Career Timeline of Jared Leto: Major Achievements and Milestones
Discover the career path of Jared Leto, from the first major opportunity to industry-changing achievements.
Jared Leto is an American actor and musician, celebrated for his method acting and extensive filmography. He's won an Academy Award and Golden Globe. He is also the frontman of the rock band Thirty Seconds to Mars, known for their music and his distinctive stage presence. His career spans three decades.
1980: Inspiration from The Shining
The Stanley Kubrick-directed psychological horror film The Shining (1980) inspired themes of isolation and insanity in the music video for "The Kill".
1987: Inspiration from The Last Emperor
Leto drew inspiration from Bernardo Bertolucci's historical drama The Last Emperor (1987) as well as the work of Akira Kurosawa for the short film "From Yesterday".
1992: Move to Los Angeles
In 1992, Leto moved to Los Angeles to pursue a career in directing, while also taking acting roles.
1994: Breakthrough in My So-Called Life
In 1994, Leto got his first break when he was cast in the ABC teen drama My So-Called Life.
1994: My So-Called Life
In 1994, Leto started his career on the television series My So-Called Life.
1995: Film Role in How to Make an American Quilt
In 1995, Leto landed his first film role in the drama How to Make an American Quilt.
1996: Co-starring in The Last of the High Kings
In 1996, Leto co-starred with Christina Ricci in The Last of the High Kings.
1997: Critical Attention for Prefontaine
In 1997, Leto gained critical attention for his performance in Prefontaine.
1997: Supporting role in Switchback
In 1997, Leto got a supporting role in Switchback.
1997: Starring in Prefontaine
In 1997, Leto starred in the biopic Prefontaine as Olympic hopeful Steve Prefontaine. His portrayal received positive reviews and is often considered his breakthrough role.
1998: Formation of Thirty Seconds to Mars
In 1998, Leto formed the rock band Thirty Seconds to Mars in Los Angeles, California with his brother Shannon.
1998: Roles in The Thin Red Line
In 1998, Leto had a supporting role in The Thin Red Line.
1998: Starring in Basil and Urban Legend
In 1998, Leto landed the lead role in the drama Basil and starred in the horror film Urban Legend. He also had a supporting role in the war film The Thin Red Line.
1999: Roles in Fight Club, Girl, Interrupted
In 1999, Leto had supporting roles in Fight Club and Girl, Interrupted.
1999: Roles in Black and White, Girl, Interrupted, and Fight Club
In 1999, Leto played roles in Black and White, Girl, Interrupted, and Fight Club.
2000: Filming of Highway
Filming for the independent film Highway, starring Jared Leto as Jack Hayes, finished in early 2000.
2000: Roles in American Psycho and Requiem for a Dream
In 2000, Leto had roles in American Psycho and Requiem for a Dream, receiving praise for his lead role as a drug addict in Requiem for a Dream.
March 2002: Release of Highway on Home Video
In March 2002, the independent film Highway was released on home video formats, after filming had finished in early 2000.
August 27, 2002: Release of 30 Seconds to Mars Debut Album
On August 27, 2002, Thirty Seconds to Mars released their debut album, 30 Seconds to Mars, in the United States through Immortal and Virgin.
2002: Return to Acting in Panic Room
In 2002, Leto returned to acting in the thriller Panic Room.
2002: Release of 30 Seconds to Mars Debut Album
In 2002, Thirty Seconds to Mars released its debut album, 30 Seconds to Mars, which received positive reviews but limited commercial success.
August 30, 2005: Release of A Beautiful Lie
On August 30, 2005, Thirty Seconds to Mars released their second studio album A Beautiful Lie in the United States.
2005: Release of A Beautiful Lie
On August 30, 2005, Thirty Seconds to Mars released their second album, A Beautiful Lie, which brought the band into the public eye.
2006: Leto creates cover art for album benefiting The Nature Conservancy
In 2006, Jared Leto created the cover art for the album "97X Green Room: Volume 2", with proceeds benefiting The Nature Conservancy.
2006: Appearance in Lonely Hearts
In 2006, Leto appeared in the neo-noir crime drama Lonely Hearts, playing Raymond Fernandez.
June 2008: Leto and Thirty Seconds to Mars join Habitat for Humanity
In June 2008, Jared Leto joined Habitat for Humanity with Thirty Seconds to Mars to work on a home being repaired and renovated through the Greater Los Angeles Area's "A Brush With Kindness" program.
August 2008: EMI files lawsuit against Thirty Seconds to Mars
In August 2008, during the recording of their third album, Thirty Seconds to Mars attempted to sign with a new label, leading EMI to file a $30 million breach of contract lawsuit.
2008: Leto supports Proposition 2 and Barack Obama
In 2008, Jared Leto supported the California Proposition 2 regarding farm animal treatment. He also supported Senator Barack Obama of Illinois in the 2008 presidential election.
