Career Timeline of Brad Pitt: Major Achievements and Milestones
How Brad Pitt built a successful career. Explore key moments that defined the journey.
Brad Pitt is a highly acclaimed American actor and film producer, recognized as one of the most influential celebrities globally. He has received numerous awards, including two Academy Awards and two Golden Globe Awards. Pitt's films have generated over $6.9 billion worldwide, solidifying his position as a major figure in the entertainment industry.
May 1987: Television Debut on 'Another World'
In May 1987, Brad Pitt made his television debut in a two-episode role on the NBC soap opera Another World.
December 1987: Guest Appearance on 'Trial and Error' and 'Growing Pains'
In December 1987, Brad Pitt had a guest appearance on the CBS sitcom Trial and Error and the ABC sitcom Growing Pains.
1989: Film Appearances in 'Happy Together' and 'Cutting Class'
In 1989, Brad Pitt appeared in the comedy Happy Together and had a featured role in the horror film Cutting Class, which was his first film to reach theaters.
1990: Role in 'Too Young to Die?'
In 1990, Brad Pitt was cast as Billy Canton in the NBC television movie Too Young to Die?, playing a drug addict who takes advantage of a young runaway.
1991: Appearance in 'Across the Tracks' and Levi's Commercial
In 1991, Brad Pitt appeared in the film Across the Tracks, and he also featured in a Levi's jeans TV commercial using the song "20th Century Boy".
1991: Recognition in 'Thelma & Louise'
In 1991, Brad Pitt gained recognition as a cowboy hitchhiker in Ridley Scott's road film, Thelma & Louise.
1991: Wider Recognition in 'Thelma & Louise' and Starring in 'Johnny Suede'
In 1991, after years of supporting roles, Brad Pitt attracted wider recognition in Thelma & Louise and starred in the film Johnny Suede.
1992: Starring in 'Cool World'
In 1992, Brad Pitt starred in the live-action/animated fantasy film Cool World.
1992: Leading Role in 'A River Runs Through It'
In 1992, Brad Pitt took on a leading role in the drama film A River Runs Through It.
1993: Starring in 'Kalifornia', Appearance in 'True Romance' and ShoWest Award
In 1993, Brad Pitt reunited with Juliette Lewis in the film Kalifornia, made a brief appearance in True Romance, and won a ShoWest Award for Male Star of Tomorrow.
1994: Portrayal of Louis de Pointe du Lac in 'Interview with the Vampire'
In 1994, Brad Pitt portrayed the vampire Louis de Pointe du Lac in the horror film Interview with the Vampire: The Vampire Chronicles, based on Anne Rice's 1976 novel.
1994: Roles in 'Legends of the Fall' and 'Interview with the Vampire'
In 1994, Brad Pitt starred in the western film Legends of the Fall and the horror film Interview with the Vampire.
1994: Starring in 'Legends of the Fall'
In 1994, following the release of Interview with the Vampire, Brad Pitt starred in Legends of the Fall, earning his first Golden Globe Award nomination.
1995: Starring in 'Seven' and '12 Monkeys'
In 1995, Brad Pitt starred in the crime thriller Seven and the science fiction film 12 Monkeys, winning a Golden Globe and receiving an Academy Award nomination for the latter.
1995: Starring in 'Seven'
In 1995, Brad Pitt starred in the crime thriller Seven.
1995: Oscar Nomination for '12 Monkeys'
In 1995, Brad Pitt was Oscar-nominated for his role in the science fiction drama 12 Monkeys.
1995: MTV Movie Awards for 'Interview with the Vampire'
In 1995, despite a mixed reception, Brad Pitt won two MTV Movie Awards for his performance in Interview with the Vampire.
1996: Appearance in 'Sleepers'
In 1996, Brad Pitt appeared in the legal drama Sleepers, based on Lorenzo Carcaterra's novel.
1997: Starring in 'The Devil's Own'
In 1997, Brad Pitt starred in The Devil's Own, playing an Irish Republican Army terrorist, a role for which he learned an Irish accent.
1997: Release of 'The Dark Side of the Sun'
In 1997, The Dark Side of the Sun, filmed earlier and shelved due to the Croatian War of Independence, was finally released, marking Brad Pitt's first leading film role.
1998: Lead Role in 'Meet Joe Black'
In 1998, Brad Pitt had the lead role in the fantasy romance film Meet Joe Black, portraying a personification of death.
1999: Portrayal of Tyler Durden in Fight Club
In 1999, Brad Pitt portrayed Tyler Durden in Fight Club, which is a film adaptation of Chuck Palahniuk's novel. He took lessons in boxing, taekwondo, and grappling to prepare for the role. Fight Club premiered at the 1999 Venice International Film Festival.
1999: Starring in 'Fight Club'
In 1999, Brad Pitt starred in the cult film Fight Club.
2000: Co-Authored Book on the Blacker House
In 2000, Brad Pitt co-authored an architectural book on the Blacker House with the architects Thomas A. Heinz and Randell Makinson.
