Page semi-protected

Jared Leto

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Jared Leto
Jared Leto, San Diego Comic Con 2016 (2).jpg
Leto at the 2016 San Diego Comic-Con
Born (1971-12-26) December 26, 1971 (age 49)
Bossier City, Louisiana, U.S.
Other names
  • Bartholomew Cubbins
  • Angakok Panipaq
Alma materSchool of Visual Arts
Occupation
  • Actor
  • singer
  • songwriter
  • director
Years active1992–present
Notable work
Full list
FamilyShannon Leto (brother)
AwardsFull list
Musical career
GenresAlternative rock
Instruments
  • Vocals
  • guitar
  • bass guitar
  • piano
  • keyboards
Labels
Associated actsThirty Seconds to Mars
Websitejaredleto.com

Jared Joseph Leto (/ˈlɛtoʊ/; born December 26, 1971) is an American actor, producer, musician and songwriter. After starting his career with television appearances in the early 1990s, Leto achieved recognition for his role as Jordan Catalano on the television series My So-Called Life (1994). He made his film debut in How to Make an American Quilt (1995) and received critical praise for his performance in Prefontaine (1997).

After supporting roles in The Thin Red Line (1998), Fight Club and Girl, Interrupted (1999) and American Psycho (2000), as well as the lead role in Urban Legend (1998), Leto earned critical acclaim for portraying heroin addict Harry Goldfarb in Requiem for a Dream (2000). He began focusing increasingly on music, returning to acting with Panic Room (2002), Alexander (2004), Lord of War (2005), Lonely Hearts (2006), Chapter 27 (2007), and Mr. Nobody (2009). His performance as a transgender woman in Dallas Buyers Club (2013) earned him an Academy Award, a Golden Globe Award, and a Screen Actors Guild Award for Best Supporting Actor. He starred in Suicide Squad (2016) and Blade Runner 2049 (2017), and in 2021, played Albert Sparma in John Lee Hancock's film The Little Things, which earned him nominations for a Golden Globe Award and Screen Actors Guild Award—both for Best Supporting Actor.

Leto is the lead vocalist, multi-instrumentalist and main songwriter for Thirty Seconds to Mars, a band he formed with his older brother Shannon Leto. Their debut album, 30 Seconds to Mars (2002), released to positive reviews but limited commercial success.[1] The band achieved worldwide fame with the release of their second album A Beautiful Lie (2005). Their following releases, This Is War (2009), and Love, Lust, Faith and Dreams (2013), received further critical success,[2] and their fifth album, America (2018), marked new commercial success. As of September 2014, the band has sold over 15 million albums worldwide.[3]

Leto is considered to be a method actor, known for his constant devotion to and research of his roles. He often remains completely in character for the duration of shooting schedules of his films, even to the point of adversely affecting his health.[4] He is also known to be selective about his film roles.[5]

Early life

Jared Joseph Leto was born on December 26, 1971, in Bossier City, Louisiana, to Constance Leto (née Metrejon).[6][7] His mother has Cajun ancestry.[8] "Leto" is the surname of his stepfather. His parents divorced when he was a child, and he and his older brother, Shannon Leto, lived with their mother and their maternal grandparents, Ruby (Russell) and William Lee Metrejon.[6] His father remarried, and committed suicide when Jared was eight.[9] Leto moved frequently with his family from Louisiana to different cities around the country.[10] "My mom's father was in the Air Force," Leto has explained, "so moving around a lot was a normal way of life."[11] Leto has two younger half-brothers from his father's second marriage.[6]

Constance joined the hippie movement and encouraged her sons to get involved in the arts.[8] Leto stated he "was raised around a lot of artists, musicians, photographers, painters and people that were in theater," adding that "Just having the art communal hippie experience as a child, there wasn't a clear line that was drawn. We celebrated creative experience and creative expression. We didn't try and curtail it and stunt any of that kind of growth."[12] Leto started playing music with his brother at an early age and his first musical instrument was a broken-down piano.[13]

