History of Brad Pitt in Timeline
Brad Pitt is a highly acclaimed American actor and film producer. He has received numerous prestigious awards, including two Academy Awards and two British Academy Film Awards. Pitt's influence extends beyond acting, as he has been featured on Forbes' Celebrity 100 and Time 100 lists, solidifying his status as a major celebrity.
December 18, 1963: Brad Pitt's Birth
On December 18, 1963, William Bradley Pitt was born. He would later become a very influential celebrity.
1966: Birth of Douglas Pitt
In 1966, Brad Pitt's younger brother, Douglas Pitt, was born.
1969: Birth of Julie Pitt
In 1969, Brad Pitt's younger sister, Julie (née Pitt) Neal, was born.
1982: Enrollment at the University of Missouri
In 1982, Brad Pitt enrolled in the University of Missouri, majoring in journalism with a focus on advertising.
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'
In December 1987, Brad Pitt had a guest appearance on the CBS sitcom Trial and Error.
1989: Film Appearances in 'Happy Together' and 'Cutting Class'
In 1989, Brad Pitt made two motion picture appearances: a supporting role in the comedy Happy Together and a featured role in the horror film Cutting Class.
1990: Role in 'Too Young to Die?'
In 1990, Brad Pitt played Billy Canton in the NBC television movie Too Young to Die?, receiving positive reviews for his portrayal of a drug addict.
1991: Appearance in 'Across the Tracks'
In 1991, Brad Pitt appeared in the film Across the Tracks, portraying Joe Maloney.
1991: Recognition in 'Thelma & Louise'
In 1991, Brad Pitt gained recognition as a cowboy hitchhiker in the Ridley Scott film Thelma & Louise.
1991: Breakthrough Role in 'Thelma & Louise'
In 1991, Brad Pitt gained wider recognition for his supporting role in Ridley Scott's Thelma & Louise, where he played J.D., a small-time criminal.
1992: Role in 'A River Runs Through It'
In 1992, Brad Pitt played Paul Maclean in the biographical film A River Runs Through It, which was considered a career-making performance.
1992: Starring in 'Cool World'
In 1992, Brad Pitt starred in the live-action/animated fantasy film Cool World, though it did not significantly advance his career.
1993: Role in 'Kalifornia'
In 1993, Brad Pitt reunited with Juliette Lewis for the road film Kalifornia, playing a serial killer.
1994: Dated Gwyneth Paltrow
In 1994, Brad Pitt began a much-publicized romance with Gwyneth Paltrow, his Seven co-star.
1994: Role 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.
1994: Starring in 'Legends of the Fall'
In 1994, Brad Pitt starred in Legends of the Fall, receiving his first Golden Globe Award nomination for his performance.
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.
1995: Oscar Nomination for '12 Monkeys'
In 1995, Brad Pitt received an Oscar nomination for his role in the science fiction drama 12 Monkeys.
1995: Starring in 'Seven' and '12 Monkeys'
In 1995, Brad Pitt starred in the crime thriller Seven and the science fiction film 12 Monkeys, receiving critical acclaim and a Golden Globe Award for the latter.
1995: Starring in 'Seven'
In 1995, Brad Pitt starred in the crime thriller Seven.
1995: Named People's Sexiest Man Alive
In 1995, Brad Pitt was named People's Sexiest Man Alive.
1995: Named one of the sexiest stars in film history
In 1995, Brad Pitt was named one of the 25 sexiest stars in film history by Empire.
1995: MTV Movie Awards
In 1995, Brad Pitt won two MTV Movie Awards for his role in 'Interview with the Vampire'.
1996: Appearance in 'Sleepers'
In 1996, Brad Pitt appeared in the legal drama Sleepers, which received mixed reviews.
1997: Ended relationship with Gwyneth Paltrow
In 1997, Brad Pitt ended his relationship with Gwyneth Paltrow.
1997: Starring in 'The Devil's Own'
In 1997, Brad Pitt starred in The Devil's Own as an Irish Republican Army terrorist, requiring him to learn an Irish accent.
1997: Release of 'The Dark Side of the Sun'
In 1997, The Dark Side of the Sun, filmed earlier, was released. It was Brad Pitt's first leading film role.
1998: Starring 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.
1998: Met Jennifer Aniston
In 1998, Brad Pitt met actress Jennifer Aniston.
1999: Portrayal of Tyler Durden in 'Fight Club'
In 1999, Brad Pitt portrayed Tyler Durden in Fight Club, a role for which he took boxing, taekwondo, and grappling lessons.