2008: Direction of A Beautiful Lie Music Video
In 2008, Leto directed the music video "A Beautiful Lie" under the pseudonym of Angakok Panipaq. The video was filmed in Greenland, and proceeds benefited the Natural Resources Defense Council.
April 28, 2009: Thirty Seconds to Mars Settles Lawsuit with EMI
On April 28, 2009, Thirty Seconds to Mars announced the settlement of the lawsuit with EMI following a defense based on the De Havilland Law, resolving nearly a year of legal battles.
October 2009: Leto raises money against Proposition 8
In October 2009, Jared Leto raised money for the campaign against California Proposition 8, created to overturn the California Supreme Court decision legalizing same-sex marriage.
November 9, 2009: "Kings and Queens" short film premiere
On November 9, 2009, the short film for "Kings and Queens", directed by Leto and featuring surrealist street performers, premiered at the Montalban Theater in Los Angeles and was positively received.
2009: "Mr. Nobody" Premiere
In 2009, Leto starred as Nemo Nobody in the science fiction drama "Mr. Nobody", which premiered at the Venice Film Festival. His performance as the last mortal on Earth received critical praise.
February 2010: Thirty Seconds to Mars began Into the Wild Tour
In February 2010, Thirty Seconds to Mars began their Into the Wild Tour, marking them as one of the hardest-working touring artists of the year.
2010: Launch of The One and Only Golden Tickets
In 2010, Jared Leto launched The One and Only Golden Tickets, a full service company which operates worldwide and manages exclusive services for concerts, festivals, and events.
2010: "Closer to the Edge" Film Release
In 2010, Leto filmed "Closer to the Edge", a short film featuring tour footage and fan commentary, during the band's Into the Wild Tour.
2010: "Hurricane" Short Film
In 2010, Leto filmed "Hurricane", an experimental short film exploring personal demons, in New York City. The film garnered controversy and was initially censored due to its violent elements.
January 2011: Leto returns to Haiti
In January 2011, Jared Leto returned to Haiti to "reconnect" with his former home following the January 2010 earthquake.
December 2011: Thirty Seconds to Mars enters Guinness World Records
In December 2011, Thirty Seconds to Mars entered the Guinness World Records for most live shows during a single album cycle, with 300 shows.
2011: Leto launches VyRT
In 2011, Jared Leto launched the online platform VyRT, a live video streaming service with social networking and official merchandise features, inspired by Thirty Seconds to Mars' live event streaming experiences.
2011: "Hurricane" received nominations at MTV Video Music Awards
In 2011, the short film "Hurricane" received three nominations at the MTV Video Music Awards in the categories of Best Direction, Best Cinematography and Best Editing.
May 2012: Leto supports Obama's endorsement of same-sex marriage
In May 2012, Jared Leto expressed support after hearing that Barack Obama had endorsed same-sex marriage.
2012: Leto directs "Artifact"
In 2012, Leto made his directorial debut with the documentary film "Artifact", which chronicles the legal dispute between Thirty Seconds to Mars and EMI. It premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival and received the People's Choice Award for Best Documentary.
May 2013: Thirty Seconds to Mars releases "Love, Lust, Faith and Dreams"
In May 2013, Thirty Seconds to Mars released their fourth album, "Love, Lust, Faith and Dreams", which was produced by Leto. The album received generally positive reviews and reached the top ten in more than fifteen countries.
October 12, 2013: "City of Angels" short film premiere
On October 12, 2013, Leto directed the critically praised short film for "City of Angels", which premiered at the Hollywood Bowl. The video featured celebrities sharing their visions about Los Angeles.
November 23, 2013: "Artifact" Receives Theatrical Release
On November 23, 2013, the film "Artifact" received a limited theatrical release.
December 3, 2013: "Artifact" Receives Digital Release
On December 3, 2013, the film "Artifact" was released digitally.
2013: Leto stars in "Dallas Buyers Club"
In 2013, Leto starred in "Dallas Buyers Club" as Rayon, a transgender woman with AIDS. His performance earned him widespread critical acclaim and numerous awards, including an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor.
2013: Academy Award for Dallas Buyers Club
In 2013, Leto won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performance as a trans woman in Dallas Buyers Club.
2013: The One and Only Golden Tickets renamed to Adventures In Wonderland
In 2013, The One and Only Golden Tickets company, which was founded by Jared Leto, was renamed Adventures In Wonderland.
2013: Release of Love, Lust, Faith and Dreams
In 2013, Thirty Seconds to Mars released the album Love, Lust, Faith and Dreams, which received further critical and commercial success.
September 30, 2014: Leto hosts Haiti benefit event
On September 30, 2014, Jared Leto hosted the event "Haiti: The Journey Is the Destination" in New York City, benefitting those affected by the 2010 earthquake in the Caribbean country.
