History of Jared Leto in Timeline
Jared Leto is an accomplished American actor and musician. He is recognized for his immersive method acting and has received prestigious awards like an Academy Award and a Golden Globe. Beyond acting, Leto is the frontman of the rock band Thirty Seconds to Mars, noted for their music and his distinctive stage presence.
December 26, 1971: Jared Leto's Birth
On December 26, 1971, Jared Joseph Leto was born. He is an American actor and musician, known for his method acting and as the frontman of the rock band Thirty Seconds to Mars.
1980: Inspiration from The Shining
In 1980, Stanley Kubrick directed the psychological horror film The Shining. The short film received a largely positive response and numerous accolades, including an MTV Video Music Award. Leto drew inspiration from the themes in the movie.
1987: Inspiration from The Last Emperor
In 1987, Bernardo Bertolucci directed the historical drama The Last Emperor. Leto drew inspiration from the movie for the short film 'From Yesterday'.
1992: Move to Los Angeles
In 1992, Leto moved to Los Angeles to pursue a career in directing, intending to take acting roles on the side.
1994: Setting of the Film Highway
Highway, an independent film in which Leto starred, is set in 1994.
1994: Television Series Debut
In 1994, Leto started his career on the television series My So-Called Life.
1994: First Break in My So-Called Life
In 1994, Leto's first break came when he was cast opposite Claire Danes as Jordan Catalano in the teen drama My So-Called Life.
1995: First Film Role
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 Acclaim 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, immersing himself in the runner's life to prepare for the 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. The band later signed to Immortal Records.
1998: Supporting Roles in Film
In 1998, Leto had supporting roles in The Thin Red Line.
1998: Roles in Basil, Urban Legend, and The Thin Red Line
In 1998, Leto landed the lead role in Basil, starred in Urban Legend, and had a supporting role in The Thin Red Line. The Thin Red Line garnered mostly positive reviews and received seven Academy Award nominations.
1999: Started Dating Cameron Diaz
In 1999, Jared Leto began dating actress Cameron Diaz.
1999: Roles in Fight Club and Girl, Interrupted
In 1999, Leto appeared in Fight Club and Girl, Interrupted.
1999: Roles in Black and White, Girl, Interrupted, and Fight Club
In 1999, Leto played a gay high school teacher in Black and White, had a supporting role in Girl, Interrupted, and portrayed Angel Face in Fight Club.
2000: Filming of Highway Completed
Filming for Highway, the independent film starring Leto and Jake Gyllenhaal, was completed in early 2000.
2000: Engagement to Cameron Diaz
In 2000, Jared Leto became engaged to actress Cameron Diaz.
2000: Roles in American Psycho and Requiem for a Dream
In 2000, Leto played Paul Allen in American Psycho and starred as Harry Goldfarb in Requiem for a Dream. He prepared for his role in Requiem for a Dream by living on the streets, abstaining from sex, and losing 28 pounds.
2000: Lead Role in Requiem for a Dream
In 2000, Leto received praise for his lead role as a drug addict in Requiem for a Dream and also appeared in American Psycho.
March 2002: Release of Highway on Home Video
In March 2002, the independent film Highway, starring Leto, was released on home video formats, after its filming was completed in 2000.
August 27, 2002: Release of 30 Seconds to Mars' Debut Album
On August 27, 2002, Thirty Seconds to Mars' debut album, 30 Seconds to Mars, was released in the United States through Immortal and Virgin. The album sold two million copies worldwide.
2002: Return to Acting in Panic Room
In 2002, Leto returned to acting with Panic Room.
2002: Release of Debut Album
In 2002, Thirty Seconds to Mars released its debut album, 30 Seconds to Mars, to positive reviews but limited commercial success.
2003: Split with Cameron Diaz
In 2003, Jared Leto and actress Cameron Diaz ended their relationship.
August 30, 2005: Release of A Beautiful Lie
On August 30, 2005, Thirty Seconds to Mars released its second studio album, A Beautiful Lie. The album was certified platinum by the RIAA and reached platinum and gold status in several countries.