1999: Starring in 'Fight Club'
In 1999, Brad Pitt starred in the acclaimed film Fight Club.
July 29, 2000: Married Jennifer Aniston
On July 29, 2000, Brad Pitt married actress Jennifer Aniston in a private wedding ceremony in Malibu.
2000: Co-authored architectural book
In 2000, Brad Pitt co-authored an architectural book on the Blacker House with architects Thomas A. Heinz and Randell Makinson.
2000: Starring in Snatch
In 2000, Brad Pitt starred in Guy Ritchie's gangster film, Snatch, as an Irish Traveller boxer. While the film received mixed reviews, Pitt's performance was widely praised for his portrayal of a character with a barely intelligible accent. Reviewers noted that the role allowed Pitt to showcase his comedic abilities.
2000: Named People's Sexiest Man Alive Again
In 2000, Brad Pitt was again named People's Sexiest Man Alive.
2000: Cult Classic Status of 'Fight Club'
In 2000, despite an initial worse-than-expected box office performance, Fight Club became a cult classic after its DVD release.
November 22, 2001: Guest Appearance on Friends
On November 22, 2001, Brad Pitt made a guest appearance on the television series Friends, playing a character with a grudge against Rachel Green, played by his then-wife Jennifer Aniston. His performance led to an Emmy Award nomination.
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, featuring an ensemble cast including George Clooney and Julia Roberts, was a critical and commercial success, earning $450 million worldwide.
2001: Commercial Success with 'Ocean's Eleven'
In 2001, Brad Pitt achieved greater commercial success starring in Steven Soderbergh's heist film Ocean's Eleven.
2001: Co-founding Plan B Entertainment
In 2001, Brad Pitt co-founded the production company Plan B Entertainment.
2001: Starring in The Mexican and Spy Game
In 2001, Brad Pitt starred in the romantic comedy The Mexican alongside Julia Roberts, which achieved box office success. Also in 2001, he played Tom Bishop in the Cold War thriller Spy Game, mentored by Robert Redford's character.
February 2002: Appearance on Jackass
In February 2002, Brad Pitt appeared in two episodes of MTV's reality series Jackass, participating in stunts and staged events.
2003: Voice Acting Roles
In 2003, Brad Pitt ventured into voice acting, lending his voice to the titular character in the DreamWorks animated film Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas and to Boomhauer's brother, Patch, in an episode of King of the Hill.
October 2004: Political Activism and Support for Stem-Cell Research
In October 2004, Brad Pitt visited the University of Missouri to encourage students to vote in the 2004 U.S. presidential election, supporting John Kerry. Later that month, he publicly supported public funding for embryonic stem-cell research, endorsing Proposition 71 in California.
2004: Starring in Troy and Ocean's Twelve
In 2004, Brad Pitt starred as Achilles in Troy, requiring six months of sword training. He also reprised his role as Rusty Ryan in Ocean's Twelve. 2004 was also the year that Plan B Entertainment, a film production company, was founded.
2004: Starring in 'Troy'
In 2004, Brad Pitt starred in the historical epic Troy.
January 2005: Separation from Jennifer Aniston
In January 2005, Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston announced they had decided to separate.
April 2005: Photographs emerged with Jolie
In April 2005, paparazzi photographs emerged showing Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie, and her son Maddox at a beach in Kenya, interpreted as evidence of a relationship between Pitt and Jolie.
July 2005: Accompanied Jolie to Ethiopia for adoption
In July 2005, Brad Pitt accompanied Angelina Jolie to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, where she adopted her second child, Zahara.
October 2, 2005: Divorce finalized from Jennifer Aniston
On October 2, 2005, Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston's divorce was finalized by the Los Angeles Superior Court.
December 3, 2005: Began adoption process
On December 3, 2005, Brad Pitt was in the process of becoming the adoptive father of Jolie's daughter, and Jolie's first adopted child, Maddox.
2005: Relationship became one of the world's most reported celebrity stories
Beginning in 2005, Brad Pitt's relationship with Angelina Jolie became one of the world's most reported celebrity stories.
2005: Narrated Rx for Survival
In 2005, Brad Pitt narrated the PBS public television series Rx for Survival: A Global Health Challenge, which discusses 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 noted for the chemistry between Pitt and Jolie and became a major hit, grossing $478 million worldwide.
2005: Heineken Super Bowl Commercial
In 2005, Brad Pitt starred in a Heineken commercial that aired during the Super Bowl. The commercial was directed by David Fincher.
