MAIN Art &... Pop Culture Actors Brad Pitt

Once proclaimed as the Sexiest Man Alive by People Magazine, Oklahoma-born William Bradley Pitt was raised in Missouri where his high school years were spent in sports, debating, student government - and an occasional appearance in school musicals.

In college, he was just about to complete his journalism degree when he decided to pursue a career in Hollywood.

In the late '80's, bit parts on TV were followed by his breakthrough role as a charismatic drifter in Thelma & Louise. And if critics praised his look, rather than his performance, he later answered them with a string of successful dramatic roles in A River Runs Through It, directed by Robert Redford and later in Legends of the Fall. Other successes followed with performances in Interview with the Vampire opposite Tom Cruise.

In 1997, Pitt received the Golden Globe award and an Oscar nomination for his portrayal of a mental patient in 12 Monkeys. A year later, Pitt was back as Death in Meet Joe Black and otherwise made headlines in 2000 when he married actress Jennifer Aniston, breaking the hearts of adoring female fans in the process. He later starred in the violent, controversial Fight Club and in Snatch directed by Guy Ritchie.

The official news of the rumored breakup between the actor and his wife, Jennifer Aniston, was announced in January, 2005. Later, more news & rumors kept major tabloids busy reporting Pitt's new relationship with actress Angelina Jolie who co-starred with the actor in the comedy Mr. and Mrs. Smith.

Following one of the most anticipated announcements of the year, Jolie gave birth to her first child with Pitt in Namibia, a baby girl named Shiloh Nouvel Jolie-Pitt in 2006.

The celebrity couple also welcomed two more highly anticipated arrivals when Jolie gave birth to twins in July 2008, a boy and a girl each weighing 5 lbs, named Knox Leon and Vivienne Marcheline. The couple have three adopted children: Maddox, Pax, Zahara, bring the total Brangelina brood to six.

Pitt re-teamed with the Cate Blanchett in "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button." and later starred in Quentin Tarantino's World War II drama, 'Inglorious Basterds' in 2009.

Pitt's other notable appearances on the big screen have been in starring roles in Troy and in Ocean's Twelve with actors George Clooney and Matt Damon.


More about Brad Pitt around the Web:

Brad Pitt - Topix.net - All the Brad Pitt news and gossip all the time.

Destination Hollywood Tribute to Brad Pitt - Check out video clips, slide show, fun facts and famous movie lines from the actor's films, or take the trivia test and participate in the online messageboard.

Brad Pitt - Yahoo! Movies - Photos and more photos together with a complete biography, details on his film appearances, awards and nominations and links to related groups and messageboards.

William Bradley: Brad Pitt Fanlisting - News and updates on his latest film projects, fan club mail address, photo gallery.

also see -> Christian Bale | Orlando Bloom | George Clooney

Russell Crowe | Tom Cruise | Matt Damon | Johnny Depp

Leonardo DiCaprio | Colin Farrell | Harrison Ford

Jake Gyllenhaal | Will Smith | Denzel Washington