Brad Pitt (Part 1)

William Bradley Pitt, born on December 18, 1963, is an American actor and film producer who has received numerous accolades, including two Academy Awards, two British Academy Film Awards, two Golden Globe Awards, and a Primetime Emmy Award. He is recognized as one of the most powerful and influential figures in the American entertainment industry.
Pitt gained early recognition for his role as a cowboy hitchhiker in Ridley Scott's Thelma & Louise (1991). He went on to star in leading roles in notable films such as A River Runs Through It (1992), Legends of the Fall (1994), Interview with the Vampire (1994), Seven (1995), and 12 Monkeys (1995), for which he received his first Academy Award nomination and won a Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor.


In the 2000s, Pitt found commercial success with films like Ocean's Eleven (2001) and its sequels, Troy (2004), Mr. & Mrs. Smith (2005), and World War Z (2013). He also received critical acclaim for his performances in Fight Club (1999), Babel (2006), The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford (2007), and Inglourious Basterds (2009).
As a producer, Pitt co-founded the production company Plan B Entertainment in 2001, which has produced several award-winning films including The Departed (2006), 12 Years a Slave (2013), and Moonlight (2016).
Pitt has been named People's Sexiest Man Alive twice, in 1995 and 2000. His personal life, particularly his marriages to actresses Jennifer Aniston and Angelina Jolie, has been widely covered by the media. He has six children with Jolie, three of whom were adopted internationally.


William Bradley Pitt was born on December 18, 1963, in Shawnee, Oklahoma, to William Alvin Pitt and Jane Etta (née Hillhouse). His father owned a trucking company, and his mother worked as a school counselor. Shortly after his birth, the family relocated to Springfield, Missouri, where Pitt grew up with his younger siblings, Douglas and Julie.
Raised in a conservative Christian household, Pitt was brought up as a Southern Baptist but later found himself questioning his beliefs, oscillating between agnosticism and atheism before eventually finding a reconciliation with spirituality. Springfield, Missouri, where Pitt spent his formative years, is described by him as reminiscent of "Mark Twain country" and "Jesse James country," characterized by hills and lakes.


Pitt attended Kickapoo High School, where he was involved in various extracurricular activities, including golf, swimming, tennis, Key Club, Forensics Club, school debates, and musicals. After graduating from high school, he enrolled at the University of Missouri in 1982, initially majoring in journalism with a focus on advertising. However, Pitt found himself drawn to the world of film, which he saw as a gateway to different realities. Feeling unfulfilled by his academic pursuits, Pitt decided to leave university just shy of completing his degree and moved to Los Angeles to pursue acting.
In Los Angeles, Pitt immersed himself in acting lessons while supporting himself through odd jobs. He has cited actors Gary Oldman, Sean Penn, and Mickey Rourke as early inspirations in his acting career.


While trying to establish himself in Los Angeles, Pitt sought guidance from acting coach Roy London. His acting career officially began in 1987 with uncredited roles in several films, including "No Way Out," "No Man's Land," and "Less than Zero." He also made his television debut in May of the same year with a two-episode appearance on the soap opera "Another World." Throughout 1987 and 1988, Pitt made guest appearances on various television shows, including "Trial and Error," "Growing Pains," and "Dallas."
In 1988, Pitt landed his first leading role in the Yugoslavian–U.S. co-production "The Dark Side of the Sun," although the film wasn't released until 1997 due to the Croatian War of Independence. He also appeared in two motion pictures in 1989, "Happy Together" and "Cutting Class." Throughout the late 1980s and early 1990s, Pitt continued to make guest appearances on television series such as "Head of the Class," "Freddy's Nightmares," and "Thirtysomething."


Pitt's breakthrough came in 1991 when he starred in Ridley Scott's road film "Thelma & Louise" as J.D., a small-time criminal who befriends Thelma. This role earned him wider recognition and established him as a sex symbol, particularly due to his love scene with Geena Davis. Following his success in "Thelma & Louise," Pitt appeared in films like "Johnny Suede" and "Cool World," neither of which significantly advanced his career.
In 1992, Pitt portrayed Paul Maclean in the biographical film "A River Runs Through It," directed by Robert Redford. Despite feeling pressure during the filming process, Pitt's performance in the movie was praised, with critics acknowledging his talent beyond his physical appearance. He then reunited with Juliette Lewis in the 1993 road film "Kalifornia," where he played Early Grayce, a serial killer.
Throughout the early 1990s, Pitt began to gain recognition for his diverse roles and acting abilities, which set the stage for his future success in Hollywood.

References

1.  "Encyclopædia Britannica". Archived from the original on July 10, 2022. Retrieved July 25, 2022.
2. ^ "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. The judge already ruled the pair divorced, but separated the child custody issues." [...] "They were declared divorced in April 2019, after their lawyers asked for a judgment that allowed a married couple to be declared single while other issues remained, including finances and child custody.
3. ^ "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.
4. ^ 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.
5. a b c Chris Mundy (December 1, 1994). "Slippin' around on the road with Brad Pitt". Rolling Stone.
6. ^ Blair, Leonardo (September 30, 2019). "Brad Pitt no longer identifies as atheist, says he was just being 'rebellious'". The Christian Post. Archived from the original on October 4, 2019. Retrieved October 3, 2019.
7. ^ Kaufman, Alexander C. (July 6, 2012). "Brad Pitt's Mother Bashes Obama in Local Paper". The Wrap. Archived from the original on July 7, 2012. Retrieved July 6, 2012.