January 11, 2006: Jolie confirmed pregnancy with Pitt's child
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
On January 19, 2006, a California judge granted Angelina Jolie's request to change the children's surnames from "Jolie" to "Jolie-Pitt", with adoptions finalized soon after.
May 27, 2006: Birth of daughter Shiloh
On May 27, 2006, Angelina Jolie gave birth to their daughter Shiloh in Swakopmund, Namibia.
September 2006: Established Jolie-Pitt Foundation
In September 2006, Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie established the Jolie-Pitt Foundation, a charitable organization to aid humanitarian causes around the world, with initial donations of $1 million each to Global Action for Children and Doctors Without Borders.
October 2006: Donation to the Daniel Pearl Foundation
In October 2006, The Jolie-Pitt Foundation donated $100,000 to the Daniel Pearl Foundation.
October 2006: Expressed support for same-sex marriage
In an October 2006 interview with Esquire, Brad Pitt stated 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 100 most powerful celebrities, placing at number 20.
2006: Founded Make It Right Foundation
In 2006, Brad Pitt founded the Make It Right Foundation, organizing housing professionals in New Orleans to finance and construct sustainable, affordable houses in New Orleans's Ninth Ward following Hurricane Katrina.
2006: Starring in Babel and Producing The Departed
In 2006, Brad Pitt starred in Babel, receiving critical acclaim. In 2006, his company Plan B Entertainment produced The Departed, which 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.
2006: Intense media hype surrounding couple
In 2006, after Jolie was confirmed to be pregnant, the intense media hype surrounding the couple reached the "point of insanity".
March 15, 2007: Jolie adopted Pax
On March 15, 2007, Angelina Jolie adopted a 3-year-old boy, Pax, from an orphanage in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
May 2007: Donation to Darfur region
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
In 2007, Brad Pitt reprised his role as Rusty Ryan in Ocean's Thirteen. Also in 2007, he starred as Jesse James in The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford, earning the Volpi Cup award for Best Actor at the Venice International Film Festival.
2007: Starring in 'The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford'
In 2007, Brad Pitt starred in the acclaimed film The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford.
2007: Jolie-Pitt Foundation donations
In 2007, The Jolie-Pitt Foundation gave away $3.4 million in donations.
February 21, 2008: Pitt adopted Pax in the US
On February 21, 2008, Brad Pitt adopted Pax in the United States.
May 2008: Confirmed expecting twins
At the Cannes Film Festival in May 2008, Angelina Jolie confirmed that she was expecting twins.
July 12, 2008: Birth of twins Knox and Vivienne
On July 12, 2008, Angelina Jolie gave birth to twins Knox and Vivienne in Nice, France.
September 2008: Donated against Proposition 8
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
In October 2008, the first six homes were completed as part of the Make It Right Foundation project.
2008: Starring in Burn After Reading and The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
In 2008, Brad Pitt appeared in Burn After Reading, his first collaboration with the Coen brothers. In 2008, he also starred in The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, earning multiple award nominations for his performance.
2008: Forbes Celebrity 100 List
In 2008, Brad Pitt appeared on Forbes' annual Celebrity 100 list of the 100 most powerful celebrities, placing at number 10.
2008: Collecting Volpi Cup award
In 2008, Brad Pitt collected the Volpi Cup award for Best Actor at the Venice International Film Festival.
2008: Continued Presence on Forbes' Celebrity 100 List
In 2008, Brad Pitt continued to be featured on Forbes' Celebrity 100 list, maintaining his status as a top celebrity.
2008: Oscar Nomination for 'The Curious Case of Benjamin Button'
In 2008, Brad Pitt was Oscar-nominated for his role in the fantasy romance The Curious Case of Benjamin Button.
February 2009: Maintained amicable relationship with Jennifer Aniston
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: Met with President 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 green housing as a national model and discuss federal funding possibilities.
June 2009: 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 in Quentin Tarantino's war film Inglourious Basterds, playing Lieutenant Aldo Raine. The film was a box office hit and received favorable reviews.
2009: Time 100 List
In 2009, Brad Pitt was included on the Time 100 list, this time in the "Builders and Titans" list.
January 2010: Donation to Doctors Without Borders
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: Starring in The Tree of Life and Moneyball
In 2011, Brad Pitt produced and appeared in The Tree of Life, which won the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival. Also in 2011, he starred in Moneyball, receiving strong praise and an Academy Award nomination.
2011: Oscar Nomination for 'Moneyball'
In 2011, Brad Pitt received an Oscar nomination for his role in the sports drama Moneyball.
March 2012: Performance in "8"
In March 2012, Brad Pitt performed in 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: Announced engagement to Jolie
In April 2012, Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie announced their engagement after seven years together.
