Brad Pitt | Biography, Movies, & Facts

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<div class="topic-left-rail md-article-drawer position-relative d-flex border-right-sm border-left-sm open"> <div class="drawer d-flex flex-column open"> <div class="left-rail-section-content"> <div class="topic-left-rail-header text-truncate bg-gray-50 position-relative text-right d-flex align-items-center"> <div class="tlr-title px-20 py-15 text-left"> <em class="material-icons text-gray-400 d-lg-none" data-icon="toc"></em> <a class="font-serif font-weight-bold text-black link-blue" href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Brad-Pitt">Brad Pitt</a> </div> <button aria-label="Close" class="js-sections-close-button btn-link btn-sm btn d-lg-none position-absolute top-0 p-10 right-0" > <em class="material-icons font-26" data-icon="close"></em> </button> </div> <div class="section-content pl-10 pr-20 pl-sm-50 pr-sm-60 pl-lg-5 pr-lg-10 pt-10 pt-lg-0 bg-gray-50 clear-catfish-ad"> <div class="toc mb-20"> <div class="font-serif font-14 font-weight-bold mx-15 mb-15 mt-20"> Table of Contents </div> <ul class="list-unstyled my-0" data-level="h1"><li data-target="#ref1"><div class="pl-25"><a class="link-gray-900 w-100" href="/biography/Brad-Pitt">Introduction</a></div><div class="ml-40 toc-drawer sub-toc-drawer"></div></li><li data-target="#ref331350"><div class="d-flex align-items-center"><div class="ml-25"></div><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/biography/Brad-Pitt#ref331350">Early life and work</a></div><div class="ml-40 toc-drawer sub-toc-drawer"></div></li><li data-target="#ref331351"><div class="d-flex align-items-center"><div class="ml-25"></div><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/biography/Brad-Pitt#ref331351"><em>Fight Club</em>, Ocean’s trilogy, and <em>Mr. & Mrs. Smith</em></a></div><div class="ml-40 toc-drawer sub-toc-drawer"></div></li><li data-target="#ref387012"><div class="d-flex align-items-center"><div class="ml-25"></div><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/biography/Brad-Pitt#ref387012"><em>Inglourious Basterds</em> and <em>Moneyball</em></a></div><div class="ml-40 toc-drawer sub-toc-drawer"></div></li><li data-target="#ref387013"><div class="d-flex align-items-center"><div class="ml-25"></div><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/biography/Brad-Pitt#ref387013"><em>Once Upon a Time…in Hollywood</em> and later movies</a></div><div class="ml-40 toc-drawer sub-toc-drawer"></div></li><li data-target="#ref331352"><div class="d-flex align-items-center"><div class="ml-25"></div><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/biography/Brad-Pitt#ref331352">Personal life and humanitarian causes</a></div><div class="ml-40 toc-drawer sub-toc-drawer"></div></li></ul> <a class="toc-extra-link link-gray-900" href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Brad-Pitt/additional-info">References & Edit History</a> <a class="toc-extra-link link-gray-900" href="/facts/Brad-Pitt">Quick Facts & Related Topics</a> </div> <div class="tlr-media-slider pb-10 mb-30"> <a class="section-header link-gray-900 font-serif font-14 font-weight-bold mb-10 mx-10" href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Brad-Pitt/images-videos">Images</a> <div class="slider js-slider position-relative d-inline-flex align-items-center mw-100 "> <div class="slider-container js-slider-container overflow-hidden d-flex overflow-hidden text-nowrap ml-15"> <a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/57/262757-050-C31FBA0D/actor-brad-pitt-attends-the-81st-venice-international-film-festival-palazzo-del-cinema-september-1-2024-venice-italy.jpg" data-href="/media/1/1264512/316736" class="media-overlay-link d-inline-block mr-5"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/57/262757-004-DB62AFF5/actor-brad-pitt-attends-the-81st-venice-international-film-festival-palazzo-del-cinema-september-1-2024-venice-italy.jpg" alt="Brad Pitt" height="50" /> </a> <a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/48/182848-004-77907729/Tom-Cruise-Brad-Pitt-Interview-with-the.jpg" data-href="/media/1/1264512/207468" class="media-overlay-link d-inline-block mr-5"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/48/182848-004-77907729/Tom-Cruise-Brad-Pitt-Interview-with-the.jpg" alt="Interview with the Vampire" height="50" /> </a> <a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/62/256962-050-472B6535/actor-brad-pitt-film-fight-club.jpg" data-href="/media/1/1264512/303077" class="media-overlay-link d-inline-block mr-5"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/62/256962-004-416E7971/actor-brad-pitt-film-fight-club.jpg" alt="Fight Club" height="50" /> </a> <a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/56/137456-050-D9F69DFF/Brad-Pitt-Inglourious-Basterds.jpg" data-href="/media/1/1264512/139982" class="media-overlay-link d-inline-block mr-5"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/56/137456-004-03AF34DE/Brad-Pitt-Inglourious-Basterds.jpg" alt="Brad Pitt in Inglourious Basterds" height="50" /> </a> <a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/62/137462-050-5836D4CF/Brad-Pitt-set-Inglourious-Basterds.jpg" data-href="/media/1/1264512/140003" class="media-overlay-link d-inline-block mr-5"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/62/137462-004-B3D95919/Brad-Pitt-set-Inglourious-Basterds.jpg" alt="Inglourious Basterds" height="50" /> </a> <a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/61/137461-050-BB6C5D80/Brad-Pitt-2008.jpg" data-href="/media/1/1264512/140002" class="media-overlay-link d-inline-block mr-5"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/61/137461-004-5E4C7C4C/Brad-Pitt-2008.jpg" alt="Brad Pitt" height="50" /> </a> <a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/89/215089-050-F554BF8E/Movie-still-Leonardo-DiCaprio-Brad-Pitt-Once-Upon-a-Time-In-Hollywood-2019.jpg" data-href="/media/1/1264512/256703" class="media-overlay-link d-inline-block mr-5"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/89/215089-004-252F1C4A/Movie-still-Leonardo-DiCaprio-Brad-Pitt-Once-Upon-a-Time-In-Hollywood-2019.jpg" alt="Once Upon a Time…in Hollywood" height="50" /> </a> <a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/35/261735-050-45A429B2/publicity-still-of-2019-film-one-upon-a-time-in-hollywood-starring-margaret-qualley.jpg" data-href="/media/1/1264512/315177" class="media-overlay-link d-inline-block mr-5"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/35/261735-004-84F557AC/publicity-still-of-2019-film-one-upon-a-time-in-hollywood-starring-margaret-qualley.jpg" alt="Once Upon a Time…in Hollywood" height="50" /> </a> <a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/19/97119-050-6E255656/People-issue-parents-cover-photo-jump-magazine-June-19.jpg" data-href="/media/1/1264512/113844" class="media-overlay-link d-inline-block mr-5"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/19/97119-004-CA48D618/People-issue-parents-cover-photo-jump-magazine-June-19.jpg" alt="Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt on the cover of People magazine with their new daughter, Shiloh" height="50" /> </a> <a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/64/213264-050-F496819B/Movie-still-Brad-Pitt-Jessica-Chastain-Tree-of-Life-2011.jpg" data-href="/media/1/1264512/243372" class="media-overlay-link d-inline-block mr-5"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/64/213264-004-81B9F692/Movie-still-Brad-Pitt-Jessica-Chastain-Tree-of-Life-2011.jpg" alt="The Tree of Life" height="50" /> </a> </div> <button disabled class="prev-button js-prev-button position-absolute btn btn-circle shadow btn-blue " aria-label="Previous"> <span class="material-icons md-24" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_left"></span> </button> <button disabled class="next-button js-next-button position-absolute btn btn-circle shadow btn-blue " aria-label="Next"> <span class="material-icons md-24" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_right"></span> </button> </div> </div> <div class="mb-30 tlr-student-links"> <div class="text-gray-900 p-5 font-serif font-14 font-weight-bold mx-10 mb-10"> For Students </div> <div 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They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors.</div> </a> <div data-popper-arrow></div> </div> <span class="btn btn-link editor-link p-0 qa-byline-link gtm-byline font-12 byline-contributor text-decoration-underline"> The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica</span></div> <div class="last-updated font-12 font-serif"> <span class="text-gray-700"> Last Updated: <time datetime="2025-02-23T00:00:00CST" >Feb 23, 2025</time> •</span> <a class="byline-edit-history" href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Brad-Pitt/additional-info#history" rel="nofollow">Article History</a> </div></div> </div> <button class="d-flex d-lg-none btn btn-outline-blue border rounded-sm shadow-sm mobile-toc-button gtm-mobile-toc-inline-button d-none d-sm-block js-sections-inline-button module-spacing btn d-lg-none"> <em class="material-icons mr-5 ml-n10 my-n5 md-icon" data-icon="toc"></em> Table of Contents </button> <div class="d-flex d-sm-none flex-row"> <button class="d-flex d-lg-none btn btn-outline-blue border rounded-sm shadow-sm mobile-toc-button gtm-mobile-toc-inline-button js-sections-inline-button module-spacing"> <em class="material-icons mr-5 ml-n10 my-n5 md-icon" data-icon="toc"></em> Table of Contents </button> <button class="ai-ask-button btn btn-sm border-2 btn-outline-red-400 border-red-400 module-spacing js-inline-ai-ask-button p-10 ml-5"> Ask the Chatbot </button> </div> <div class="js-qf-module qf-module px-40 px-sm-20 py-15 mx-auto module-spacing font-14 bg-gray-50 rounded"> <div class="qf-title font-weight-bold font-14 mb-10 text-center"> Quick Facts</div> <div class="facts-list mt-10"> <div class=""> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Byname of: </dt> <dd>William Bradley Pitt</dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> </div> <div class=""> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Born: </dt> <dd>December 18, 1963, <a href="">Shawnee</a>, <a href="">Oklahoma</a>, U.S. (age 61)</dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> </div> <div class=""> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Founder: </dt> <dd><a href="/topic/Make-It-Right">Make It Right</a></dd> <dd><a href="/topic/Not-on-Our-Watch">Not on Our Watch</a></dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> </div> <div class=""> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Awards And Honors: </dt> <dd><a href="/art/Golden-Globe-Award">Golden Globe Award</a></dd> <dd><a href="/art/Academy-Award">Academy Award (2020)</a></dd> <dd>Academy Award (2020): Actor in a Supporting Role</dd> <dd>Academy Award (2014): Best Picture</dd> <dd>Emmy Award (2014): Outstanding Television Movie</dd> <dd>Golden Globe Award (2020): Best Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture</dd> <dd>Golden Globe Award (1996): Best Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture</dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> </div> <div class=""> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Notable Family Members: </dt> <dd>spouse <a href="/biography/Jennifer-Aniston">Jennifer Aniston</a></dd> <dd>spouse <a href="/biography/Angelina-Jolie">Angelina Jolie</a></dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> </div> <div class="facts-item-none d-none"> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Married To: </dt> <dd><a href="/biography/Angelina-Jolie" extertnal="false">Angelina Jolie (2014–present)</a></dd> <dd><a href="/biography/Jennifer-Aniston" extertnal="false">Jennifer Aniston (2000–2005)</a></dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> </div> <div class="facts-item-none d-none"> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Movies/Tv Shows (Acted In): </dt> <dd>"Ad Astra" (2019)</dd> <dd>"Once Upon a Time...in Hollywood" (2019)</dd> <dd>"Deadpool 2" (2018)</dd> <dd>"War Machine" (2017)</dd> <dd>"Allied" (2016)</dd> <dd>"The Big Short" (2015)</dd> <dd>"By the Sea" (2015)</dd> <dd>"Fury" (2014)</dd> <dd>"The Counselor" (2013)</dd> <dd>"12 Years a Slave" (2013)</dd> <dd>"World War Z" (2013)</dd> <dd>"Killing Them Softly" (2012)</dd> <dd>"Happy Feet Two" (2011)</dd> <dd>"Moneyball" (2011)</dd> <dd>"The Tree of Life" (2011)</dd> <dd>"Megamind" (2010)</dd> <dd>"Inglourious Basterds" (2009)</dd> <dd>"The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" (2008)</dd> <dd>"Burn After Reading" (2008)</dd> <dd>"The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford" (2007)</dd> <dd>"Ocean's Thirteen" (2007)</dd> <dd>"Babel" (2006)</dd> <dd>"Mr. & Mrs. Smith" (2005)</dd> <dd>"Ocean's Twelve" (2004)</dd> <dd>"Troy" (2004)</dd> <dd>"Freedom: A History of US" (2003)</dd> <dd>"King of the Hill" (2003)</dd> <dd>"Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas" (2003)</dd> <dd>"Confessions of a Dangerous Mind" (2002)</dd> <dd>"Ocean's Eleven" (2001)</dd> <dd>"Spy Game" (2001)</dd> <dd>"The Mexican" (2001)</dd> <dd>"Snatch" (2000)</dd> <dd>"Fight Club" (1999)</dd> <dd>"Meet Joe Black" (1998)</dd> <dd>"Seven Years in Tibet" (1997)</dd> <dd>"The Devil's Own" (1997)</dd> <dd>"Sleepers" (1996)</dd> <dd>"12 Monkeys" (1995)</dd> <dd>"Se7en" (1995)</dd> <dd>"Legends of the Fall" (1994)</dd> <dd>"Interview with the Vampire: The Vampire Chronicles" (1994)</dd> <dd>"The Favor" (1994)</dd> <dd>"True Romance" (1993)</dd> <dd>"Kalifornia" (1993)</dd> <dd>"A River Runs Through It" (1992)</dd> <dd>"Tales from the Crypt" (1992)</dd> <dd>"Cool World" (1992)</dd> <dd>"Johnny Suede" (1991)</dd> <dd>"Thelma & Louise" (1991)</dd> <dd>"Glory Days" (1990)</dd> <dd>"Across the Tracks" (1990)</dd> <dd>"Thirtysomething" (1989)</dd> <dd>"Happy Together" (1989)</dd> <dd>"Cutting Class" (1989)</dd> <dd>"Growing Pains" (1987–1989)</dd> <dd>"Freddy's Nightmares" (1989)</dd> <dd>"Head of the Class" (1989)</dd> <dd>"The Dark Side of the Sun" (1988)</dd> <dd>"21 Jump Street" (1988)</dd> <dd>"Dallas" (1987–1988)</dd> <dd>"Another World" (1987)</dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> <div class="text-center"> <a class="btn btn-sm btn-link p-0" href="/facts/Brad-Pitt"> See all related content </a> </div> </div> </div> <button class="facts-list-show-more-btn mt-15 p-0 mx-auto btn font-14 d-block font-weight-normal"> <span class="material-icons" data-icon="expand_more"></span> <span class="show-more-label">Show More</span> </button> </div><div class="bg-gray-50 p-15 rounded module-spacing recent-news d-flex flex-column float-false"> <div> <h2 class="font-weight-bold font-14 m-0 d-inline"> News <span class="text-gray-600">•</span> </h2> <div class="recent-news-item first-recent-news-item d-inline"> <a class="font-14 gtm-ap-news-link" href="https://www.newsweek.com/entertainment/celebrity-news/pax-jolie-walks-new-dog-2033431" rel="nofollow">Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt's Son Pax Debuts New Family Member After E-Bike Accidents</a> <span class="font-14 text-gray-600"> <span>•</span> Feb. 19, 2025, 10:23 AM ET (Newsweek) <button class="btn btn-link d-inline p-0 font-12 js-toggle-recent-news"> <span class="text-gray-500">...