2014: Leto premieres "Into the Wild" documentary series
In 2014, Leto premiered the documentary series "Into the Wild", which tells the story behind the concert tour of the same name by Thirty Seconds to Mars.
February 2015: Leto named WWF Global Ambassador
In February 2015, Jared Leto was named a global ambassador for World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF).
November 3, 2015: Thirty Seconds to Mars Working on New Album
On November 3, 2015, it was announced that Thirty Seconds to Mars were working on their fifth studio album.
April 2016: Leto to appear in The Outsider
In April 2016, it was announced that Leto would appear in the film "The Outsider", which was directed by Martin Zandvliet.
August 2016: Thirty Seconds to Mars signs with Interscope Records
In August 2016, Thirty Seconds to Mars revealed that they had signed with Interscope Records and confirmed that they were working on new music.
2016: Leto plays The Joker in Suicide Squad
In 2016, Leto played the role of the Joker in "Suicide Squad". His method acting during the film's production garnered attention.
2016: Leto's unorthodox gifts to Suicide Squad cast members
In 2016, Leto's method acting on "Suicide Squad" involved sending unorthodox gifts to his fellow cast members, including live rats and bullets.
September 2017: Thirty Seconds to Mars tour with Muse and PVRIS; Leto tribute
From May to September 2017, Thirty Seconds to Mars embarked on a North American tour with Muse and PVRIS. During the 2017 MTV Video Music Awards ceremony, Jared Leto received media attention for his tribute to musicians Chester Bennington and Chris Cornell.
November 2017: Sony announces Morbius film
In November 2017, Sony Pictures announced plans for a film adaptation of "Morbius, the Living Vampire", part of Sony's Spider-Man Universe.
2017: Leto cast in Blade Runner 2049
In 2017 Leto was cast as the villain Niander Wallace in the film "Blade Runner 2049", the sequel to Blade Runner.
February 2018: Thirty Seconds to Mars announces The Monolith Tour
In February 2018, Thirty Seconds to Mars officially announced The Monolith Tour with Walk the Moon, Misterwives, K. Flay, Joywave, and Welshly Arms.
April 6, 2018: Thirty Seconds to Mars releases America
On April 6, 2018, Thirty Seconds to Mars released their fifth album, "America".
June 27, 2018: Leto to star in Morbius
On June 27, 2018, it was announced that Jared Leto would star in the film adaptation of "Morbius, the Living Vampire", which is part of Sony's Spider-Man Universe. Daniel Espinosa was slated to direct the film.
2018: Leto leads WWF fundraiser for his birthday
In 2018, Jared Leto led an online fundraiser for World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) for his 47th birthday.
2018: Release of "The Outsider"
In 2018, Leto appeared in the film "The Outsider", directed by Martin Zandvliet.
October 2020: Leto to Reprise Role as the Joker in Zack Snyder's Justice League
In October 2020, it was reported that Leto would reprise his role of the Joker in Zack Snyder's Justice League.
January 2021: "A Day in the Life of America" released
In January 2021, the documentary film "A Day in the Life of America", directed by Leto, was released to general praise.
2021: Multiple Film Roles and Nominations
In 2021, Leto played Albert Sparma in "The Little Things" and Paolo Gucci in "House of Gucci", receiving nominations for his performances in both films.
2021: Roles in The Little Things and House of Gucci
In 2021, Leto starred in The Little Things and House of Gucci, receiving Golden Globe Award nominations for the latter two.
2021: Leto Addresses "Suicide Squad" Gift Controversy
In a 2021 interview, Leto claimed that his comments about sending unorthodox gifts during the filming of "Suicide Squad" were "in jest" and that the gifts were received with laughter and fun.
April 2022: Morbius released
On April 1, 2022, the film "Morbius" starring Jared Leto was released.
July 30, 2022: Leto to star in Haunted Mansion
On July 30, 2022, it was announced that Jared Leto would star in Disney's film, "Haunted Mansion", which was directed by Justin Simien.
July 28, 2023: Haunted Mansion released
On July 28, 2023, the film "Haunted Mansion", starring Jared Leto, was released.
2023: Release of It's the End of the World but It's a Beautiful Day
In 2023, Thirty Seconds to Mars released the album It's the End of the World but It's a Beautiful Day, which polarized critics upon release.
November 2024: Leto cast in Lunik Heist
In November 2024, it was announced that Jared Leto was cast in the crime film "Lunik Heist" for Searchlight Pictures.
December 20, 2024: Leto cast as Skeletor
On December 20, 2024, it was announced that Jared Leto was cast as Skeletor in the reboot of "Masters of the Universe".
2036: Leto appeared in Nexus Dawn
In 2036 Leto appeared in Nexus Dawn, a promotional short film that takes place before Blade Runner 2049.
2049: Role in Blade Runner 2049
In 2049, Leto starred in Blade Runner 2049.
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