History of Brad Pitt in Timeline
Brad Pitt is a highly successful American actor and film producer with a career spanning over three decades. He has garnered significant critical acclaim, including two Academy Awards, two British Academy Film Awards, two Golden Globe Awards, and two Primetime Emmy Awards. His films have collectively grossed over $9.4 billion worldwide, solidifying his status as a major figure in the entertainment industry.
1921: F. Scott Fitzgerald Short Story
In 1921, F. Scott Fitzgerald wrote the short story, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. The movie released in 2008 starring Brad Pitt was loosely based on this story.
1960: Ocean's Eleven Original Film
In 1960, the original Rat Pack movie "Ocean's Eleven" was released. The 2001 movie starring Brad Pitt was a remake of this movie.
1983: Ron Hansen's Novel Published
In 1983, Ron Hansen's novel, "The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford", was published; it would later be adapted into a film starring Brad Pitt in 2007.
1994: Pitt dates Gwyneth Paltrow
In 1994, Brad Pitt began a much-publicized romance and engagement to his Seven co-star, Gwyneth Paltrow.
1995: Named One of the Sexiest Stars in Film History and People's Sexiest Man Alive
In 1995, Brad Pitt was named one of the 25 sexiest stars in film history by Empire and was also named People's Sexiest Man Alive.
1997: Pitt and Gwyneth Paltrow end their relationship in 1997
In 1997, Brad Pitt ended his relationship with Gwyneth Paltrow.
1998: Pitt meets Jennifer Aniston in 1998
In 1998, Brad Pitt met actress Jennifer Aniston.
1999: Portrayal of Tyler Durden in Fight Club and premiere at Venice International Film Festival
In 1999, Brad Pitt played Tyler Durden in "Fight Club", a film adaptation of Chuck Palahniuk's novel directed by David Fincher. The movie premiered at the Venice International Film Festival in 1999. Pitt prepared for the role with boxing, taekwondo, and grappling lessons, even having pieces of his front teeth removed to achieve the character's look.
July 29, 2000: Pitt and Aniston marry in July 2000
On July 29, 2000, Brad Pitt married Jennifer Aniston in a private wedding ceremony in Malibu.
2000: Fight Club's DVD Release
Despite initial box office struggles, in 2000, "Fight Club" achieved cult classic status following its DVD release.
2000: Pitt co-authors book on the Blacker House in 2000
In 2000, Brad Pitt co-authored an architectural book on the Blacker House with the architects Thomas A. Heinz and Randell Makinson.
2000: Named People's Sexiest Man Alive Again
In 2000, Brad Pitt received the accolade of People's Sexiest Man Alive for the second time.
2000: Cast in Snatch
In 2000, Brad Pitt starred in Guy Ritchie's gangster film, "Snatch", as an Irish Traveller boxer with a thick, barely intelligible accent. Though the film received mixed reviews, Pitt's performance was widely praised for its comedic value.
November 22, 2001: Guest appearance on Friends
On November 22, 2001, Brad Pitt appeared as a guest star in the eighth season of the TV show "Friends", playing a character with a grudge against Rachel Green. This performance earned him an Emmy Award nomination.
December 2001: Starring in Ocean's Eleven
In December 2001, Brad Pitt starred as Rusty Ryan in "Ocean's Eleven", a remake of the 1960 Rat Pack film. The film, featuring an ensemble cast, was a critical and commercial success.
2001: Starring in The Mexican and Spy Game
In 2001, Brad Pitt starred opposite Julia Roberts in the romantic comedy, "The Mexican", which achieved box office success. Also in 2001, Pitt played Tom Bishop in the Cold War thriller, "Spy Game", alongside Robert Redford.
February 2002: Appearances on Jackass
In February 2002, Brad Pitt appeared in two episodes of MTV's reality series "Jackass", participating in stunts such as running through Los Angeles in a gorilla suit and staging his own abduction.
2003: Voice Acting Roles in Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas and King of the Hill
In 2003, Brad Pitt ventured into voice acting, voicing the character of Sinbad in the animated film "Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas" and portraying Boomhauer's brother, Patch, in an episode of the animated TV series "King of the Hill".