2005: Release of A Beautiful Lie
On August 30, 2005, Thirty Seconds to Mars released its second album, A Beautiful Lie, which propelled the band into the public eye.
2006: Created cover art for 97X Green Room: Volume 2
In 2006, Jared Leto created the cover art for the album 97X Green Room: Volume 2, which proceeds from the sales benefited The Nature Conservancy.
2006: Role in Lonely Hearts
In 2006, Leto appeared in the neo-noir crime drama Lonely Hearts, playing Raymond Fernandez alongside Salma Hayek. His performance was widely praised.
2006: Allegations of Sexual Misconduct
In June 2025, Jared Leto was accused of sexual misconduct by at least nine women in events dating as far back as 2006, but representatives for Leto have expressly denied the allegations.
2007: Starring in Chapter 27 as Mark David Chapman
In 2007, Leto starred in Chapter 27, portraying Mark David Chapman, the murderer of John Lennon. He gained 67 pounds for the role, leading to gout and the temporary use of a wheelchair. His performance was widely praised.
June 2008: Joined Habitat for Humanity
In June 2008, Jared Leto joined Habitat for Humanity to work with Thirty Seconds to Mars on a home being repaired and renovated through the Greater Los Angeles Area's "A Brush With Kindness" programme.
August 2008: Thirty Seconds to Mars Faced Lawsuit
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 against the band.
2008: Support for California Proposition 2 and Barack Obama
In 2008, Jared Leto supported the California Proposition 2 regarding the treatment of farm animals and also supported Senator Barack Obama of Illinois in the 2008 presidential election.
2008: Direction of "A Beautiful Lie" Music Video
In 2008, Leto directed Thirty Seconds to Mars' music video "A Beautiful Lie" under the pseudonym Angakok Panipaq. The video was filmed in Greenland, and Leto worked to minimize the environmental impact of the shoot. The video received critical acclaim.
April 28, 2009: Settlement of Lawsuit and New Contract
On April 28, 2009, Thirty Seconds to Mars announced that their $30 million breach of contract lawsuit with EMI had been settled following a defense based on the De Havilland Law. They then signed a new contract with EMI.
October 2009: Fundraising Against California Proposition 8
In October 2009, Jared Leto raised money for the campaign against California Proposition 8, created by opponents of same-sex marriage.
November 9, 2009: Premiere of Kings and Queens Short Film
On November 9, 2009, the short film for "Kings and Queens", directed by Jared Leto, premiered at the Montalban Theater in Los Angeles and was positively received.
2009: Premiere of Mr. Nobody at the Venice Film Festival
In 2009, Jared Leto starred in the science fiction drama Mr. Nobody, portraying Nemo Nobody. The film premiered at the Venice Film Festival in 2009 to critical acclaim, with praise for Leto's performance.
February 2010: Thirty Seconds to Mars Began Into the Wild Tour
In February 2010, Thirty Seconds to Mars began their Into the Wild Tour, becoming one of the hardest-working touring artists of the year.
2010: Hurricane Short Film
In 2010, Jared Leto filmed "Hurricane", an experimental short film in New York City exploring personal demons and secret fantasies, which he described as a surrealistic nightmare dream-fantasy.
2010: Launch of The One and Only Golden Tickets
In 2010, Jared Leto launched The One and Only Golden Tickets, a full-service company operating worldwide managing exclusive services for concerts, festivals, and events.
2010: Filming Closer to the Edge
In 2010, Leto filmed "Closer to the Edge", a short film featuring tour footage and fan commentary from Thirty Seconds to Mars' Into the Wild Tour.
January 2011: Return to Haiti and Photo Book Project
In January 2011, Jared Leto returned to Haiti to "reconnect" following the January 2010 earthquake and later released a book of photographs to raise funds for the earthquake-ravaged country.
December 2011: Guinness World Record for Most Live Shows
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: Launch of VyRT Online Platform
In 2011, Jared Leto launched VyRT, an online platform created as a live video streaming service featuring social networking and official merchandise.