</span><span>(Show more)</span> </button> </span> </div> </div> <div class="rest-of-recent-news-items"> <div class="recent-news-item mt-5"> <a class="font-14 gtm-ap-news-link" href="https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/f1-trailer-brad-pitt-super-bowl-1236131368/" rel="nofollow">Brad Pitt’s High-Octane ‘F1’ Teaser Trailer Debuts Ahead of Super Bowl</a> <span class="font-14 text-gray-600"> <span>•</span> Feb. 9, 2025, 8:55 AM ET (The Hollywood Reporter) </span> </div> <button class="js-toggle-recent-news d-flex btn btn-unstyled font-14 pr-10 rounded-sm mt-10" aria-label="Toggle additional news items"> Show less <em class="material-icons" data-icon="expand_less"></em> </button> </div> </div><span class="marker before-article"></span><section data-level="1" id="ref1"><span class="marker PREMOD1 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph"><strong><span id="ref1015357"></span>Brad Pitt</strong> (born December 18, 1963, <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Shawnee-Oklahoma" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Shawnee</a>, <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Oklahoma-state" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Oklahoma</a>, U.S.) is an American actor known for his portrayal of unconventional characters. After gaining attention for his role in <em>Thelma & Louise</em> (1991), Pitt channeled his magnetism as a leading man in such movies as <em>A River Runs Through It</em> (1992) and <em>Legends of the Fall</em> (1994) but <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off eb" data-term="avoided" href="https://www.britannica.com/dictionary/avoided" data-type="EB">avoided</a> being typecast by assuming unorthodox roles in <em>12 Monkeys</em> (1995) and <em>Fight Club</em> (1999). Pitt won an <a href="https://www.britannica.com/art/Academy-Award" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Academy Award</a> for his performance in <em>Once Upon a Time…in Hollywood</em> (2019).</p><span class="marker MOD1 mod-inline"></span></section> <span class="marker h2"></span><section data-level="1" id="ref331350"> <h2 class="h1">Early life and work</h2> <span class="marker PREMOD2 mod-inline"></span><div class="assemblies"><div class="w-100"><figure class="md-assembly m-0 mb-md-0 card card-borderless print-false" data-assembly-id="207468" data-asm-type="image"><div class="md-assembly-wrapper card-media" data-type="image"><a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/48/182848-004-77907729/Tom-Cruise-Brad-Pitt-Interview-with-the.jpg" class="gtm-assembly-link position-relative d-flex align-items-center justify-content-center media-overlay-link card-media" data-href="/media/1/1264512/207468"><picture><source media="(min-width: 680px)" srcset="https://cdn.britannica.com/48/182848-004-77907729/Tom-Cruise-Brad-Pitt-Interview-with-the.jpg?w=300"><img src="https://cdn.britannica.com/48/182848-004-77907729/Tom-Cruise-Brad-Pitt-Interview-with-the.jpg?w=300" alt="Interview with the Vampire" data-width="550" data-height="440" loading="eager"></picture><button class="magnifying-glass btn btn-circle position-absolute shadow btn-white top-10 right-10" aria-label="Zoom in"><em class="material-icons link-blue" data-icon="zoom_in"></em></button></a></div><figcaption class="card-body"><div class="md-assembly-caption text-muted font-14 font-serif line-clamp"><span><a class="gtm-assembly-link md-assembly-title font-weight-bold d-inline font-sans-serif mr-5 media-overlay-link" href="https://cdn.britannica.com/48/182848-004-77907729/Tom-Cruise-Brad-Pitt-Interview-with-the.jpg" data-href="/media/1/1264512/207468"><em>Interview with the Vampire</em></a><span>Tom Cruise (left) and Brad Pitt in <em>Interview with the Vampire</em> (1994), directed by Neil Jordan.</span><button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-white js-content" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"><span class="link-blue">(more)</span></button></span></div></figcaption></figure></div></div><p class="topic-paragraph">Pitt grew up in <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Springfield-Missouri" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Springfield</a>, <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Missouri-state" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Missouri</a>, and attended (1983–87) the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/University-of-Missouri" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">University of Missouri</a> before dropping out just short of graduation to move to <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/California-state" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">California</a> and pursue an <a href="https://www.britannica.com/art/acting" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">acting</a> career. After playing minor <a href="https://www.britannica.com/art/television-in-the-United-States" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">television</a> and <a href="https://www.britannica.com/art/film" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">movie</a> roles, Pitt captured the public’s attention as a charming scoundrel in the film <em><span id="ref1036942"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Thelma-and-Louise" class="md-crosslink ">Thelma & Louise</a></em>. He followed up with such movies as <em><span id="ref1206082"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/A-River-Runs-Through-It-film-by-Redford" class="md-crosslink ">A River Runs Through It</a></em>, <em><span id="ref1204515"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Interview-with-the-Vampire-film-by-Jordan" class="md-crosslink ">Interview with the Vampire</a></em>, and <em>Legends of the Fall</em> (1994). Pitt then starred as a police detective in the gritty thriller <em><span id="ref1204516"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Se7en" class="md-crosslink ">Se7en</a></em> (1995) and as a demented malcontent in the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/art/fantasy-narrative-genre" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">fantasy</a> <em><span id="ref1036943"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Twelve-Monkeys" class="md-crosslink ">12 Monkeys</a></em> (1995), for which he won a <a href="https://www.britannica.com/art/Golden-Globe-Award" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Golden Globe Award</a> and was nominated for an Oscar.