2003: Release of the Moneyball book
In 2003, Michael Lewis published the book "Moneyball" which served as the basis for the 2011 movie in which Brad Pitt starred.
October 2004: Pitt Supports John Kerry and Stem-Cell Research in October 2004
In October 2004, Brad Pitt visited the University of Missouri to encourage students to vote for John Kerry in the 2004 U.S. presidential election. Later that month, he publicly supported public funding for embryonic stem-cell research and endorsed Proposition 71.
2004: Starring in Troy and Ocean's Twelve
In 2004, Brad Pitt played Achilles in "Troy" and reprised his role as Rusty Ryan in "Ocean's Twelve". He underwent six months of sword training for "Troy", a film produced by his company, Plan B Entertainment.
January 2005: Pitt and Aniston announce separation in January 2005
In January 2005, Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston announced they had decided to separate.
April 2005: Paparazzi photos of Pitt, Jolie, and her son emerge in April 2005
In April 2005, one month after Jennifer Aniston filed for divorce, a set of paparazzi photographs emerged showing Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie, and her son Maddox at a beach in Kenya, leading the press to interpret the pictures as evidence of a relationship between Pitt and Jolie.
July 2005: Pitt accompanies Jolie to Ethiopia for adoption in July 2005
In July 2005, Brad Pitt accompanied Angelina Jolie to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, where she adopted her second child, a girl named Zahara.
October 2, 2005: Pitt and Aniston's divorce finalized in October 2005
On October 2, 2005, Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston's divorce was finalized by the Los Angeles Superior Court.
December 3, 2005: Pitt begins adoption process of Jolie's children in December 2005
On December 3, 2005, Brad Pitt was in the process of becoming the adoptive father of Angelina Jolie's daughter, Zahara, and Jolie's first adopted child, a boy named Maddox.
2005: Relationship with Angelina Jolie
Beginning in 2005, Brad Pitt's relationship with Angelina Jolie gained intense media attention and became one of the world's most reported celebrity stories.
2005: Collaboration in Mr. & Mrs. Smith
In 2005, Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie collaborated on "Mr. & Mrs. Smith", which was their first film together before working together again on "By the Sea" in 2015.
2005: Pitt narrates Rx for Survival in 2005
In 2005, Brad Pitt narrated the PBS public television series Rx for Survival: A Global Health Challenge, which discusses current global health issues.
2005: Heineken Commercial
In 2005, Brad Pitt starred in a Heineken commercial that aired during the Super Bowl, directed by David Fincher.
January 11, 2006: Jolie confirms pregnancy with Pitt's child in January 2006
On January 11, 2006, Angelina Jolie confirmed to People that she was pregnant with Brad Pitt's child, thereby publicly acknowledging their relationship for the first time.
January 19, 2006: Children's surnames changed to Jolie-Pitt in January 2006
On January 19, 2006, a California judge granted Angelina Jolie's request to change the children's surnames from "Jolie" to "Jolie-Pitt".
May 27, 2006: Shiloh Jolie-Pitt Born in May 2006
On May 27, 2006, Angelina Jolie gave birth to their daughter Shiloh in Swakopmund, Namibia. Brad Pitt confirmed that she would qualify for a Namibian passport.
September 2006: Pitt and Jolie establish Jolie-Pitt Foundation in September 2006
In September 2006, Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie established a charitable organization, the Jolie-Pitt Foundation, to aid humanitarian causes around the world, making initial donations of $1 million each to Global Action for Children and Doctors Without Borders.
October 2006: Jolie-Pitt Foundation donates to the Daniel Pearl Foundation in October 2006
In October 2006, the Jolie-Pitt Foundation donated $100,000 to the Daniel Pearl Foundation, an organization created in memory of the late American journalist Daniel Pearl.
October 2006: Pitt supports same-sex marriage in 2006
In an October 2006 interview with Esquire, Brad Pitt stated his support for same-sex marriage and said he would marry Angelina Jolie when everyone in America is legally able to marry.
2006: Forbes Celebrity 100 List
In 2006, Brad Pitt appeared on Forbes' annual Celebrity 100 list of the most powerful celebrities, placing at number 20.
2006: Pitt founds Make It Right Foundation in 2006
In 2006, Brad Pitt founded the Make It Right Foundation, organizing housing professionals in New Orleans to finance and construct 150 sustainable, affordable new houses in New Orleans's Ninth Ward following the devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina.