2011: Nominations for Hurricane at the MTV Video Music Awards
In 2011, the short film "Hurricane" received three nominations at the MTV Video Music Awards for Best Direction, Best Cinematography, and Best Editing.
May 2012: Expressing Support for Same-Sex Marriage
In May 2012, Jared Leto expressed support after hearing that Barack Obama had endorsed same-sex marriage.
June 2012: VyRT Awarded Best Online Concert Experience
In June 2012, VyRT, the online platform launched by Jared Leto, was awarded Best Online Concert Experience at the O Music Awards.
2012: Directorial Debut with Artifact
In 2012, Jared Leto made his directorial debut with the documentary film Artifact, which chronicles the legal dispute between Thirty Seconds to Mars and EMI. The film premiered at the 2012 Toronto International Film Festival and received the People's Choice Award for Best Documentary.
May 2013: Release of Love, Lust, Faith and Dreams Album
In May 2013, Thirty Seconds to Mars released their fourth album, Love, Lust, Faith and Dreams, through Interscope Records. The album received generally positive reviews and reached the top ten in more than fifteen countries.
October 12, 2013: Premiere of City of Angels Short Film
On October 12, 2013, the short film for "City of Angels," directed by Jared Leto, premiered at the Hollywood Bowl. The video features celebrities sharing their visions about Los Angeles.
November 23, 2013: Limited Theatrical Release of Artifact
On November 23, 2013, the documentary film Artifact received a limited theatrical release.
December 3, 2013: Digital Release of Artifact
On December 3, 2013, the documentary film Artifact was released digitally.
2013: Return to Acting in Dallas Buyers Club
In 2013, Jared Leto returned to acting after a five-year hiatus, starring in the drama Dallas Buyers Club as Rayon, a transgender woman with AIDS. His performance garnered widespread critical acclaim and numerous awards, including an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor.
2013: Academy Award for Dallas Buyers Club
In 2013, Leto earned the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performance as a trans woman in Dallas Buyers Club.
2013: Renaming of The One and Only Golden Tickets to Adventures In Wonderland
In 2013, The One and Only Golden Tickets, a company launched by Jared Leto, was renamed Adventures In Wonderland.
2013: Release of Love, Lust, Faith and Dreams
In 2013, Thirty Seconds to Mars released Love, Lust, Faith and Dreams, which received further critical and commercial success.
September 30, 2014: Hosted Haiti: The Journey Is the Destination 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: Premiere of Into the Wild Documentary Series
In 2014, Jared Leto premiered the documentary series Into the Wild, which tells the story behind Thirty Seconds to Mars' concert tour. The series was released through the online platform VyRT.
February 2015: Named Global Ambassador for WWF
In February 2015, Jared Leto was named a global ambassador for World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), supporting online fundraisers and leading one for his 47th birthday in 2018.
November 3, 2015: Announcement of New Thirty Seconds to Mars Album
On November 3, 2015, Thirty Seconds to Mars announced that they were working on their fifth studio album.
2015: Started Relationship with Valery Kaufman
In 2015, Jared Leto began a relationship with Russian model Valery Kaufman.
April 2016: Casting in The Outsider
In April 2016, Jared Leto was announced to appear in the film The Outsider.
August 2016: Thirty Seconds to Mars Signs with Interscope Records
In August 2016, Thirty Seconds to Mars revealed they had signed to Interscope Records and were working on new music.
2016: Unorthodox Gifts to Suicide Squad Cast Members
During the filming of Suicide Squad in 2016, Jared Leto's method acting reportedly involved sending unorthodox gifts to his fellow cast members, including live rats and a dead pig, which sparked controversy.
2016: Jared Leto as the Joker in Suicide Squad
In December 2016, Warner Bros. confirmed that Jared Leto would play the role of the Joker in Suicide Squad. Leto received attention for his method acting during the film's production.
September 2017: Thirty Seconds to Mars North American Tour
From May to September 2017, Thirty Seconds to Mars embarked on a North American tour with Muse and PVRIS. Jared Leto received media attention for his tribute to musicians Chester Bennington and Chris Cornell at the 2017 MTV Video Music Awards.