After dropping out briefly in the 10th grade, Leto decided to return and focus on his education at the private Emerson Preparatory School in Washington, D.C.[14] He was interested in large-scale visual art and enrolled at the University of the Arts in Philadelphia.[10][15] After developing an interest in filmmaking, he transferred to the School of Visual Arts in New York City.[10] While he was a student there, he wrote and starred in his own short film, Crying Joy.[15] He also attended the Corcoran School of the Arts and Design, now a part of George Washington University.[16]

Career

1992–1998: Early acting roles and Prefontaine

Leto at a press conference for My So-Called Life in 1995

In 1992, Leto moved to Los Angeles to pursue a career in directing, intending to take acting roles on the side.[17] He found minor roles on television shows but his first break came in 1994, after he was cast opposite Claire Danes as Jordan Catalano, her love interest, in the short-lived but well-reviewed ABC teen drama My So-Called Life.[7] The show was praised for its portrayal of adolescence and gained a strong cult following, despite being canceled after only one season.[18] The same year, he made his television film debut starring alongside Alicia Silverstone in Cool and the Crazy, and landed his first film role in the 1995 drama How to Make an American Quilt. He later co-starred with Christina Ricci in The Last of the High Kings (1996) and got a supporting role in Switchback (1997).[15]

In 1997, Leto starred in the biopic Prefontaine in which he played the role of Olympic hopeful Steve Prefontaine. For the preparation of the role, Leto immersed himself in the runner's life, training for six weeks and meeting with members of his family and friends.[19] He bore a striking resemblance to the real Prefontaine, also adopting the athlete's voice and upright running style.[20] His portrayal received positive reviews from critics and is often considered his breakthrough role.[21][22] Peter Stack of the San Francisco Chronicle noted how Leto played the athlete with raw vitality; "With hypnotic blue eyes and dirty blond hair, Leto captures the rock-star style Prefontaine affected, and he looks natural in fiery performances on the track, as well as off, where Pre affected a brash, confrontational style."[23]

After landing the lead role of a British aristocrat in the 1998 drama Basil, Leto starred in the horror Urban Legend. The film was poorly received by most movie critics, however, it was a financial success.[24][25] The same year, Terrence Malick cast Leto for a supporting role in the war film The Thin Red Line alongside Sean Penn and Adrien Brody.[26] It garnered mostly positive reviews and was a moderate success in the box office.[27] It received multiple awards and nominations, including seven Academy Award nominations; Leto shared a Satellite Award with the rest of the cast.[28][29]

1998–2002: Thirty Seconds to Mars, Requiem for a Dream, and other roles

Leto formed the rock band Thirty Seconds to Mars in 1998 in Los Angeles, California with his brother Shannon. When the group first started, Jared Leto did not allow his position of Hollywood actor to be used in promotion of the band.[30] Their debut album had been in the works for a couple of years, with Leto writing the majority of the songs.[31] Their work led to a number of record labels being interested in signing Thirty Seconds to Mars, which eventually signed to Immortal Records.[32]

In 1999, Leto played a gay high school teacher who attracts the attentions of Robert Downey, Jr. in Black and White, and had a supporting role in the drama Girl, Interrupted, an adaptation of the memoir of the same name by Susanna Kaysen. He then portrayed Angel Face in Fight Club (1999), a film adaptation of Chuck Palahniuk's novel of the same name, directed by David Fincher.[11] He began dating actress Cameron Diaz in 1999 and the couple became engaged in 2000.[33]

Leto played Paul Allen, a rival of Patrick Bateman, in the psychological thriller American Psycho (2000). Though the film polarized audiences and critics, Leto's performance was well received.[15] The same year, he starred as heroin addict Harry Goldfarb in Requiem for a Dream, an adaptation of Hubert Selby, Jr.'s novel of the same name, directed by Darren Aronofsky and co-starring Ellen Burstyn, Jennifer Connelly, and Marlon Wayans. To prepare for his role, Leto lived on the streets of New York City and refrained from having sex for two months prior to shooting.[34][35] He starved himself for months, losing 28 pounds to realistically play his heroin addict character.[36] After the shooting of the film, Leto moved to Portugal and lived in a monastery for several months to gain weight.[34][35] His performance received critical acclaim by film critics who notably praised the actor's emotional courage in portraying the character's physical and mental degradation. Peter Travers from Rolling Stone commented that Leto "excels by going beyond Harry's gaunt look to capture his grieving heart. His scenes with Ellen Burstyn as Sara, Harry's widowed mother, achieve a rare poignancy as son and mother drown in delusions."[37]