2000: Role in Snatch
In 2000, Brad Pitt starred as an Irish Traveller boxer in Guy Ritchie's gangster film, Snatch. While the film received mixed reviews, Pitt's performance was widely praised.
November 22, 2001: Guest appearance on Friends
On November 22, 2001, Brad Pitt made a guest appearance on the eighth season of Friends as a man with a grudge against Rachel Green. He was later nominated for an Emmy Award for this performance.
December 2001: Starring in Ocean's Eleven
In December 2001, Brad Pitt starred as Rusty Ryan in the heist film Ocean's Eleven, a remake of the 1960 Rat Pack original. The film was a box office success.
2001: Co-founding of Plan B Entertainment
In 2001, Brad Pitt co-founded the production company Plan B Entertainment.
2001: Commercial Success with 'Ocean's Eleven'
In 2001, Brad Pitt found greater commercial success starring in Steven Soderbergh's heist film Ocean's Eleven.
2001: Starring in The Mexican and Spy Game
In 2001, Brad Pitt starred opposite Julia Roberts in the romantic comedy The Mexican, which was a box office success. Also in 2001, he starred in the Cold War thriller Spy Game as Tom Bishop.
February 2002: Appearances on MTV's Jackass
In February 2002, Brad Pitt appeared in two episodes of MTV's reality series Jackass, participating in comedic stunts.
2003: Voice-acting roles in Sinbad and King of the Hill
In 2003, Brad Pitt took on his first voice-acting roles, including the titular character in Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas and Boomhauer's brother in King of the Hill.
October 2004: Supported John Kerry and Stem-Cell Research
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 in October 2004, he publicly supported public funding for embryonic stem-cell research and endorsed Proposition 71.
2004: Leading Role in 'Troy'
In 2004, Brad Pitt cemented his leading man status by starring in the historical epic Troy.
2004: Starring in Troy and Ocean's Twelve
In 2004, Brad Pitt starred as Achilles in Troy and reprised his role as Rusty Ryan in Ocean's Twelve. He also produced Troy via Plan B Entertainment.
2005: Narrated 'Rx for Survival: A Global Health Challenge'
In 2005, Brad Pitt narrated the PBS public television series Rx for Survival: A Global Health Challenge, which discussed current global health issues.
2005: Starring in Mr. & Mrs. Smith
In 2005, Brad Pitt starred as John Smith in Mr. & Mrs. Smith, alongside Angelina Jolie. The film was praised for the chemistry between the two stars.
2005: Heineken Commercial Aired During Super Bowl
In 2005, Brad Pitt starred in a Heineken commercial, directed by David Fincher, that aired during the Super Bowl.
September 2006: Established the Jolie-Pitt Foundation
In September 2006, Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie established a charitable organization, the Jolie-Pitt Foundation, to aid humanitarian causes around the world, initially donating $1 million each to Global Action for Children and Doctors Without Borders.
October 2006: Donated to the Daniel Pearl Foundation
In October 2006, the Jolie-Pitt Foundation donated $100,000 to the Daniel Pearl Foundation.
2006: Founded the Make It Right Foundation
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 and produced The Departed through Plan B Entertainment. Babel was screened at the Cannes and Toronto Film Festivals, while The Departed won the Academy Award for Best Picture.
2006: Starring in 'Babel'
In 2006, Brad Pitt starred in the acclaimed film Babel.
2006: Favorite Celebrity Endorser
In 2006, a global industry survey by ACNielsen found Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie to be the favorite celebrity endorsers for brands and products worldwide.
May 2007: Donated $1 Million to Darfur Relief Organizations
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: Starring in Ocean's Thirteen and The Assassination of Jesse James
In 2007, Brad Pitt starred in Ocean's Thirteen and The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford. He won the Volpi Cup award for Best Actor at the Venice International Film Festival for the latter.
2007: Starring in 'The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford'
In 2007, Brad Pitt starred in The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford.
2007: Jolie-Pitt Foundation Gave Away $3.4 Million
In 2007, the Jolie-Pitt Foundation gave away $3.4 million to various causes.
October 2008: Completion of First Six Make It Right Homes
In October 2008, the first six homes of the Make It Right Foundation were completed.
2008: Starring in Burn After Reading and The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
In 2008, Brad Pitt starred in the black comedy Burn After Reading and The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. His performance in the latter earned him his first Screen Actors Guild Award nomination, a fourth Golden Globe nomination, and a second Academy Award nomination.
2008: Oscar Nomination and Release of 'Burn After Reading'
In 2008, Brad Pitt was Oscar-nominated for his role in The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, and he also starred in Burn After Reading.
March 2009: Promoted Green Housing Concept with Barack Obama and Nancy Pelosi
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 Donation to U.N. Refugee Agency
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: Award from U.S. Green Building Council
In September 2009, Brad Pitt received an award in recognition of the Make It Right project from the U.S. Green Building Council.
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 favorable reviews.
January 2010: Jolie-Pitt Foundation Donated to Doctors Without Borders for Haiti Earthquake Relief
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 role 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
In 2011, Brad Pitt produced and appeared in Terrence Malick's experimental drama The Tree of Life, which won the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival. He also starred in Moneyball.