</p><span class="marker MOD2 mod-inline"></span> </section> <span class="marker h3"></span><section data-level="1" id="ref331351"> <h2 class="h1"><em>Fight Club</em>, Ocean’s trilogy, and <em>Mr. & Mrs. Smith</em></h2> <span class="marker PREMOD3 mod-inline"></span><div class="assemblies"><div class="w-100"><figure class="md-assembly m-0 mb-md-0 card card-borderless print-false" data-assembly-id="303077" data-asm-type="image"><div class="md-assembly-wrapper card-media" data-type="image"><a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/62/256962-050-472B6535/actor-brad-pitt-film-fight-club.jpg" class="gtm-assembly-link position-relative d-flex align-items-center justify-content-center media-overlay-link card-media" data-href="/media/1/1264512/303077"><picture><source media="(min-width: 680px)" srcset="https://cdn.britannica.com/62/256962-050-472B6535/actor-brad-pitt-film-fight-club.jpg?w=300"><img src="https://cdn.britannica.com/62/256962-050-472B6535/actor-brad-pitt-film-fight-club.jpg?w=300" alt="Fight Club" data-width="1600" data-height="1020" loading="eager"></picture><button class="magnifying-glass btn btn-circle position-absolute shadow btn-white top-10 right-10" aria-label="Zoom in"><em class="material-icons link-blue" data-icon="zoom_in"></em></button></a></div><figcaption class="card-body"><div class="md-assembly-caption text-muted font-14 font-serif line-clamp"><span><a class="gtm-assembly-link md-assembly-title font-weight-bold d-inline font-sans-serif mr-5 media-overlay-link" href="https://cdn.britannica.com/62/256962-050-472B6535/actor-brad-pitt-film-fight-club.jpg" data-href="/media/1/1264512/303077"><em>Fight Club</em></a><span>Brad Pitt (center) in the film <em>Fight Club</em> (1999), directed by David Fincher.</span><button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-white js-content" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"><span class="link-blue">(more)</span></button></span></div></figcaption></figure></div></div><p class="topic-paragraph">Pitt deliberately played against type as Austrian mountain climber Heinrich Harrer in <em>Seven Years in Tibet</em> (1997), an <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Irish-Republican-Army" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Irish Republican Army</a> terrorist in <em><span id="ref1204517"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/The-Devils-Own" class="md-crosslink ">The Devil’s Own</a></em> (1997), a modern-day personification of death in <em><span id="ref1204518"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Meet-Joe-Black" class="md-crosslink ">Meet Joe Black</a></em> (1998), and an underground boxer in <em><span id="ref1204519"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Fight-Club" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Fight Club</a></em> (1999). In 2000 Pitt married actress <span id="ref1048288"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Jennifer-Aniston" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Jennifer Aniston</a>. The following year he starred in <em><span id="ref1036944"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Oceans-Eleven-film-by-Soderbergh" class="md-crosslink ">Ocean’s Eleven</a></em>, a comedy <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off eb" data-term="caper" href="https://www.britannica.com/dictionary/caper" data-type="EB">caper</a> about con artists. The film was a major success and led to the sequels <em>Ocean’s Twelve</em> (2004) and <em>Ocean’s Thirteen</em> (2007). In 2004 Pitt portrayed the Greek warrior <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Achilles-Greek-mythology" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Achilles</a> in <em>Troy</em>.</p><a class="link-module shadow-sm d-block qa-quiz-module" href="/quiz/oscar-worthy-movie-trivia" data-link-module-iframe-link=""> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/23/114923-131-785286EA/projection-screen-movie-theater-cinema.jpg" alt="Empty movie theater and blank screen (theatre, motion pictures, cinema)." class="rounded-sm mr-15" width="70" /> <div class="line-clamp clamp-5"> <div class="module-title bg-green">Britannica Quiz</div> <div class="font-weight-semi-bold mt-5">Oscar-Worthy Movie Trivia</div> </div> </a><span class="marker MOD3 mod-inline"></span> <span class="marker PREMOD4 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">The action comedy <em><span id="ref1204520"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Mr-and-Mrs-Smith-2005-film" class="md-crosslink ">Mr. & Mrs. Smith</a></em> (2005) paired Pitt with actress <span id="ref1036945"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Angelina-Jolie" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Angelina Jolie</a>, with whom he became romantically involved. Pitt continued to lend his talents to films covering a wide range of subject matter, including <em><span id="ref1036946"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Babel" class="md-crosslink ">Babel</a></em> (2006), a film that traces the intersecting lives of characters from divergent backgrounds, and the period <a href="https://www.britannica.com/art/western" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">western</a> <em><span id="ref1036947"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/The-Assassination-of-Jesse-James-by-the-Coward-Robert-Ford" class="md-crosslink ">The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford</a></em> (2007). Pitt further demonstrated his versatility in 2008, portraying a dim-witted would-be blackmailer in the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Coen-brothers" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Coen brothers</a>’ <em><span id="ref1036948"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Burn-After-Reading" class="md-crosslink ">Burn After Reading</a></em> and a man who ages backward in the <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off mw" data-term="poignant" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/poignant" data-type="MW">poignant</a> fantasy <em><span id="ref1036949"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/The-Curious-Case-of-Benjamin-Button" class="md-crosslink ">The Curious Case of Benjamin Button</a></em>. His chameleonic turn in the latter film earned him an Academy Award nomination for best actor.