2006: Starring in Babel and Producing The Departed
In 2006, Brad Pitt starred in "Babel" opposite Cate Blanchett, a performance that was well-received. That same year, his company, Plan B Entertainment, produced "The Departed", which won the Academy Award for Best Picture.
2006: Favorite Celebrity Endorser
In 2006, Brad Pitt, together with Angelina Jolie, was found to be the favorite celebrity endorser for brands and products worldwide in a global industry survey by ACNielsen across 42 international markets.
2006: Media Hype Surrounding Jolie's Pregnancy
In early 2006, after Angelina Jolie was confirmed to be pregnant, the media hype surrounding her and Brad Pitt reached an extreme level, with Reuters calling it "the point of insanity".
March 15, 2007: Jolie adopts Pax from Vietnam in March 2007
On March 15, 2007, Angelina Jolie adopted a 3-year-old boy, Pax, from an orphanage in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
May 2007: Pitt and Jolie Donate to Darfur Region in May 2007
In May 2007, Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie donated $1 million to three organizations in Chad and Sudan dedicated to those affected by the crisis in the Darfur region.
2007: Time 100 List
In 2007, Brad Pitt appeared on the Time 100 list, a compilation of the 100 most influential people in the world, as selected annually by Time magazine.
2007: Starring in Ocean's Thirteen and The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford
In 2007, Brad Pitt reprised his role in "Ocean's Thirteen" and played Jesse James in "The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford". The latter premiered at the Venice Film Festival, where Pitt won the Volpi Cup for Best Actor.
2007: Jolie-Pitt Foundation gave away $3.4 million in 2007
In 2007, The Jolie-Pitt Foundation gave away $3.4 million.
February 21, 2008: Pitt adopts Pax in the U.S. in February 2008
On February 21, 2008, Brad Pitt adopted Pax in the United States.
May 2008: Jolie Confirms Pregnancy at Cannes in May 2008
At the Cannes Film Festival in May 2008, Angelina Jolie confirmed that she was expecting twins.
July 12, 2008: Jolie gives birth to twins in July 2008
On July 12, 2008, Angelina Jolie gave birth to son Knox and daughter Vivienne in Nice, France.
September 2008: Pitt donates to campaign against Proposition 8 in September 2008
In September 2008, Brad Pitt donated $100,000 to the campaign against California's 2008 ballot proposition Proposition 8, an initiative to overturn the state Supreme Court decision that had legalized same-sex marriage.
October 2008: First homes completed by Make It Right Foundation in October 2008
In October 2008, the first six homes were completed by Brad Pitt's Make It Right Foundation in New Orleans.
2008: Forbes Celebrity 100 List
In 2008, Brad Pitt appeared on Forbes' annual Celebrity 100 list of the most powerful celebrities, placing at number 10.
2008: Receiving Volpi Cup award
In 2008, Brad Pitt finally collected the Volpi Cup award for Best Actor at the Venice International Film Festival. He was awarded the cup in 2007 for his role in "The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford".
2008: Starring in Burn After Reading and The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
In 2008, Brad Pitt starred in "Burn After Reading", his first collaboration with the Coen brothers. Later in 2008, he played the lead role in David Fincher's "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button", earning him multiple award nominations.
February 2009: Pitt comments on relationship with Aniston in February 2009
In a February 2009 interview, Brad Pitt said that he and Jennifer Aniston "check in with each other", adding that they were both big parts of each other's lives.
March 2009: Pitt promotes green housing with Barack Obama and Nancy Pelosi in March 2009
In March 2009, Brad Pitt met with U.S. President Barack Obama and Speaker of the House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi to promote his concept of green housing as a national model and to discuss federal funding possibilities.
June 2009: Jolie-Pitt Foundation Donates to U.N. Refugee Agency in June 2009
In June 2009, the Jolie-Pitt Foundation donated $1 million to a U.N. refugee agency to help Pakistanis displaced by fighting between troops and Taliban militants.
September 2009: Pitt receives award for Make It Right project in September 2009
In September 2009, Brad Pitt received an award from the U.S. Green Building Council in recognition of the Make It Right project.
