbringing
Birth and Family Background
William Bradley Pitt was born on December 18, 1963, in Shawnee, Oklahoma, to William Alvin Pitt, the proprietor of a trucking company, and Jane Etta (née Hillhouse; 1940–2025), a school counselor. The family soon moved to Springfield, Missouri, where he lived together with his younger siblings, Doug Pitt (born 1966) and Julie Neal (née Pitt) (born 1969).
Springfield was a quiet, conservative city. It was a long way from Hollywood. However, it was exactly the kind of place that would shape a man with big ambitions and an even bigger work ethic.
School Days: Sports, Debates, and the Stage
At Kickapoo High School, he was involved in sports, debating, student government, and school musicals. These early experiences gave him confidence. They gave him a stage presence. Most importantly, they gave him a taste for performance that he would never shake.
University and the Road to California
Pitt attended the University of Missouri, where he majored in journalism with a focus on advertising. He occasionally acted in fraternity shows. He left college two credits short of graduating to move to California.
It was a bold decision. It was also the right one.
The Odd Jobs That Came Before Fame
Before the Oscars and the blockbusters, there were refrigerators and chicken suits. Before he became successful at acting, Pitt supported himself by driving strippers in limos, moving refrigerators, and dressing as a giant chicken while working for El Pollo Loco.
These stories are now legendary. However, they are also a reminder that every icon starts somewhere.
Career: Three Decades of Defining Hollywood
The Early Days: TV and Bit Parts (1987–1990)
His acting career began at age 23 in 1987 with roles in the hit Fox television series 21 Jump Street. He subsequently appeared in episodes for television shows during the late 1980s.
The work was small. The roles were minor. But each one sharpened his craft. Therefore, when his big break came, he was ready.
The Breakthrough: Thelma & Louise (1991)
Pitt gained widespread attention with a small part in Thelma & Louise (1991), in which he played a sexy criminal who romanced and conned Geena Davis.
That one scene changed everything. It introduced him to the world. It launched a star.
Rising Star: A River Runs Through It to Se7en (1992–1995)
After Thelma & Louise, the roles got bigger. They also got better.
Pitt emerged as a star, taking on leading roles in films such as the drama A River Runs Through It (1992), the western Legends of the Fall (1994), the horror film Interview with the Vampire (1994), the crime thriller Seven (1995), the cult film Fight Club (1999), and the crime comedy Snatch (2000).
Each of these films was different. Each one proved that Brad Pitt was not simply a pretty face. He was a genuinely versatile actor.
Moreover, Pitt was named People’s Sexiest Man Alive in 1995 and 2000. He became a cultural phenomenon. He was everywhere.
The Golden Age: Ocean’s Trilogy, Troy, and Mr. & Mrs. Smith (2001–2007)
The 2000s cemented his leading man status completely. He cemented his leading man status by starring in blockbusters such as Steven Soderbergh’s Ocean’s film trilogy (2001–2007), Troy (2004), Mr. & Mrs. Smith (2005), World War Z (2013), Bullet Train (2022), and F1 (2025).
These films were enormous commercial successes. They were also enormous cultural moments. The Ocean’s franchise, in particular, reminded audiences that Pitt had a rare and special gift for effortless cool.
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button and Critical Acclaim (2008–2013)
Pitt’s portrayal of the eponymous man who ages in reverse in the drama The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008) earned him an Academy Award for Best Actor nomination.
He did not win that year. However, the recognition confirmed that he was one of the finest actors of his generation. Additionally, he starred in the successful war film Inglourious Basterds (2009), and in 2011, he earned critical acclaim for producing and starring in two films: the experimental drama The Tree of Life and the biopic sports drama Moneyball both of which were nominated for the Academy Award for Best Picture.
Plan B Entertainment: A Producer’s Legacy
Behind the camera, Pitt was equally ambitious. In addition to acting, Pitt co-founded a production company in 2001 with his then-wife Jennifer Aniston and then-manager Brad Grey. Plan B Entertainment has produced many successful and award-winning movies such as The Departed (2006), 12 Years a Slave (2013), Women Talking (2022), and Wolfs (2024).
Furthermore, 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).
Once Upon a Time in Hollywood: An Oscar Win (2019)
In 2019, Pitt starred in Quentin Tarantino’s comedy-drama Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. He won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor, the AACTA International Award for Best Supporting Actor, the Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor Motion Picture, and the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture.
It was a long-awaited acting Oscar. It was also a deeply deserved one.
Bullet Train, Babylon, and Wolfs (2022–2024)
In 2022, Pitt starred in Bullet Train, directed by David Leitch, and reunited with his Once Upon a Time in Hollywood co-star Margot Robbie in Babylon, directed by Damien Chazelle. He reteamed with George Clooney in Wolfs, a comedy-thriller written and directed by Jon Watts, which was released in September 2024.
Wolfs first premiered at the 2024 Venice Film Festival, where it received a 5-minute ovation. It was yet another proof of Pitt’s enduring star power.
Adolescence Emmy Win and Producing Excellence (2025)
In 2025, as executive producer, Brad Pitt won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series for the Netflix series Adolescence. The win added yet another prestigious accolade to one of the most decorated careers in modern entertainment history.
F1: The Movie His Biggest Hit Ever (2025)
In 2025, Pitt produced and starred in the Formula One racing film F1, directed by Joseph Kosinski, for which he earned $30 million.
