William Bradley "Brad" Pitt born Dec. 18, 1963 in Shawnee, Oklaholma to Jane Etta (a high school counselor) and William Pitt, a truck company owner. The oldest boy with a younger brother, Doug and youngest sister, Julie, each born 3 years apart. He grew up in Springfield, Missouri where the family moved soon after his birth in a conservative
Southern Baptist household.
In 1982, Pitt enrolled in the University of Missouri and majored in Journalism with a focus on Advertising. As a member of the fraternity, Sigma Chi, he would act in several skits and shows. Two weeks before earning his degree, he moved to Los Angeles to take acting lessons. When asked why he left the university, Pitt responded: "I had this sinking feeling as graduation approached. I saw my friends getting jobs. I wasn't ready to settle down. I loved films. They were a portal into different worlds for me, and Missouri wasn't where movies were made. Then it hit me: If they didn't come to me, I'd go to them." (Parade, "I have faith in my family", Rader, Dotson, Oct. 7, 2007)
After a rough bout of luck, he received a guest spot on the soap opera
Dallas but, it wasn't until 1991's
Thelma and Louise that the world took notice. His first starring role in a big-budget movie was
A River Runs Through It in 1992 and 1994's
Interview with the Vampire, starring opposite Tom Cruise. His first Golden Globe nomination came when he starred opposite Sir Anthony ...
