Brad Pitt

Early Years

Wedding plans are not yet in the cards for Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt.

Future heartthrob William Bradley Pitt was born in Shawnee, Oklahoma, on December 18, 1963 to William and Jane Pitt. His family moved to Springfield, Missouri, soon after he was born. They were a Midwestern, Southern Baptist family. He has two siblings -- a brother, Doug, and a sister, Julie. He attended Kickapoo High School where he was involved in sports, debate and student government.

College Drop-out

Brad Pitt was on his way to becoming an advertising art director with a degree in journalism from University of Missouri-Columbia when he dropped out and ran to Hollywood. He didn't have a lot of acting experience and only needed two credits to graduate.

Pitt has reportedly said, "I loved movies so much... I loved movies the most -- next to music, that is. It's the simplest notion in the world, but the hardest thing to learn. I thought, "Ah, I'll just leave and go do it."

A Start in Television

Pitt worked odd jobs, including chauffeuring strippers around in limousines, to pay the bills while he auditioned for roles. He started in television by acting in a Levi's commercial and quickly jumped to guest roles in:

• Dallas
• Head of the Class
• Growing Pains

In 1987, he moved onto daytime television, playing Chris on Another World.

Movie Star

During the 1990s, Pitt's career moved forward with his role as J.D. in the blockbuster Thelma and Louise, where he played a good-looking hitchhiker and thief.

Every role he accepted led him toward larger ones and eventually stardom. In 1992, he starred in the Robert Redford movie, A River Runs Through It with Craig Sheffer and Tom Skerritt. Two years later, Brad Pitt became a sex symbol and star in the movie adaptation of Anne Rice’s book, Interview with a Vampire where he starred with Tom Cruise as a vampire with a heart. From there he went on to make numerous movies, all with mixed reviews, including:

• Mr. and Mrs. Smith (2005)
• Ocean's Twelve (2004)
• Confessions of a Dangerous Mind (2002)
• Ocean's Eleven (2001)
• The Mexican (2001)

Future Films

Besides acting, Brad Pitt has produced numerous films, including Martin Scorsese's The Departed and the adaptation of Running With Scissors. He has numerous films set for release in 2007 and is working ahead to 2008, working on both sides of the camera. They include:

• 2007
  • Ocean’s Thirteen
  • A Mighty Heart (Producer)
  • The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford (Producer/Actor)
  • The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

• 2008
  • Eat, Pray, Love (Producer)
  • Dirty Tricks (Producer)

Sexiest Man Alive

Jennifer Aniston and Brad Pitt met on a blind date. They split in 2005.

Brad Pitt is a two-time winner of People magazine's "Sexiest Man Alive" title. He won in 1995 (Se7en and Twelve Monkeys) and 2000 (Snatch).

Love Life

Brad Pitt's love life has always been in the news, as he has dated numerous celebrities.

Gwyneth Paltrow

Gwyneth Paltrow met Brad Pitt on the set of Se7en where she played his wife. They soon began dating and were engaged in 1996. They split a year and a half later. Next year, they will get back together onscreen with Sharon Stone and Jim Broadbent in Dirty Tricks (2008), a feature film about former U.S. President Richard Nixon.

Jennifer Aniston

Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston’s agents set the two stars up on a blind date in the spring of 1998. They tied the knot in July 2000 with a million-dollar wedding. It was the first marriage for both of them. In 2005, the couple went their separate ways. They did give a formal statement to their fans stating, "We happily remain committed and caring friends with great love and admiration for one another."

Angelina Jolie

Pitt was finalizing his divorce to Jennifer Aniston during the filming of Mr. and Mrs. Smith, when he and Angelina Jolie became friends. Both deny being romantically involved while Pitt was still married to Aniston. They are currently one of the most-watched couples. In 2006, Jolie gave birth to Shiloh Nouvel Jolie-Pitt. Though Jolie has two other adopted children, this is the first biological child for both of them. Pitt also adopted Maddox and Zahara. At this time, there is no sign of marriage for this couple.

Brad Pitt is one of those heartthrobs who will always be remembered, not only for his acting abilities, but for his good looks, his celebrity hook-ups and quiet charm.