November 2017: Sony Pictures Announces Morbius Film Adaptation
In November 2017, Sony Pictures announced plans for a film adaptation of Morbius, the Living Vampire, which is part of Sony's Spider-Man Universe.
2017: Leto Cast as Niander Wallace in Blade Runner 2049
In 2017, Jared Leto was cast as the villain Niander Wallace in the film Blade Runner 2049, the sequel to Blade Runner.
2017: Role in Blade Runner 2049
In 2017, Leto starred in Blade Runner 2049.
February 2018: Announcement of The Monolith Tour
In February 2018, Thirty Seconds to Mars officially announced The Monolith Tour with various artists.
April 6, 2018: Release of America Album
On April 6, 2018, Thirty Seconds to Mars released their fifth album, America, which debuted at number two on the Billboard 200.
June 27, 2018: Jared Leto to Star in Morbius Film
On June 27, 2018, it was announced that Jared Leto would star in the film Morbius, the Living Vampire, directed by Daniel Espinosa, which is part of Sony's Spider-Man Universe.
2018: Appearance in The Outsider
In 2018, Jared Leto appeared in the film The Outsider.
2018: Release of America
In 2018, Thirty Seconds to Mars released America, which polarized critics upon its release.
2018: Fundraiser for WWF on 47th Birthday
In 2018, as a global ambassador for World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), Jared Leto led an online fundraiser for his 47th birthday.
October 2020: Leto to Reprise Role as the Joker
In October 2020, it was reported that Jared Leto would reprise his role as the Joker in Zack Snyder's Justice League.
January 2021: Release of A Day in the Life of America Documentary
In January 2021, Jared Leto released his documentary film, A Day in the Life of America, which he directed and received general praise.
2021: Ended Relationship with Valery Kaufman
In 2021, Jared Leto and Russian model Valery Kaufman ended their relationship.
2021: Roles in The Little Things and House of Gucci
In 2021, Jared Leto played Albert Sparma in The Little Things and Paolo Gucci in House of Gucci, receiving nominations for his performances.
2021: Clarification on Suicide Squad Gifts
In a 2021 interview with Entertainment Weekly, Jared Leto clarified his comments about the gifts he gave during the filming of Suicide Squad, stating they were "in jest" and that any gifts were received with "laughter, fun, and adventure."
April 2022: Release of Morbius film starring Leto
On April 1, 2022, the film Morbius, the Living Vampire, starring Jared Leto, was released.
July 30, 2022: Leto to Star in Haunted Mansion Film
On July 30, 2022, it was announced that Jared Leto would star in Haunted Mansion, a film directed by Justin Simien for Disney.
September 2022: Public Acknowledgment of Breakup with Valery Kaufman
In September 2022, Jared Leto publicly acknowledged his breakup with Russian model Valery Kaufman, which had occurred in 2021.
July 28, 2023: Release of Haunted Mansion film starring Leto
On July 28, 2023, the film Haunted Mansion, starring Jared Leto and directed by Justin Simien, 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 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 in Masters of the Universe Reboot
On December 20, 2024, it was announced that Jared Leto was cast as Skeletor in the Masters of the Universe reboot.
June 2025: Allegations of Sexual Misconduct
In June 2025, Jared Leto was accused of sexual misconduct by at least nine women in events dating as far back as 2006, but representatives for Leto have expressly denied the allegations.
June 5, 2026: Scheduled Release of Masters of the Universe Reboot
The film Masters of the Universe reboot starring Jared Leto as Skeletor, is scheduled to be released in the United States on June 5, 2026, by Amazon MGM Studios, and internationally by Sony Pictures Releasing International.
2036: Appearance in 2036: Nexus Dawn
In 2036, Jared Leto appeared in 2036: Nexus Dawn, a promotional short film that takes place before Blade Runner 2049.
2049: Release of Blade Runner 2049
In 2049, Jared Leto appeared in the film Blade Runner 2049, the sequel to Blade Runner.
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