Leto next appeared in the independent film Highway. Set in 1994, Leto is caught with the wife of his employer, a Vegas thug, and flees to Seattle with his best friend Jake Gyllenhaal in the week preceding Kurt Cobain's suicide. Filming finished in early 2000, but the film was not released until March 2002 on home video formats, although originally scheduled for a theatrical release.[38]

During this period Leto focused increasingly on his music career, working with producers Bob Ezrin and Brian Virtue on his band's debut album 30 Seconds to Mars, which was released on August 27, 2002, in the United States through Immortal and Virgin. It reached number 107 on the US Billboard 200 and number one on the US Top Heatseekers.[39] Upon its release, 30 Seconds to Mars was met with mostly positive reviews; music critic Megan O'Toole felt that the band managed to "carve out a unique niche for themselves in the rock realm."[40] The album was a slow-burning success, and eventually sold two million copies worldwide.[41]

2002–2005: From Panic Room to A Beautiful Lie

Leto returned to acting in 2002 with the thriller Panic Room, which marked his second teaming with director David Fincher. He played the supporting role of Junior, a burglar who terrorizes Jodie Foster's character Meg Altman. The film was well received by critics and became a financial success, grossing nearly US$200 million worldwide.[42][43] In 2003, Leto and Cameron Diaz ended their four-year relationship.[33] Leto's next film was the 2004 biographical film Alexander, directed by Oliver Stone. He portrayed Hephaestion, the closest friend of Alexander the Great. The film failed in the United States; Stone attributed its poor reception to disapproval of the depiction of Alexander's bisexuality, but it succeeded internationally, with worldwide revenue of US$167 million.[44][45]

The following year, Leto starred together with Nicolas Cage in the political crime thriller Lord of War. He played Vitaly, the younger brother of illegal arms dealer Yuri Orlov. The film was officially endorsed by the human rights group Amnesty International for highlighting the arms trafficking by the international arms industry.[46] It was positively received by movie critics and was a moderate commercial success.[47]

It took two years to record Thirty Seconds to Mars' second studio album A Beautiful Lie, with the band traveling to four different continents to accommodate Leto's acting career. A Beautiful Lie was released on August 30, 2005, in the United States. It has since been certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), and has reached platinum and gold status in several countries, with a sales total of over four million.[1] The band heavily toured in support of the album and played at several major festivals, including Roskilde, Pinkpop, Rock am Ring, and Download.[48]

2006–2008: Lonely Hearts, Chapter 27, and filmmaking

Leto performing in Charlotte, North Carolina in December 2006

In 2006, Leto appeared in the neo-noir crime drama Lonely Hearts, the true story of the notorious "lonely hearts killers" of the 1940s, Raymond Fernandez and Martha Beck. Playing Fernandez, he co-starred with Salma Hayek who played the role Beck. The film received mixed reviews from critics; however, Leto's acting was widely praised; Heather Huntington from Reelz wrote that his "layered performance as the nattily dressing dandy with no remorse is truly impressive."[49]