</p><span class="marker MOD4 mod-inline"></span> </section> <span class="marker h4"></span><section data-level="1" id="ref387012"> <h2 class="h1"><em>Inglourious Basterds</em> and <em>Moneyball</em></h2> <span class="marker PREMOD5 mod-inline"></span><div class="assemblies multiple medialist slider js-slider position-relative d-inline-flex align-items-center mw-100" data-type="other"><div class="slider-container js-slider-container overflow-hidden d-flex"><div class="rw-track d-flex align-items-center"><div class="position-relative rw-slide col-100 px-20 "><figure class="md-assembly m-0 mb-md-0 card card-borderless print-false" data-assembly-id="139982" data-asm-type="image"><div class="md-assembly-wrapper card-media" data-type="image"><a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/56/137456-050-D9F69DFF/Brad-Pitt-Inglourious-Basterds.jpg" class="gtm-assembly-link position-relative d-flex align-items-center justify-content-center media-overlay-link card-media" data-href="/media/1/1264512/139982"><picture><source media="(min-width: 680px)" srcset="https://cdn.britannica.com/56/137456-050-D9F69DFF/Brad-Pitt-Inglourious-Basterds.jpg?w=300"><img src="https://cdn.britannica.com/56/137456-050-D9F69DFF/Brad-Pitt-Inglourious-Basterds.jpg?w=300" alt="Brad Pitt in Inglourious Basterds" data-width="1600" data-height="1254" loading="eager"></picture><div class="position-absolute top-10 left-10 assembly-slide-tag rounded-lg">1 of 3</div><button class="magnifying-glass btn btn-circle position-absolute shadow btn-white top-10 right-10" aria-label="Zoom in"><em class="material-icons link-blue" data-icon="zoom_in"></em></button></a></div><figcaption class="card-body"><div class="md-assembly-caption text-muted font-14 font-serif line-clamp"><span><a class="gtm-assembly-link md-assembly-title font-weight-bold d-inline font-sans-serif mr-5 media-overlay-link" href="https://cdn.britannica.com/56/137456-050-D9F69DFF/Brad-Pitt-Inglourious-Basterds.jpg" data-href="/media/1/1264512/139982">Brad Pitt in <em>Inglourious Basterds</em></a><span>Brad Pitt in <em>Inglourious Basterds</em> (2009).</span><button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-white js-content" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"><span class="link-blue">(more)</span></button></span></div></figcaption></figure></div><div class="position-relative rw-slide col-100 px-20 "><figure class="md-assembly m-0 mb-md-0 card card-borderless print-false" data-assembly-id="140003" data-asm-type="image"><div class="md-assembly-wrapper card-media" data-type="image"><a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/62/137462-050-5836D4CF/Brad-Pitt-set-Inglourious-Basterds.jpg" class="gtm-assembly-link position-relative d-flex align-items-center justify-content-center media-overlay-link card-media" data-href="/media/1/1264512/140003"><picture><source media="(min-width: 680px)" srcset="https://cdn.britannica.com/62/137462-050-5836D4CF/Brad-Pitt-set-Inglourious-Basterds.jpg?w=300"><img src="https://cdn.britannica.com/62/137462-050-5836D4CF/Brad-Pitt-set-Inglourious-Basterds.jpg?w=300" alt="Inglourious Basterds" data-width="1600" data-height="1600" loading="eager"></picture><div class="position-absolute top-10 left-10 assembly-slide-tag rounded-lg">2 of 3</div><button class="magnifying-glass btn btn-circle position-absolute shadow btn-white top-10 right-10" aria-label="Zoom in"><em class="material-icons link-blue" data-icon="zoom_in"></em></button></a></div><figcaption class="card-body"><div class="md-assembly-caption text-muted font-14 font-serif line-clamp"><span><a class="gtm-assembly-link md-assembly-title font-weight-bold d-inline font-sans-serif mr-5 media-overlay-link" href="https://cdn.britannica.com/62/137462-050-5836D4CF/Brad-Pitt-set-Inglourious-Basterds.jpg" data-href="/media/1/1264512/140003"><em>Inglourious Basterds</em></a><span>Brad Pitt on the set of <em>Inglourious Basterds</em> (2009).</span><button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-white js-content" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"><span class="link-blue">(more)</span></button></span></div></figcaption></figure></div><div class="position-relative rw-slide col-100 px-20 "><figure class="md-assembly m-0 mb-md-0 card card-borderless print-false" data-assembly-id="140002" data-asm-type="image"><div class="md-assembly-wrapper card-media" data-type="image"><a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/61/137461-050-BB6C5D80/Brad-Pitt-2008.jpg" class="gtm-assembly-link position-relative d-flex align-items-center justify-content-center media-overlay-link card-media" data-href="/media/1/1264512/140002"><picture><source media="(min-width: 680px)" srcset="https://cdn.britannica.com/61/137461-050-BB6C5D80/Brad-Pitt-2008.jpg?w=300"><img src="https://cdn.britannica.com/61/137461-050-BB6C5D80/Brad-Pitt-2008.jpg?w=300" alt="Brad Pitt" data-width="800" data-height="580" loading="eager"></picture><div class="position-absolute top-10 left-10 assembly-slide-tag rounded-lg">3 of 3</div><button class="magnifying-glass btn btn-circle position-absolute shadow btn-white top-10 right-10" aria-label="Zoom in"><em class="material-icons link-blue" data-icon="zoom_in"></em></button></a></div><figcaption class="card-body"><div class="md-assembly-caption text-muted font-14 font-serif line-clamp"><span><a class="gtm-assembly-link md-assembly-title font-weight-bold d-inline font-sans-serif mr-5 media-overlay-link" href="https://cdn.britannica.com/61/137461-050-BB6C5D80/Brad-Pitt-2008.jpg" data-href="/media/1/1264512/140002">Brad Pitt</a><span>American actor Brad Pitt, 2008.</span><button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-white js-content" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"><span class="link-blue">(more)</span></button></span></div></figcaption></figure></div></div></div><button disabled="true" class="prev-button js-prev-button position-absolute btn btn-circle shadow btn-lg btn-blue-dark m-20"><span class="material-icons" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_left"></span></button><button disabled="true" class="next-button js-next-button position-absolute btn btn-circle shadow btn-lg btn-blue-dark m-20"><span class="material-icons" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_right"></span></button></div><p class="topic-paragraph">In 2009 Pitt starred in <span id="ref1204521"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Quentin-Tarantino" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Quentin Tarantino</a>’s <em><span id="ref1048287"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Inglourious-Basterds" class="md-crosslink ">Inglourious Basterds</a></em>, a <a href="https://www.britannica.com/event/World-War-II" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">World War II</a> <a href="https://www.britannica.com/art/theatre-art" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">drama</a> about a group of Jewish American soldiers trained to kill Nazis in German-occupied <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/France" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">France</a>. The following year Pitt provided the voice of the superhero rival of the titular villain in the animated film <em><span id="ref1088963"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Megamind" class="md-crosslink ">Megamind</a></em>. In <a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Terrence-Malick" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Terrence Malick</a>’s impressionistic drama <em><span id="ref1113202"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/The-Tree-of-Life" class="md-crosslink ">The Tree of Life</a></em> (2011), he played a domineering father in 1950s <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Texas-state" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Texas</a>.