September 2012: Reaffirmed support for Obama
In September 2012, Brad Pitt reaffirmed his support for Obama, backing his U.S. election campaign.
2012: Starring in Killing Them Softly
In 2012, Brad Pitt starred as mob hitman Jackie Cogan in Killing Them Softly.
2013: Starring in World War Z and Producing 12 Years a Slave
In 2013, Brad Pitt starred in and produced World War Z, becoming his highest-grossing picture. Also in 2013, he produced and played a small role in 12 Years a Slave, which won the Academy Award for Best Picture.
2013: Starring in 'World War Z'
In 2013, Brad Pitt starred in the horror film World War Z.
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.
2013: Avoided social situations
In a 2013 interview, Brad Pitt said that his inability to recognize people's faces had become so severe that he often wanted to stay home.
August 14, 2014: Legally married Angelina Jolie
On August 14, 2014, Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie were legally married.
August 23, 2014: Married Angelina Jolie in France
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 commercial and critical success.
2014: Plan B Entertainment on ABC
In 2013-2014, Plan B Entertainment landed its first television series on the schedule, 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 Brad Pitt
On June 2, 2015, Brad Pitt was honored when the minor planet 29132 Bradpitt was named after him.
2015: Starring in 'The Big Short'
In 2015, Brad Pitt starred in the acclaimed film The Big Short.
2015: Starring in By the Sea and The Big Short
In 2015, Brad Pitt starred opposite his wife, Angelina Jolie, in By the Sea, which she directed. Also in 2015, Pitt starred in and produced The Big Short, which was a critical and commercial success and earned him an Academy Award nomination.
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.
September 2016: Sober
In September 2016, Brad Pitt got sober and began attending Alcoholics Anonymous meetings.
September 2016: Investigated for child abuse
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 filed for divorce
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 the romantic thriller Allied.
2017: Starring in War Machine and Guest Appearances
In 2017, Brad Pitt starred in and produced the Netflix satirical war comedy War Machine. Throughout 2017, Pitt also made recurring appearances as a weatherman on The Jim Jefferies Show.
January 2019: Favorite Film
As of January 2019, The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford was Brad Pitt's own favorite of his films.
April 12, 2019: Divorce became legal
On April 12, 2019, Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie's divorce became legal.
December 2019: Wrote about experiences with addiction
In December 2019, Brad Pitt wrote an article for Interview in which he talked with Anthony Hopkins about their experiences with addiction and recovery.
2019: Starring in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood and Ad Astra
In 2019, Brad Pitt starred in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, receiving awards for his performance. Also in 2019, he starred in Ad Astra, receiving praise for his performance.
2019: Academy Award Win for 'Once Upon a Time in Hollywood'
In 2019, Brad Pitt won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.
October 2020: Narrated advertisement for Joe Biden
In October 2020, Brad Pitt narrated an advertisement for Joe Biden's 2020 presidential campaign.
2020: Portraying Dr. Anthony Fauci on SNL
In 2020, Brad Pitt portrayed Dr. Anthony Fauci on Saturday Night Live, earning him a Primetime Emmy Award nomination.
May 2021: Granted joint custody
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: Entering the Recording Business
In 2021, Brad Pitt entered the recording business, creating a company with French record producer Damien Quintard.
January 5, 2022: Signing on to F1 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: Jolie filed countersuit alleging abuse
In 2022, Angelina Jolie filed a countersuit against Brad Pitt during a legal battle, alleging that he had been physically and verbally abusive towards her and their children during a 2016 plane flight.
2022: Began dating Ines de Ramon
In 2022, Brad Pitt began dating Ines de Ramon, a jewelry designer.
2022: Struggled with facial recognition
In 2022, Brad Pitt said that he had struggled for years to recognize people's faces due to prosopagnosia (face blindness).
2022: Starring in 'Bullet Train'
In 2022, Brad Pitt starred in the action film Bullet Train.
2022: Sculptures exhibited in Finland
In 2022, nine of Brad Pitt's sculptures were exhibited together with works by musician Nick Cave and artist Thomas Houseago at the Sara Hildén Art Museum in Tampere, Finland.
2023: Sculptures exhibited in Finland
In 2023, nine of Brad Pitt's sculptures were exhibited together with works by musician Nick Cave and artist Thomas Houseago at the Sara Hildén Art Museum in Tampere, Finland.
September 2024: Release of Wolfs
In September 2024, Wolfs, a comedy-thriller starring Brad Pitt and George Clooney, was released.