The same year, Leto directed the music video for "The Kill", a song by Thirty Seconds to Mars. At a press release, he stated that an "insanely obnoxious Danish albino" named Bartholomew Cubbins directed the video.[50] He later explained his decision to direct with a pseudonym saying, "I really wanted people to be able to enjoy and experience the video without having any more preconceived notions or distractions, and just to let it be what it was. It wasn't important for me to lay claim to it in that way."[51] Bartholomew Cubbins is a recurring character in the Dr. Seuss universe and one of Leto's favorite characters created by the writer.[52] "The Kill" was inspired by themes of isolation and insanity present in the Stanley Kubrick-directed psychological horror film The Shining (1980). Leto said, "The idea of isolation, identity, and self discovery were all elements present in the song. I thought this light homage was a good starting point and it soon grew to include many more elements outside of Kubrick's original piece."[53] The short film received a largely positive response and numerous accolades, including an MTV Video Music Award.[54] Leto next directed a short film for "From Yesterday". It was filmed in the Forbidden City and became the first ever American music video shot in the People's Republic of China in its entirety. Hundreds of costumed extras were employed for the shoot, inspired by the empires of ancient Chinese dynasties.[55] Leto drew inspiration from Bernardo Bertolucci's historical drama The Last Emperor (1987) as well as the work of Akira Kurosawa.[56]

In 2007, Leto starred in the biographical film Chapter 27. He portrayed Mark David Chapman, a fanatic fan of The Beatles and the murderer of John Lennon. Leto prepared for his role by relying on interviews with Chapman and on audiotapes recorded by a librarian which the actor met during a visit to the inmate's hometown. Leto gained 67 pounds to approximate the killer's physique.[57] The abruptness of his weight gain gave him gout. He was forced to use a wheelchair due to the stress of the sudden increase in weight put on his body.[58] After the shooting of the film, he quickly went on a liquid diet.[59] Chapter 27 premiered at the 2007 Sundance Film Festival. Despite divided critical opinion on the film as a whole, Leto's performance was widely praised.[60] Owen Gleiberman of Entertainment Weekly considered his acting "a genuine transformation, as the actor submerges himself in Chapman's couch-potato flab and red-rimmed eyes. ... Leto disappears inside this angry, mouth-breathing psycho geek with a conviction that had me hanging on his every delusion."[61]

Leto's next short film was "A Beautiful Lie" (2008), which he directed under the pseudonym of Angakok Panipaq. The music video was filmed 200 miles north of the Arctic Circle in Greenland. Determined to offset the impact that filming would have on the environment, Leto worked with the Natural Resources Defense Council to develop strategies that would minimize fuel consumption on the shoot.[62] Upon release, "A Beautiful Lie" was met with widespread critical acclaim, resulting in various accolades, including the MTV Europe Music Award for Best Video.[63] Proceeds from the video's sales benefited the Natural Resources Defense Council.[64] The same year, Leto remixed a version of the song "The Only One" by The Cure for their extended play Hypnagogic States.[65]

2008–2011: EMI lawsuit, This Is War, and Mr. Nobody

Leto at the premiere of Mr. Nobody at the 66th Venice International Film Festival

In August 2008, during the recording process of their third studio album, Thirty Seconds to Mars attempted to sign with a new label, prompting EMI (the parent label of Virgin), to file a $30 million breach of contract lawsuit.[66] After nearly a year of legal battles, the band announced on April 28, 2009, that the suit had been settled following a defence based on the De Havilland Law.[67] Thirty Seconds to Mars then signed a new contract with EMI and released their third album This Is War in December 2009 to critical acclaim.[68][69] This Is War reached the top ten of several national album charts and earned numerous music awards.[70]

Leto performing in Oakland, California in December 2009

Leto's next film was the 2009 science fiction drama Mr. Nobody, directed by Jaco Van Dormael. He portrayed the title role of Nemo Nobody, the last mortal on Earth after the human race has achieved quasi-immortality. His role required him to play various versions of his character, from 34 to 118 years old, spending six hours daily for the full make-up and adopting the voice of an old-aged man.[71] Mr. Nobody premiered at the 2009 Venice Film Festival. Critical response praised the film's artistry and Leto's performance.[72] Boyd van Hoeij from Variety felt that "his acting talent really comes into full view in his scenes as the last dying man on Earth. Despite too much old-age makeup, Leto nevertheless infuses the character with some real raw emotional power;"[73] while Bruce Kirkland of Toronto Sun claimed that Leto gave "a marvelously full-blooded, brain-spinning, tour-de-force performance."[74]