2009: Starring in Inglourious Basterds
In 2009, Brad Pitt starred as Lieutenant Aldo Raine in Quentin Tarantino's war film, "Inglourious Basterds", which premiered at the Cannes Film Festival. The film was a box office hit and received many awards.
2009: Time 100 List (Builders and Titans)
In 2009, Brad Pitt was included on the Time 100 list again, this time in the "Builders and Titans" category.
January 2010: Jolie-Pitt Foundation donates to Doctors Without Borders in January 2010
In January 2010, the Jolie-Pitt Foundation donated $1 million to Doctors Without Borders for emergency medical assistance to help victims of the Haiti earthquake.
2010: Voice Acting in Megamind
In 2010, Brad Pitt voiced the superhero character Metro Man in the animated feature, "Megamind".
2011: Producing and Appearing in The Tree of Life, Starring in Moneyball
In 2011, Brad Pitt produced and appeared in Terrence Malick's "The Tree of Life", which won the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival. Also in 2011, Pitt starred in "Moneyball", earning critical acclaim and an Academy Award nomination.
March 2012: Pitt performs in 8 in March 2012
In March 2012, Brad Pitt was featured in a performance of Dustin Lance Black's play, 8 – a staged reenactment of the federal trial that overturned California's Prop 8 ban on same-sex marriage – as Judge Vaughn Walker.
April 2012: Pitt and Jolie Announce Engagement in April 2012
In April 2012, Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie announced their engagement after seven years together.
September 2012: Pitt reaffirms support for Obama in September 2012
In September 2012, Brad Pitt reaffirmed his support for Barack Obama, saying, "I am an Obama supporter and I'm backing his U.S. election campaign."
2012: Starring in Killing Them Softly
In 2012, Brad Pitt starred as Jackie Cogan in Andrew Dominik's "Killing Them Softly", based on the novel "Cogan's Trade".
2013: Starring in and Producing World War Z, Producing 12 Years a Slave, Role in The Counselor
In 2013, Brad Pitt starred in and produced "World War Z", which became his highest-grossing film at the time. Also in 2013, he produced and played a small role in "12 Years a Slave". In the same year, he had a role in "The Counselor".
2013: Pitt's Face Recognition Struggles
In a 2013 interview, Brad Pitt stated that his inability to recognize people's faces had become so severe that he often preferred to stay home.
August 14, 2014: Pitt and Jolie legally marry on August 14, 2014
On August 14, 2014, Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie were legally married.
August 23, 2014: Pitt and Jolie's wedding on August 23, 2014
On August 23, 2014, Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie had their wedding in a private ceremony at the Château Miraval, France.
October 17, 2014: Release of Fury
On October 17, 2014, "Fury", a World War II film starring Brad Pitt, was released. The film achieved both commercial and critical success.
2014: Plan B series Resurrection picked up by ABC
In 2013–2014 Plan B Entertainment landed its first television series as their joint venture with ABC Studios, the sci-fi/fantasy drama Resurrection, was picked up by ABC.
June 2, 2015: Minor Planet Named After Pitt
On June 2, 2015, the minor planet 29132 Bradpitt was named in Brad Pitt's honor.
2015: Starring in By the Sea and The Big Short
In 2015, Brad Pitt starred opposite Angelina Jolie in "By the Sea", which she directed. Also in 2015, Pitt starred in and produced "The Big Short", which received critical and commercial acclaim.
September 2016: Pitt Gets Sober
In September 2016, Brad Pitt became sober and started attending Alcoholics Anonymous meetings to support his recovery.
September 2016: Pitt investigated for child abuse in September 2016
In September 2016, the FBI and the Los Angeles Department of Children and Family Services investigated Brad Pitt for child abuse following an incident on a plane.
September 19, 2016: Jolie files for divorce from Pitt on September 19, 2016
On September 19, 2016, Angelina Jolie filed for divorce from Brad Pitt, citing irreconcilable differences.
2016: Starring in Allied
In 2016, Brad Pitt starred in Robert Zemeckis's "Allied", playing an assassin who falls in love with a French spy during World War II.