</p><span class="marker MOD5 mod-inline"></span> <span class="marker PREMOD6 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">Pitt later scored another best actor Oscar nomination, for his performance as real-life general manager Billy Beane in the baseball drama <em><span id="ref1120678"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Moneyball-film-by-Miller" class="md-crosslink ">Moneyball</a></em> (2011). The film chronicles how Beane assembled successful teams with the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Oakland-Athletics" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Oakland Athletics</a> by using statistics to <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off eb" data-term="acquire" href="https://www.britannica.com/dictionary/acquire" data-type="EB">acquire</a> cheaper, less-well-known players. Pitt subsequently starred as a mob enforcer in the crime drama <em><span id="ref1204522"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Killing-Them-Softly" class="md-crosslink ">Killing Them Softly</a></em> (2012) and as a former <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/United-Nations" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">United Nations</a> investigator fighting to contain a <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/zombie-fictional-creature" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">zombie</a> <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/pandemic" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">pandemic</a> in the thriller <em><span id="ref1186546"></span>World War Z</em> (2013).</p><span class="marker MOD6 mod-inline"></span> <span class="marker PREMOD7 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">Pitt had supporting roles in <em><span id="ref1186547"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/12-Years-a-Slave" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">12 Years a Slave</a></em> (2013)—which was based on the true story of <a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Solomon-Northup" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Solomon Northup</a>, a free person of color who was kidnapped and sold into slavery in the mid-19th century—and in the crime drama <em><span id="ref1280784"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/The-Counselor" class="md-crosslink ">The Counselor</a></em> (2013). In <em><span id="ref1280785"></span>Fury</em> (2014) he played an American army sergeant commanding the remnants of a decimated battalion during the last days of <a href="https://www.britannica.com/event/World-War-II" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">World War II</a>. The following year Pitt reteamed with Jolie, this time in <em><span id="ref1224666"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/art/By-the-Sea-motion-picture" class="md-crosslink ">By the Sea</a></em>, a marital drama she also wrote and directed. He then portrayed a morally grounded former investment banker in the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/black-humor" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">black comedy</a> <em><span id="ref1225523"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/The-Big-Short" class="md-crosslink ">The Big Short</a></em> (2015), about the 2008 financial crisis. In the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/event/World-War-II" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">World War II</a> thriller <em><span id="ref1238922"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Allied" class="md-crosslink ">Allied</a></em> (2016), Pitt starred as a Canadian intelligence officer whose wife (<a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Marion-Cotillard" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Marion Cotillard</a>) might be a German spy. In 2017 he portrayed a four-star general in <em><span id="ref1246361"></span>War Machine</em>, a military satire that was released on <a href="https://www.britannica.com/money/Netflix-Inc" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Netflix</a>.</p><div class="module-spacing"> <DIV class="marketing-INLINE_SUBSCRIPTION marketing-content" data-marketing-id="INLINE_SUBSCRIPTION"><style> .student-promo-banner-wrapper { container-type: inline-size; margin-bottom: 15px; } @container (min-width: 475px) { .student-promo-banner { flex-direction: row; } .student-promo-banner-img-wrapper { margin-bottom: 0; margin-right: 10px; justify-content: flex-start; } .student-promo-banner-text-wrapper { text-align: left; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 10px; } .student-promo-banner-button-wrapper { margin-right: 0; } }</style> <div class="student-promo-banner-wrapper"> <div class="student-promo-banner d-flex flex-column align-items-center bg-blue rounded p-20"> <div class="student-promo-banner-img-wrapper mb-20 mr-0 d-flex justify-content-center"> <img class="rounded" style="max-width: 100px; min-width: 80px" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/marketing/BlueThistle.webp" /> </div> <div class="student-promo-banner-text-wrapper ml-0 mb-10 text-center text-white"> <div class="h2 mb-10">Get Unlimited Access</div> <div class="h4 font-weight-semi-bold">Try Britannica Premium for free and discover more.</div> </div> <div class="student-promo-banner-button-wrapper d-flex justify-content-center align-items-center ml-auto mr-auto"> <a class="btn btn-m btn-orange" href="https://premium.britannica.com/premium-membership/?utm_source=premium&utm_medium=inline-cta&utm_campaign=august-2024">Subscribe</a> </div> </div> </div> </DIV></div><span class="marker MOD7 mod-inline"></span> </section> <span class="marker h5"></span><section data-level="1" id="ref387013"> <h2 class="h1"><em>Once Upon a Time…in Hollywood</em> and later movies</h2> <span class="marker PREMOD8 mod-inline"></span><div class="assemblies multiple medialist slider js-slider position-relative d-inline-flex align-items-center mw-100" data-type="other"><div class="slider-container js-slider-container overflow-hidden d-flex"><div class="rw-track d-flex align-items-center"><div class="position-relative rw-slide col-100 px-20 "><figure class="md-assembly m-0 mb-md-0 card card-borderless print-false" data-assembly-id="256703" data-asm-type="image"><div class="md-assembly-wrapper card-media" data-type="image"><a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/89/215089-050-F554BF8E/Movie-still-Leonardo-DiCaprio-Brad-Pitt-Once-Upon-a-Time-In-Hollywood-2019.jpg" class="gtm-assembly-link position-relative d-flex align-items-center justify-content-center media-overlay-link card-media" data-href="/media/1/1264512/256703"><picture><source media="(min-width: 680px)" srcset="https://cdn.britannica.com/89/215089-050-F554BF8E/Movie-still-Leonardo-DiCaprio-Brad-Pitt-Once-Upon-a-Time-In-Hollywood-2019.jpg?w=300"><img src="https://cdn.britannica.com/89/215089-050-F554BF8E/Movie-still-Leonardo-DiCaprio-Brad-Pitt-Once-Upon-a-Time-In-Hollywood-2019.jpg?w=300" alt="Once Upon a Time…in Hollywood" data-width="1600" data-height="1067" loading="eager"></picture><div class="position-absolute top-10 left-10 assembly-slide-tag rounded-lg">1 of 2</div><button class="magnifying-glass btn btn-circle position-absolute shadow btn-white top-10 right-10" aria-label="Zoom in"><em class="material-icons link-blue" data-icon="zoom_in"></em></button></a></div><figcaption class="card-body"><div class="md-assembly-caption text-muted font-14 font-serif line-clamp"><span><a class="gtm-assembly-link md-assembly-title font-weight-bold d-inline font-sans-serif mr-5 media-overlay-link" href="https://cdn.britannica.com/89/215089-050-F554BF8E/Movie-still-Leonardo-DiCaprio-Brad-Pitt-Once-Upon-a-Time-In-Hollywood-2019.jpg" data-href="/media/1/1264512/256703"><em>Once Upon a Time…in Hollywood</em></a><span>Leonardo DiCaprio (left) and Brad Pitt in <em>Once Upon a Time…in Hollywood</em> (2019), directed by Quentin Tarantino.