The film was a phenomenon. F1 became Brad Pitt’s highest-grossing movie ever. Moreover, it also became Apple’s top-earning film so far.
At 62 years old, Brad Pitt was still breaking records. He was still proving every skeptic wrong.
What’s Next: The Riders, Ocean’s 14, and More (2026–)
Brad Pitt shows no signs of slowing down. Upcoming projects include The Riders, The Adventures of Cliff Booth, and Ocean’s 14.
Additionally, Pitt has also announced plans to produce both a movie and a docuseries about the Isle of Man TT motorcycle race.
Awards and Accolades: A Decorated Career
| Award | Category | Film / Work | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Academy Award | Best Supporting Actor | Once Upon a Time in Hollywood | 2020 |
| Academy Award | Best Picture (Producer) | 12 Years a Slave | 2014 |
| Golden Globe | Best Supporting Actor | Once Upon a Time in Hollywood | 2020 |
| Golden Globe | Best Supporting Actor | 12 Monkeys | 1996 |
| Primetime Emmy | Outstanding Limited Series (Producer) | Adolescence | 2025 |
| BAFTA | Best Supporting Actor | Once Upon a Time in Hollywood | 2020 |
| Volpi Cup | Best Actor | Ad Astra | 2019 |
| People’s Sexiest Man Alive | 1995, 2000 | ||
| Time 100 | 2007 |
Selected Filmography
| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | Thelma & Louise | J.D. | Breakthrough role |
| 1992 | A River Runs Through It | Paul Maclean | Star-making performance |
| 1994 | Interview with the Vampire | Louis de Pointe du Lac | |
| 1994 | Legends of the Fall | Tristan Ludlow | Golden Globe nomination |
| 1995 | Se7en | Detective Mills | Global phenomenon |
| 1995 | 12 Monkeys | Jeffrey Goines | Golden Globe win |
| 1999 | Fight Club | Tyler Durden | Cult classic |
| 2001 | Ocean’s Eleven | Rusty Ryan | Franchise launch |
| 2004 | Troy | Achilles | Blockbuster |
| 2005 | Mr. & Mrs. Smith | John Smith | |
| 2008 | The Curious Case of Benjamin Button | Benjamin Button | Oscar nomination (Best Actor) |
| 2009 | Inglourious Basterds | Lt. Aldo Raine | |
| 2011 | Moneyball | Billy Beane | Oscar nomination |
| 2013 | 12 Years a Slave | Samuel Bass | Oscar win (Best Picture, Producer) |
| 2019 | Once Upon a Time in Hollywood | Cliff Booth | Oscar win (Best Supporting Actor) |
| 2022 | Bullet Train | Ladybug | |
| 2024 | Wolfs | Pam’s Man | With George Clooney |
| 2025 | F1 | Sonny Hayes | Highest-grossing film of his career |
Personal Life: Love, Marriage, and Family
Marriage to Jennifer Aniston (2000–2005)
Brad Pitt was married to actress Jennifer Aniston from 2000 to 2005. Their marriage was considered one of Hollywood’s golden couples. Their split shocked the world.
Relationship and Marriage to Angelina Jolie (2005–2024)
He subsequently was in a relationship with actress Angelina Jolie, and the couple wed in 2014 and split in 2016. Their divorce was finalized in 2024.
In 2006, Pitt adopted Jolie’s two children, Maddox and Zahara, whom she had adopted from Cambodia and Ethiopia, respectively. The couple had their first biological child, Shiloh, in May 2006. The next year they adopted a boy, Pax, from Vietnam, and in 2008 they added biological twins, Knox and Vivienne, to their family.
Together they share six children. Their family captured the world’s attention for nearly two decades.
When asked about the finalized divorce in GQ in 2025, Pitt kept it characteristically brief: “No, I don’t think it was that major of a thing.”
Ines de Ramon: A New Chapter (2022–Present)
Today, Brad Pitt has found love again. As of July 2026, Pitt and de Ramon have been publicly linked for nearly four years.
In October 2025, a source told People that the couple was “fully living together” and “going really strong.”
The couple appeared together at Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s wedding at Madison Square Garden in New York on July 3, 2026. A week later, on July 10, the pair were photographed watching Spain defeat Belgium 2-1 at the 2026 FIFA World Cup at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, joined by actors Penélope Cruz and Javier Bardem.
The source added that de Ramon is “incredibly close with Brad’s family” and has “built real relationships” with several of Pitt’s relatives.
When asked about their relationship in GQ, Pitt was refreshingly simple: “No, life just evolves. Relationships evolve.”
Business Ventures: Beyond Acting
Plan B Entertainment
Plan B Entertainment has produced many successful and award-winning movies such as The Departed (2006), 12 Years a Slave (2013), Women Talking (2022), and Wolfs (2024). Pitt assumed sole ownership of Plan B in 2005 following his and Aniston’s divorce and sold a major stake in the company in 2022.
Miraval Studios
In 2021, Pitt entered the recording business by creating a company with French record producer Damien Quintard. Set in Pitt’s Château Miraval in the South of France, Miraval Studios reopened in 2022 after two decades of inactivity. The previous version of the studio was one of the most iconic studios in the world, producing the records for Pink Floyd, the Cranberries, AC/DC, Sade, and Muse, among others.
Therefore, Pitt’s business interests extend far beyond the silver screen. He is a genuine entrepreneur and cultural patron.
