Oscar-winning actor Brad Pitt is a famous name in the Hollywood entertainment industry who has been involved in some remarkably successful movies, Pitt earned his fame through having a strong work ethic and having a dedication to his work. By now, you might want to know the film Pitt starred in that kickstarted his career in the industry.
Brad Pitt’s first acting role was in the 1989 movie Cutting Class, an American comedy teenage-slasher film, where Pitt played the character of Dwight Ingalls. Before his big break, Pitt had uncredited roles in No Way Out (1987), No Man’s Land (1987), and Less Than Zero (1987).
While Pitt is well-known for his roles in groundbreaking Hollywood movies, he has also guest-starred in popular sitcoms, including Friends, Trial and Error, and Growing Pains in his earlier career. To find out more about Pitt’s life as a famous Hollywood actor and some of his most famous roles, read on.
Early Years in Missouri
On December 18, 1963, Pitt was born to the owner of a trucking company, William Pitt, and a school counselor Jane Etta. Though Pitt was born in Oklahoma, he was raised in Missouri after his family moved during his childhood.
Growing up, Pitt attended Kickapoo High School, where he took part in sports, including golf, swimming, and tennis. Pitt was involved in other extracurriculars ranging from debates to musicals.
Dropping Out of College to Pursue His Dream Job
In America, a promising 70% of Americans will attend college to study a four-year course, but less than two-thirds of those will graduate with a degree; it’s estimated that 30% will drop out after their first year of study, that’s according to the College Atlas.
Our famous star Brad Pitt dropped out of college, but only with a very valid reason that appears to have paid off for him. As it turns out, it was soon after Brad Pitt dropped out of the University of Missouri that he landed his first acting role.
It was just two weeks before Pitt was set to finish his degree in Journalism that he made the big move to Los Angeles, where he sought odd jobs and acting roles that would contribute to kickstarting his career in the entertainment industry.
Pitt became a rising star in the ‘90s, he first gained recognition in his role in Thelma and Louise (1991), with his first leading roles landed in A River Runs Through It (1992) and Legends of the Fall (1994).
From An Uncredited Extra to Award-Winning Actor
Over the course of his lengthy career, Brad Pitt has gradually gone from an uncredited extra in ‘80s movies to an award-winning actor who has had not one, but seven Oscar award nominations. Let’s take a look at the awards he has won and some he has been nominated for.
Pitt has been recognized by the Academy since the early stages of his career. His first nomination for an Academy Award was back in 1996, where Pitt was nominated for Best Supporting Actor in 12 Monkeys. Unfortunately, this wasn’t Pitt’s time to shine as he lost the award to Kevin Spacey.
In his career, Pitt has won at least 22 awards, including two British Academy Awards and three Golden Globe Awards, and he’s had seven Oscar nominations, with his most recent Academy Award obtained for his role in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood at the 92nd Academy Awards ceremony. Back in 2014, Pitt won the award for Best Picture in the production of 12 Years a Slave.
Is Pitt’s Acting Career Over?
As Pitt has gotten older, he has started feeling as though he’s too old for an acting career in Hollywood, so retirement could be on the horizon for this star. In an interview with Page Six, Pitt revealed: “I really believe that overall it’s a younger man’s game.”