</span><button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-white js-content" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"><span class="link-blue">(more)</span></button></span></div></figcaption></figure></div><div class="position-relative rw-slide col-100 px-20 "><figure class="md-assembly m-0 mb-md-0 card card-borderless print-false" data-assembly-id="315177" data-asm-type="image"><div class="md-assembly-wrapper card-media" data-type="image"><a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/35/261735-050-45A429B2/publicity-still-of-2019-film-one-upon-a-time-in-hollywood-starring-margaret-qualley.jpg" class="gtm-assembly-link position-relative d-flex align-items-center justify-content-center media-overlay-link card-media" data-href="/media/1/1264512/315177"><picture><source media="(min-width: 680px)" srcset="https://cdn.britannica.com/35/261735-050-45A429B2/publicity-still-of-2019-film-one-upon-a-time-in-hollywood-starring-margaret-qualley.jpg?w=300"><img src="https://cdn.britannica.com/35/261735-050-45A429B2/publicity-still-of-2019-film-one-upon-a-time-in-hollywood-starring-margaret-qualley.jpg?w=300" alt="Once Upon a Time…in Hollywood" data-width="1600" data-height="1077" loading="eager"></picture><div class="position-absolute top-10 left-10 assembly-slide-tag rounded-lg">2 of 2</div><button class="magnifying-glass btn btn-circle position-absolute shadow btn-white top-10 right-10" aria-label="Zoom in"><em class="material-icons link-blue" data-icon="zoom_in"></em></button></a></div><figcaption class="card-body"><div class="md-assembly-caption text-muted font-14 font-serif line-clamp"><span><a class="gtm-assembly-link md-assembly-title font-weight-bold d-inline font-sans-serif mr-5 media-overlay-link" href="https://cdn.britannica.com/35/261735-050-45A429B2/publicity-still-of-2019-film-one-upon-a-time-in-hollywood-starring-margaret-qualley.jpg" data-href="/media/1/1264512/315177"><em>Once Upon a Time…in Hollywood</em></a><span>Lena Dunham (left), Margaret Qualley, and Brad Pitt in <em>Once Upon a Time…in Hollywood</em> (2019), directed by Quentin Tarantino.</span><button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-white js-content" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"><span class="link-blue">(more)</span></button></span></div></figcaption></figure></div></div></div><button disabled="true" class="prev-button js-prev-button position-absolute btn btn-circle shadow btn-lg btn-blue-dark m-20"><span class="material-icons" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_left"></span></button><button disabled="true" class="next-button js-next-button position-absolute btn btn-circle shadow btn-lg btn-blue-dark m-20"><span class="material-icons" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_right"></span></button></div><p class="topic-paragraph">Pitt later reteamed with Tarantino in <em><span id="ref1272081"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Once-Upon-a-Time-in-Hollywood" class="md-crosslink ">Once Upon a Time…in Hollywood</a></em> (2019), playing the stunt double of a washed-up actor (<a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Leonardo-DiCaprio" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Leonardo DiCaprio</a>) in 1969 <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Los-Angeles-California" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">Los Angeles</a>. For his performance, Pitt earned both an Oscar and a Golden Globe Award for best supporting actor. Also in 2019 he starred as an astronaut searching the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/solar-system" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">solar system</a> for his missing father (played by <a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Tommy-Lee-Jones" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Tommy Lee Jones</a>) in the futuristic drama <em><span id="ref1274179"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Ad-Astra" class="md-crosslink ">Ad Astra</a></em>. Pitt’s <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off eb" data-term="credits" href="https://www.britannica.com/dictionary/credits" data-type="EB">credits</a> from 2022 include the action-romance <em><span id="ref1305003"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/The-Lost-City-film" class="md-crosslink ">The Lost City</a></em>, in which he had a memorable cameo, and <em><span id="ref1305002"></span>Bullet Train</em>, about a group of assassins on a high-speed train. That year he also costarred with <a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Margot-Robbie" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Margot Robbie</a> in <a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Damien-Chazelle" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Damien Chazelle</a>’s <em><span id="ref1308182"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Babylon-2022-film" class="md-crosslink ">Babylon</a></em>, a dramedy set in Hollywood during the 1920s. In 2024 Pitt and Clooney reunited for <em>Wolfs</em>, an action comedy in which they played rival fixers who are forced to work together.</p><span class="marker MOD8 mod-inline"></span> <span class="marker PREMOD9 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">In addition to acting, Pitt headed his own film-production company, Plan B Entertainment. The company partnered with several others to produce <em>12 Years a Slave</em>, and Pitt won an Academy Award for his producing role when that film was named best picture.</p><span class="marker MOD9 mod-inline"></span> </section> <span class="marker h6"></span><section data-level="1" id="ref331352"> <h2 class="h1">Personal life and humanitarian causes</h2> <span class="marker PREMOD10 mod-inline"></span><div class="assemblies"><div class="w-100"><figure class="md-assembly m-0 mb-md-0 card card-borderless print-false" data-assembly-id="113844" data-asm-type="image"><div class="md-assembly-wrapper card-media" data-type="image"><a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/19/97119-050-6E255656/People-issue-parents-cover-photo-jump-magazine-June-19.jpg" class="gtm-assembly-link position-relative d-flex align-items-center justify-content-center media-overlay-link card-media" data-href="/media/1/1264512/113844"><picture><source media="(min-width: 680px)" srcset="https://cdn.britannica.com/19/97119-050-6E255656/People-issue-parents-cover-photo-jump-magazine-June-19.jpg?w=300"><img src="https://cdn.britannica.com/19/97119-050-6E255656/People-issue-parents-cover-photo-jump-magazine-June-19.jpg?w=300" alt="Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt on the cover of People magazine with their new daughter, Shiloh" data-width="1208" data-height="1600" loading="eager"></picture><button class="magnifying-glass btn btn-circle position-absolute shadow btn-white top-10 right-10" aria-label="Zoom in"><em class="material-icons link-blue" data-icon="zoom_in"></em></button></a></div><figcaption class="card-body"><div class="md-assembly-caption text-muted font-14 font-serif line-clamp"><span><a class="gtm-assembly-link md-assembly-title font-weight-bold d-inline font-sans-serif mr-5 media-overlay-link" href="https://cdn.britannica.com/19/97119-050-6E255656/People-issue-parents-cover-photo-jump-magazine-June-19.jpg" data-href="/media/1/1264512/113844">Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt on the cover of <em>People</em> magazine with their new daughter, Shiloh</a><span>Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt on the cover of <em>People</em> magazine with their new daughter, Shiloh, June 19, 2006.