2011: Oscar Nomination for 'Moneyball' and Starring in 'The Tree of Life'
In 2011, Brad Pitt was Oscar-nominated for his role in the sports drama Moneyball and also starred in The Tree of Life.
2011: Oscar Nomination for 'Moneyball' as Producer
In 2011, Brad Pitt was nominated for an Academy Award for Moneyball as a producer.
2012: Starring in Killing Them Softly
In 2012, Brad Pitt starred as mob hitman Jackie Cogan in Andrew Dominik's Killing Them Softly, which is based on the novel Cogan's Trade.
2013: Starring in World War Z and Producing 12 Years a Slave
In 2013, Brad Pitt starred in and produced World War Z. He also produced and played a small role in 12 Years a Slave. Additionally, he had a supporting role in The Counselor.
2013: Academy Award for Best Picture for '12 Years a Slave'
In 2013, as a producer, Brad Pitt won the Academy Award for Best Picture for 12 Years a Slave.
October 17, 2014: Release of Fury
On October 17, 2014, Fury, a World War II film starring Brad Pitt, was released. The film was a commercial and critical success.
2014: Plan B Entertainment lands television series
In 2013-2014 schedule, Plan B Entertainment had its first television series as their joint venture with ABC Studios, the sci-fi/fantasy drama Resurrection, was picked up by ABC.
2015: Starring in 'The Big Short'
In 2015, Brad Pitt starred in The Big Short.
2015: Starring in By the Sea and The Big Short
In 2015, Brad Pitt starred opposite Angelina Jolie in By the Sea, which was directed by Jolie. Pitt also starred in and produced The Big Short. By the Sea was their first movie together since 2005's Mr. & Mrs. Smith.
2015: Oscar Nomination for 'The Big Short' as Producer
In 2015, Brad Pitt was nominated for an Academy Award for The Big Short as a producer.
2016: Starring in Allied
In 2016, Brad Pitt starred in Robert Zemeckis's romantic thriller Allied, playing an assassin who falls in love with a French spy.
2017: Starring in War Machine and recurring role on The Jim Jefferies Show
In 2017, Brad Pitt starred in the Netflix satirical war comedy War Machine. He also had a recurring role as a weatherman on The Jim Jefferies Show.
2019: Starring in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood and Ad Astra
In 2019, Brad Pitt starred in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood and Ad Astra. He received several awards for his performance in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, including an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor.
2019: Academy Award for 'Once Upon a Time in Hollywood'
In 2019, Brad Pitt won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role in Quentin Tarantino's Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.
2020: Portraying 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.
2021: Entered the Recording Business with Damien Quintard
In 2021, Brad Pitt entered the recording business by creating Miraval Studios, a company with French record producer Damien Quintard, set in Pitt's Chateau Miraval in South of France.
January 5, 2022: Signed on to Star in and Produce Formula One Racing 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 will earn $30 million.
2022: Sculptures Exhibited at Sara Hildén Art Museum
In 2022, nine of Brad Pitt's sculptures were exhibited at the Sara Hildén Art Museum in Tampere, Finland, alongside works by Nick Cave and Thomas Houseago.
2023: Sculptures Exhibited at Sara Hildén Art Museum
In 2023, nine of Brad Pitt's sculptures continued to be exhibited 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, Brad Pitt's film Wolfs, a comedy-thriller written and directed by Jon Watts and co-starring George Clooney, was released.
2025: Films Gross Over $6.9 Billion Worldwide
As of 2025, Brad Pitt's films have grossed over $6.9 billion worldwide, according to The Numbers.
2025: Film Grosses Reach $6.9 Billion
As of 2025, Brad Pitt's films have grossed over $6.9 billion worldwide, demonstrating his enduring success and appeal in the film industry.
Mentioned in this timeline
Angelina Jolie is a highly acclaimed American actress filmmaker and...
Nancy Pelosi is a prominent American politician notably serving as...
Jennifer Aniston is a highly successful American actress best known...
CBS is a major American commercial broadcast television and radio...
California is the most populous US state located on the...
Sudan officially the Republic of the Sudan is a country...
Trending
14 minutes ago Mirra Andreeva Returns to Madrid Open, Aims High, Focuses on Game Improvement
14 minutes ago Ezekiel Elliott's Potential Cowboys Return: Speculation After the NFL Draft
1 hour ago Robert Pattinson and Jennifer Lawrence star in Lynne Ramsay's 'Die, My Love'.
3 days ago Wunmi Mosaku Shines as Red Carpet Star and Explores Horror in 'Sinners' Role
1 hour ago Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Debuts Strong, Garnering GOTY Buzz and High Player Ratings
1 hour ago King Charles reportedly plans abdication, paving way for Prince William's reign.
Popular
Pope Francis is the current head of the Catholic Church...
The Real ID Act of is a US federal law...
Cristiano Ronaldo often nicknamed CR is a highly decorated Portuguese...
Michael Jordan also known as MJ is an American businessman...
Donald John Trump is an American politician media personality and...
LeBron James nicknamed King James is a highly decorated American...