2017: Starring in War Machine and Recurring Role on The Jim Jefferies Show
In 2017, Brad Pitt starred in the Netflix film "War Machine", which he also produced. Also in 2017, Pitt had a recurring role on "The Jim Jefferies Show".
2017: World War Z sequel delayed and shelved
In 2017, the World War Z sequel was briefly delayed, then had David Fincher attached as director, but was ultimately shelved due to budget issues.
November 2018: Previous Custody agreement in November 2018
In November 2018, Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie had a previous custody agreement where Jolie has primary physical custody while Pitt has "custodial time" with their minor children.
January 2019: Favorite Film
As of January 2019, Brad Pitt stated that The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford was his favorite of his films.
April 12, 2019: Pitt and Jolie's divorce becomes legal on April 12, 2019
On April 12, 2019, Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie's divorce became legal.
December 2019: Article in Interview with Anthony Hopkins
In December 2019, Brad Pitt wrote an article for Interview magazine, discussing addiction and recovery with Anthony Hopkins.
2019: Starring in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood and Ad Astra
In 2019, Brad Pitt starred in Quentin Tarantino's "Once Upon a Time in Hollywood", earning him awards for Best Supporting Actor. Also in 2019, he starred in "Ad Astra" as Roy McBride.
October 2020: Pitt Narrates Advertisement for Joe Biden's 2020 Presidential Campaign
In October 2020, Brad Pitt narrated an advertisement for Joe Biden's 2020 presidential campaign.
2020: Portrayal of Dr. Anthony Fauci on Saturday Night Live
In 2020, Brad Pitt portrayed Dr. Anthony Fauci on "Saturday Night Live", earning him a Primetime Emmy Award nomination.
May 2021: Pitt Granted Joint Custody in May 2021
In May 2021, Brad Pitt was granted joint custody of his children with Angelina Jolie, over four and a half years after proceedings began.
2021: Pitt creates a recording business.
In 2021, Brad Pitt started a company with French record producer Damien Quintard.
January 5, 2022: Brad Pitt signs on to star in Formula One film
On January 5, 2022, Brad Pitt signed on to star in and produce a racing film on Formula One titled F1, directed by Joseph Kosinski, for which he earned $30 million.
2022: Pitt dates Ines de Ramon in 2022
In 2022, Brad Pitt began dating Ines de Ramon, a jewelry executive and the ex-wife of actor Paul Wesley.
2022: Pitt Discusses Prosopagnosia
In 2022, Brad Pitt mentioned that he had been struggling for years to recognize people's faces due to prosopagnosia (face blindness), although he has not been formally diagnosed.
2022: Jolie Files Countersuit Against Pitt Alleging Abuse in 2022
In 2022, during a legal battle over their vineyard, Angelina Jolie filed a countersuit against Brad Pitt, alleging he abused her and their children during a 2016 plane ride.
2022: Sculptures Exhibited in Finland
In 2022, nine of Brad Pitt's sculptures were displayed at the Sara Hildén Art Museum in Tampere, Finland, alongside works by Nick Cave and Thomas Houseago.
2023: Sculptures Exhibited in Finland
In 2023, nine of Brad Pitt's sculptures continued to be displayed at the Sara Hildén Art Museum in Tampere, Finland, alongside works by Nick Cave and Thomas Houseago.
September 2024: Release of Wolfs
In September 2024, Wolfs, a comedy-thriller starring Brad Pitt and George Clooney, written and directed by Jon Watts, was released.
2025: Pitt's Films Gross Over $7.5 Billion Worldwide
As of 2025, Brad Pitt's films have grossed over $7.5 billion worldwide, according to The Numbers.
2025: Criticism of Pitt's "rehabilitation" following F1 film release in 2025
Following the release of Brad Pitt's 2025 film F1, Angelica Jade Bastién criticized his "rehabilitation" in an article published in Vulture, suggesting indifference to the abuse allegations made by Angelina Jolie.
2025: Shiloh Jolie-Pitt changes her name in 2025
In 2025 Pitt's 18-year-old second-eldest daughter with Jolie changed her name legally from Shiloh Nouvel Jolie-Pitt to Shiloh Nouvel Jolie (Shi Joli for short).
2025: Pitt's Highest Grossing Picture
In 2025, F1 became Pitt's highest grossing picture.
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