In 2009, Leto recruited scores of extras and all manner of surrealist street performers for the short film of "Kings and Queens", which features a critical mass movement founded with forward-thinking and eco-conscious intentions, through Los Angeles at night.[75] The short film premiered on November 9, 2009 at the Montalban Theater in Los Angeles and was positively received.[76] At the 2010 MTV Video Music Awards, "Kings and Queens" received four nominations, including Video of the Year and Best Direction, and went on to win Best Rock Video.[77] Thirty Seconds to Mars began their Into the Wild Tour in February 2010 and was among the hardest-working touring artists of the year.[78]

Leto filmed "Closer to the Edge" (2010), a short film featuring tour footage, fan commentary and pictures of Thirty Seconds to Mars from their youth, during the band's Into the Wild Tour. Critics lauded the simplicity of the video; James Montgomery from MTV wrote, "there's no denying the power of seeing tens of thousands of fans finding a simultaneous salvation, of a crowd of individuals becoming one. It's what rock and roll is supposed to be about, really: inclusion."[79] In December 2011, Thirty Seconds to Mars entered the Guinness World Records for most live shows during a single album cycle, with 300 shows.[69]

Leto's next project was "Hurricane" (2010), an experimental short film which explores personal demons and unlocking secret fantasies in what is believed to be a dream.[80] Leto filmed it in New York City and described its concept as a "surrealistic nightmare dream-fantasy."[81] Upon release, "Hurricane" garnered controversy and was initially censored due to its elements of violence.[82] At the 2011 MTV Video Music Awards, the short film received three nominations in the categories of Best Direction, Best Cinematography and Best Editing.[83]

2012–2013: Artifact; Love, Lust, Faith and Dreams and Dallas Buyers Club

In 2012, Leto made his directorial debut with the documentary film Artifact. It chronicles the modern music business as it charts the legal dispute between Thirty Seconds to Mars and record label EMI, after the band tried to exit its contract over a royalties dispute.[66] Artifact was made on a limited budget provided by Leto and personal assistant Emma Ludbrook through the production company Sisyphus Corporation.[84] It premiered at the 2012 Toronto International Film Festival where it received the People's Choice Award for Best Documentary.[85] Critics praised the examination of the state of the modern music industry and its focus on the relationship between artists and record companies.[86] The film received a limited theatrical release beginning November 23, 2013, before being released digitally on December 3, 2013.[87]

Leto performing in Padova, Italy in July 2013

Thirty Seconds to Mars released their fourth album, Love, Lust, Faith and Dreams, in May 2013 through Universal. The album was produced by Leto with previous collaborator Steve Lillywhite. It received generally positive reviews and reached the top ten in more than fifteen countries, including the United Kingdom and the United States.[88] Leto filmed the 2013 short film for "Up in the Air" at a now-defunct aerospace manufacturing building in Los Angeles, California. He described it as a "bizarre and hallucinogenic journey through an incredibly surreal landscape."[89] The short film features several artists, including burlesque dancer Dita Von Teese, gymnasts McKayla Maroney and Jordyn Wieber, writer Neil Strauss and a number of animals.[90] It garnered several awards, including the MTV Video Music Award for Best Rock Video, and competed at the 2013 Camerimage.[91]

Leto described the concept of his next short film, "Do or Die" (2013), as a companion piece to "Closer to the Edge" (2010).[92] It was filmed during the Love, Lust, Faith and Dreams Tour and features live footage of Thirty Seconds to Mars onstage as well as fan commentary. The same year, Leto directed the critically praised short film for "City of Angels", which premiered on October 12, 2013 at the Hollywood Bowl. The music video features a number of celebrities who join the three members of Thirty Seconds to Mars in sharing their visions about Los Angeles.[93] Multiple monoliths and murals, including Michael Jackson and Marilyn Monroe impersonators, also appear, as well as homeless people hired by Leto himself for the video.[94]