</span><button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-white js-content" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"><span class="link-blue">(more)</span></button></span></div></figcaption></figure></div></div><p class="topic-paragraph">Pitt’s involvement with Jolie and his 2005 divorce from Aniston were intensely <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off eb" data-term="scrutinized" href="https://www.britannica.com/dictionary/scrutinized" data-type="EB">scrutinized</a> by the tabloid press. In 2006 Pitt adopted Jolie’s two children, Maddox and Zahara, whom she had adopted from <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Cambodia" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Cambodia</a> and <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Ethiopia" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Ethiopia</a>, respectively. The couple had their first biological child, Shiloh, in May 2006. The next year they adopted a boy, Pax, from <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Vietnam" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Vietnam</a>, and in 2008 they added biological twins, Knox and Vivienne, to their family. Pitt and Jolie married in 2014, but two years later Jolie filed for divorce.</p><span class="marker MOD10 mod-inline"></span> <span class="marker PREMOD11 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">The couple often used their celebrity status as a platform for speaking out on behalf of a number of humanitarian causes. Pitt cofounded and was actively involved in <span id="ref1048317"></span>Not on Our Watch, a campaign that directed resources to developing countries in crisis, notably the Sudanese province of <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Darfur" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Darfur</a>. In 2006 he established the <span id="ref1048289"></span>Make It Right Foundation, a multimillion-dollar project to construct environmentally friendly homes in <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/New-Orleans-Louisiana" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">New Orleans</a> for people displaced by <span id="ref1036950"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/event/Hurricane-Katrina" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Hurricane Katrina</a>. The <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off eb" data-term="undertaking" href="https://www.britannica.com/dictionary/undertaking" data-type="EB">undertaking</a> attracted numerous high-profile architects, but it was plagued by construction issues that resulted in several legal disputes. Notably, in 2015 the foundation sued the wood supplier after a number of completed homes began rotting; the suit was settled out of court. Three years later homeowners filed a class-action lawsuit against the foundation, alleging poor construction; in 2022 Make It Right agreed to pay the plaintiffs $20.5 million.</p><div class="one-good-fact-module"> </div><span class="marker MOD11 mod-inline"></span> <span class="marker PREMOD12 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">Pitt was also interested in art, and in 2022 he exhibited a number of sculptures at a museum in Finland. His “brutally honest” works included a miniature house assembled from tree bark and tape.</p><span class="marker MOD12 mod-inline"></span> <span class="md-signature font-12"><a href="/editor/The-Editors-of-Encyclopaedia-Britannica/4419">The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica</a></span> </section><span class="md-signature font-12">This article was most recently revised and updated by <a href="/editor/Amy-Tikkanen/6393">Amy Tikkanen</a>.</span><span class="marker end-of-content"></span><span class="marker after-article"></span></div> <div id="chatbot-simplify-root"></div> <div id="chatbot-root"></div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="ai-dialog-placeholder"></div> </div> </div> <aside class="col-md-da-320"></aside> </div> </div> </div> </div> </article> </div> </div> </div> </div> </main> <div id="md-footer"></div> <noscript><iframe src="//www.googletagmanager.com/ns.html?id=GTM-5W6NC8" height="0" width="0" style="display:none;visibility:hidden"></iframe></noscript>  <script> window.ap3c = window.ap3c || {}; var ap3c = window.ap3c; ap3c.cmd = ap3c.cmd || []; ap3c.cmd.push(function() { ap3c.init('ZO4siT4cLwnykPnzZWJtd3Byb2Q', 'https://engage.email.britannica.com/'); ap3c.track({v: 0}); }); ap3c.activity = function(act) { ap3c.act = (ap3c.act || []); ap3c.act.push(act); }; var s, t; s = document.createElement('script'); s.type = 'text/javascript'; s.src = "https://engage.email.britannica.com/app.js"; t = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; t.parentNode.insertBefore(s, t); </script> <script class="marketing-page-info" type="application/json"> {"pageType":"Topic","templateName":"DESKTOP","pageNumber":1,"pagesTotal":1,"pageId":1264512,"pageLength":1140,"initialLoad":true,"lastPageOfScroll":false} </script> <script class="marketing-content-info" type="application/json"> [] </script> <script src="https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel-resources/3-133/js/libs/jquery-3.5.0.min.js?v=3.133.48"></script> <script type="text/javascript" data-type="Init Mendel Code Splitting"> (function() { $.ajax({ dataType: 'script', cache: true, url: 'https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel-resources/3-133/dist/topic-page.js?v=3.133.48' }); })(); </script> <script class="analytics-metadata" type="application/json"> {"leg":"B","adLeg":"B","userType":"ANONYMOUS","pageType":"Topic","pageSubtype":null,"articleTemplateType":"BIO_LARGE","gisted":false,"pageNumber":1,"hasSummarizeButton":false,"hasAskButton":true,"hasAiTopQuestions":false,"hasSimplifyButton":false} </script> <script type="text/javascript"> EBStat={accountId:-1,hostnameOverride:'webstats.eb.com',domain:'www.britannica.com', json:''}; </script> <script type="text/javascript"> ( function() { $.ajax( { dataType: 'script', cache: true, url: '//www.britannica.com/webstats/mendelstats.js?v=1' } ) .done( function() { try {writeStat(null,EBStat);} catch(err){} } ); })(); </script> <div id="bc-fixed-dialogue"></div> </body> </html>

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Brad Pitt | Biography, Movies, & Facts | Britannica