The Sexiest Man Alive

Background:

"Success is a beast and it actually puts the emphasis on the wrong thing. You get away with more instead of looking within." Brad Pitt. The People's Sexiest Man Alive two-time winner Brad Pitt was first noticed playing J.D., in Thelma and Louise (1991). He gained broader recognition acting in such films as Interview with the Vampire (1994), Twelve Monkeys (1995), and Se7en (1995).

This Hollywood pretty face has dated several of Hollywood's "Cream of the Crop," including Robin Givens, Jill Schoelen, a three-year relationship with Julie Lewis, model Jitka Pohlodek and director Katja von Garnier. Pitt made media headlines when he was engaged to actress Gwyneth Paltrow in 1996 and when he married former Friends beauty Jennifer Aniston in 2000.

Recently, in January 2005, Pitt and Aniston separated. Many speculations spurred their break up including Pitt's rumored intimacy with his costar in the film Mr. and Mrs. Smith, sexy Angelina Jolie. Other rumors included Aniston not wearing her wedding ring and Pitt desperately hoping to start a family. Regarding the rumors, the couple clarified, "For those who follow these sorts of things, we would like to explain that our separation is not the result of any of the speculation reported by the tabloid media."

On a lighter note, Pitt has donated $100,000 to the Discovery Center, a learning museum for kids.

Advertising to Acting

Childhood and Family:

William Bradley Pitt, born on December 18, 1963, would later be known as Brad Pitt. The eldest of three siblings, Pitt is the son of father Bill Pitt, a trucking-company owner, and mother Jane Pitt, a high school counselor. Born in Shawnee, Oklahoma, Brad Pitt spent his childhood in Springfield, Missouri together with his brother Doug Pitt (b. 1966, a computer company business owner) and his sister Julie Pitt (b. 1969).

Adolescent Pitt was active in sports, discussions, student government and school music groups. He once dreamt of being an advertising director and after graduating from Kickapoo High School in Springfield, Missouri, enrolled in the University of Missouri, majoring in journalism, specializing in advertising. However, because of his love of acting he left his studies just one semester short of graduation.

On July 29, 2000, Pitt spent a million dollars on his wedding with former Friends star Jennifer Aniston in a private Hawaiian chapel. The couple's separation, announced in early 2005, has become a media magnet.

More Than A Pretty Face

Career:

After dropping his studies at the University of Missouri, Brad Pitt packed his bags and headed to L.A. to pursue his dreams of becoming a movie superstar. In his early days in L.A., Pitt made a living being a limousine driver and distributing refrigerators. Brad Pitt, who later would be included in People's Best-Dressed Lists, also had to wear a huge chicken costume for his work at the fast-food restaurant El Pollo Loco. Meanwhile Pitt made efforts to penetrate into the acting world by taking an acting class, going to auditions and landing an agent

Starting his acting work on TV, Pitt made several appearances in shows like Dallas, Another World (1987), Growing Pains and in Fox's Glory Days (1990). He was also cast as Billy Canton in NBC's Too Young to Die (1990), together with longtime sweetheart Juliette Lewis.

As for motion pictures, Brad Pitt had a couple of unmemorable roles in the movies No Man's Land and Less Than Zero, both of which were released in 1987. His actual silver screen debut was playing the character of Dwight Ingalls in the horror Cutting Class (1989, alongside Donovan Leitch) and portraying Joe Maloney in Sandy Tung's Across The Tracks (1991).

Pitt won a small part as bad boy and sexy tease J.D., in Ridley Scott's Thelma and Louise (1991). Pitt was noticed despite his short-time stint in the film.

The Favor (1992, opposite Elizabeth McGovern), Tom CiCillo's Johnny Suede (1992), and Cool World (1992) did not launch his name as a movie star. He later play a lead role in Robert Redford's A River Runs Through It (1992) and reunited with former girlfriend Juliette Lewis in Dominic Sela's Kalifornia (1993) as well as in Tony Scott's True Romance (1993).

Louis de Pointe du Lac was Pitt's major role in Ann Rice's Interview with the Vampire: The Vampire Chronicles (1994, costarring Tom Cruise). His next characters would be seen in Legends of The Fall (1994), in which he played Tristan, and in David Fincher's thriller Se7en (1995) as Detective David Mills. In 1995, Pitt was nominated for a Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actor in Terry Gilliam's thriller Twelve Monkeys. He continued to appear in other thrillers, including portraying Michael Sullivan in Sleepers (1996) and starring with Harrison Ford in Alan J. Pakula's The Devil's Own (1997).

Brad Pitt received mixed critic reviews when he played the role of Heinrich Harrer in the movie Seven Years in Tibet (1997). Commenting about his work, Pitt said, "You shouldn't speak until you know what you're talking about. That's why I get uncomfortable with interviews. Reporters ask me what I feel China should do about Tibet. Who cares what I think China should do? I'm a f---ing actor! They hand me a script. I act. I'm here for entertainment, basically. When you whittle everything away. I'm a grown man who puts on makeup."

After starring in the title role in the film Meet Joe Black in 1998, Pitt rejoined Se7en's director in Fight Club (1999) by playing Tyler Durden alongside Edward Norton. In 2001, he costarred in Snatch, and then starred opposite Julia Roberts in The Mexican. Pitt went on to star opposite Robert Redford in Spy Game, and joined George Clooney and Matt Damon in Steven Soderbergh's remake film Ocean's Eleven.

Recently in 2004, Brad Pitt was seen in several movies, including in the smash hit Troy, in which he played Achilles. Pitt went on to again portrayed Rusty Ryan in the sequel Ocean's Twelve. He will also portray John Smith in the upcoming Mr. And Mrs. Smith (2005), costarring Angelina Jolie.

With his production company, Plan B, that he co-owns with estranged wife Jennifer Aniston, Brad is scheduled to produce the company's= debut film, an adaptation of Coward Robert Ford's The Assassination of Jesse James. In the film Pitt will star as the legendary cowboy Jesse James.

With his long list of characters and films, Brad Pitt has proved himself to be more than just Hollywood's pretty face.

Awards:

• MTV Movie Award: Most Desirable Male, 1996
• MTV Movie Award: Most Desirable Male, 1995
• MTV Movie Award: Best Male Performance, Interview with the Vampire, 1995
• Golden Globe: Best Supporting Actor, 12 Monkeys, 1995
• People Magazine: Sexiest Man Alive, 1995