After a five years hiatus from filming, Leto returned to act in the drama Dallas Buyers Club (2013), directed by Jean-Marc Vallée and co-starring Matthew McConaughey. Leto portrayed Rayon, a drug-addicted transgender woman with AIDS who befriends McConaughey's character Ron Woodroof. In order to accurately portray his role, Leto lost 30 pounds, shaved his eyebrows and waxed his entire body.[95] He stated the portrayal was grounded in his meeting transgender people while researching the role.[96] During filming, Leto refused to break character.[95] Dallas Buyers Club received widespread critical acclaim and became a financial success, resulting in various accolades for Leto, who was awarded the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor, Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture, Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role and a variety of film critics' circle awards for the role.[97]

2014–present: From Suicide Squad to America

In 2014, Leto premiered the documentary series Into the Wild, which tells the story behind the concert tour of the same name by Thirty Seconds to Mars that propelled the group into arenas around the world and was certified by the Guinness World Records as the longest running tour in the history of rock music.[98] The series was produced by Leto and Emma Ludbrook and was released through the online platform VyRT.[99] On November 3, 2015, it was announced that Thirty Seconds to Mars were working on their fifth studio album.[100]

Leto performing at Rock im Park in June 2018

In December of that year, Warner Bros. confirmed that Leto would play the role of the Joker in Suicide Squad (2016), a supervillain film based on the comic book series of the same name.[101] The film opened to generally negative reviews from critics, but Leto's performance was praised despite his character's limited screen time.[102][103] In April 2016, it was announced that Leto would appear in the film The Outsider (2018), directed by Martin Zandvliet.[104][105][106]

In August 2016, Thirty Seconds to Mars revealed they had signed to Interscope Records and confirmed that a new album will be released in 2017.[107] That same month Leto was cast as the villain Niander Wallace in the 2017 film Blade Runner 2049, the sequel to Blade Runner.[108] Leto later also appeared in 2036: Nexus Dawn, a promotional short film that takes place before Blade Runner 2049 directed by Luke Scott and co-starring Benedict Wong.[109]

From May to September 2017, Thirty Seconds to Mars embarked on a North American tour with Muse and PVRIS.[110] Thirty Seconds to Mars then performed at the 2017 MTV Video Music Awards featuring special guest Travis Scott. During the ceremony, Jared Leto received media attention for his tribute to musicians Chester Bennington and Chris Cornell, who both died earlier that year.[111] In February 2018, the band officially announced the Monolith Tour with Walk the Moon, Misterwives, K. Flay, Joywave, and Welshly Arms. Thirty Seconds to Mars later confirmed America as title of their fifth album, which was released on April 6, 2018. The album received polarizing reviews from critics and debuted at number two on the Billboard 200, becoming the band's highest entry on the chart.[112] It was promoted with an accompanying documentary film, A Day in the Life of America, directed by Leto and released in January 2021 to wide praise.[113] He also played suspected serial killer Albert Sparma in John Lee Hancock's 2021 film The Little Things, which earned Leto nominations for a Golden Globe Award and Screen Actors Guild Award—both for Best Supporting Actor.[114]

Upcoming projects

In September 2016, it was announced that Leto would play Andy Warhol in a biopic written by Terence Winter and produced by Michael De Luca.[115] Leto later confirmed his portrayal as Warhol on his Instagram in August 2020.[116]

In February 2017, it was announced that Leto would direct the thriller 77 for Paramount Pictures.[117] Following the release of Suicide Squad, Leto expressed interest in reprising his role as the Joker in future DC Extended Universe instalments.[118] In August 2017, it was confirmed that Leto will reprise his role in multiple films in the shared universe, including Gotham City Sirens, and an as-yet untitled film centered on the Joker and Harley Quinn.[119][120][121] In June 2018, Variety reported that a film centered around the Joker is in development. Leto will serve as an executive producer in addition to reprising his role as the Joker, with the studio's intent that the film will "pave the way" for all other Suicide Squad-related projects. Leto will also be involved with hiring the film's production crew.[122] In October 2020, it was reported that Leto would reprise his role of the Joker in Zack Snyder's Justice League.[123]

In November 2017, Sony Pictures announced plans for a film adaptation of Morbius, the Living Vampire, which will be part of Sony's Spider-Man Universe.[124] On June 27, 2018, it was announced that Leto will star, and Daniel Espinosa will direct.[125] The film is scheduled to be released on January 21, 2022.[126]

In August 2020, it was announced that Leto would star as the character Ares in the yet-untitled Tron 3 film, the sequel to 2010's Tron: Legacy, which he later confirmed on his Instagram.[127][128]

He plays Adam Neumann alongside Anne Hathaway in Apple+'s 2021 WeCrashed about the rise and fall of the WeWork.[129]

Other work

Business ventures

After the strong relationship between Thirty Seconds to Mars and its audience, Leto launched the social media management and digital marketing company The Hive. It is based in Studio City, Los Angeles and focuses on creative community building. In recent years, it has expanded to other artists such as Jessie J and Semi Precious Weapons. In 2010, Leto launched The One and Only Golden Tickets, a full service company which operates worldwide and manages exclusive services for concerts, festivals, and events.[130] In 2013, the company was renamed Adventures In Wonderland.[131]

In 2011, Leto launched the online platform VyRT. Created as a live video streaming service, it also features social networking and official merchandise. Its idea came from some frustrating experiences Leto faced with Thirty Seconds to Mars in streaming their own live events.[132] In June 2012, VyRT was awarded Best Online Concert Experience at the O Music Awards.[133] In 2012, Leto became an investor in Surf Air, a California-based air service.[134] He is also a funder for Reddit and Robinhood Markets.[135]

Politics

Leto in July 2013

Leto lives a vegan lifestyle and supports animal rights.[136] In 2008, he supported the California Proposition 2 regarding treatment of farm animals.[137] In the 2008 presidential election, Leto supported Senator Barack Obama of Illinois.[138] In 2012, he chaired a Gen44 event, a campaign set up by Obama to energize voters under 40.[139] Leto is a gay rights activist. In October 2009, he raised money for the campaign against California Proposition 8, created by opponents of same-sex marriage to overturn the California Supreme Court decision that had legalized same-sex marriage. He spoke out in support of LGBT rights group Freedom Action Inclusion Rights (FAIR).[140] In May 2012, he expressed support after hearing that Barack Obama had endorsed same-sex marriage.[141]

Philanthropy

Leto has been active in several charitable pursuits.[142] He has been volunteering at the charity Art of Elysium, which helps children with serious medical conditions.[143] He has supported the Barbara Davis Center for Childhood Diabetes, a program specializing in type 1 diabetes research and care.[142] In 2006, he created the cover art for the album 97X Green Room: Volume 2, which proceeds from the sales benefited The Nature Conservancy.[144] In June 2008, he joined Habitat for Humanity to work with Thirty Seconds to Mars on a home being repaired and renovated through the Greater Los Angeles Area's "A Brush With Kindness" programme.[145] He also supported Habitat for Humanity in Sentul, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.[146]

Leto has supported Aid Still Required, a non-profit corporation committed to bringing attention and humanitarian aid to areas suffering from natural disasters or human crises.[142] After the 2010 Haiti earthquake, he released a book of photographs taken during his trip to the Caribbean country in 2011, in a bid to raise funds for the earthquake-ravaged country. He has connected with and helped various organizations since arriving there, including J/P Haitian Relief Organization. Leto spent a year in Haiti during his childhood, and returned there in January 2011 to "reconnect" with his former home following the tremor of January 2010.[147] On September 30, 2014, Leto hosted the event Haiti: The Journey Is the Destination in New York City, benefitting those affected by the 2010 earthquake in the Caribbean country.[148] In February 2015, Leto was named a global ambassador for World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), supporting online fundraisers and leading one for his 47th birthday in 2018.[149]

Filmography

Main article: Jared Leto filmography

Discography

Main article: Thirty Seconds to Mars discography
Thirty Seconds to Mars studio albums
  • 30 Seconds to Mars (2002)
  • A Beautiful Lie (2005)
  • This Is War (2009)
  • Love, Lust, Faith and Dreams (2013)
  • America (2018)

Awards and nominations

Main article: List of awards and nominations received by Jared Leto

Notes

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b Winwood 2012, p. 22.
  2. ^ Hall, David (October 9, 2013). "Thirty Seconds to Mars rises to new heights". The Orange County Register. Retrieved January 28, 2014.
  3. ^ Papadatos, Markos (September 27, 2014). "Jared Leto performs new single 'Do or Die' on 'Ellen'". Digital Journal. Retrieved September 28, 2014.
  4. ^ Whitham, Alexis. "Fantastic Transformations". California Film Institute. Archived from the original on February 2, 2014. Retrieved January 24, 2014.
  5. ^ Bentley, Rick (November 20, 2013). "Jared Leto gave his pounds of flesh for 'Dallas Buyers Club' role". The Fresno Bee. Archived from the original on February 22, 2014. Retrieved January 24, 2014.
  6. ^ Jump up to: a b c Kisch, Adam (November 14, 2013). "Thirty Seconds To Mars: Straceniec Jared Leto (fragment biografii)" (in Polish). Interia.pl. Archived from the original on November 17, 2013. Retrieved December 15, 2013.
  7. ^ Jump up to: a b Meagher, John (January 25, 2008). "The Big Interview: 30 Seconds to Mars frontman Jared Leto". Irish Independent. Retrieved June 14, 2011.
  8. ^ Jump up to: a b Higgins 2013, p. 10.
  9. ^ Higgins 2013, p. 11.
  10. ^ Jump up to: a b c Forrest, Emma (April 13, 2002). "Not just a pretty face". The Telegraph. Retrieved March 4, 2013.
  11. ^ Jump up to: a b "Jared Leto". Tribute. Retrieved January 24, 2014.
  12. ^ "A Wandering Soul". Focus Features. p. 2. Archived from the original on February 2, 2014. Retrieved January 24, 2014.
  13. ^ Evans 2011, p. 30.
  14. ^ "Jared Leto". Education and Career (in Russian). April 8, 2011. Retrieved January 24, 2014.
  15. ^ Jump up to: a b c d Marx, Rebecca Flint (2014). "Jared Leto". The New York Times. Archived from the original on January 12, 2014. Retrieved March 4, 2013.
  16. ^ GW Corcoran - Notable Alumni
  17. ^ Berk 2014, p. 96.
  18. ^ Lavery 2010, p. 174.
  19. ^ Keeps 1997, p. 160.
  20. ^ Ebert, Roger (January 23, 1997). "'Prefontaine' premieres at Sundance". Roger Ebert. Retrieved December 8, 2013.
  21. ^ Keeps 1997, p. 162.
  22. ^ McCarthy, Todd (February 1, 1997). "Prefontaine". Variety. Retrieved June 14, 2011.
  23. ^ Stack, Peter (January 24, 1997). "'Prefontaine' Has Legs / Biopic on doomed runner a winner". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved June 14, 2011.
  24. ^ "Urban Legend (1998)". Rotten Tomatoes. Flixster. Retrieved December 7, 2013.
  25. ^ "Urban Legend (1998)". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved December 18, 2014.
  26. ^ De Coster, Ramzi (October 31, 2013). "The Hollywood Reporter's Actors Roundtable: The Trials and Tribulations of Acting". Indiewire. Retrieved January 24, 2014.
  27. ^ "The Thin Red Line (1998)". Rotten Tomatoes. Flixster. Retrieved December 7, 2013.
  28. ^ "Nominees & Winners for the 71st Academy Awards". Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Archived from the original on June 19, 2013. Retrieved January 24, 2014.
  29. ^ "1999 3rd Annual Satellite™ Awards". International Press Academy. Archived from the original on July 18, 2011. Retrieved December 8, 2013.
  30. ^ Tagliaferro, Lauren (June 23, 2006). "30 Seconds to Mars". The Buffalo News. Not content to be defined merely as "Jared Leto's band," 30 Seconds to Mars has fought to be respected as a group of formidable musicians – even refusing to play at venues that use Leto's movie-star status to promote them.
  31. ^ Bento, