Brad Pitt was born William Bradley Pitt in Shawnee, Oklahoma, and grew up in Springfield, Missouri. He studied journalism at the University of Missouri before moving to Los Angeles to pursue acting. After television appearances, he gained wider recognition in Thelma & Louise (1991).

He went on to star in Legends of the Fall, Seven, Fight Club and Ocean’s Eleven. Later roles included The Curious Case of Benjamin Button and Moneyball. His performance as stuntman Cliff Booth in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood earned him the Academy Award for best supporting actor in 2020.

Pitt also co-founded Plan B Entertainment, which has produced films including 12 Years a Slave, The Big Short and Moonlight. He shared the 2014 Academy Award for best picture as a producer of 12 Years a Slave. His production work also extends to television, including The Normal Heart.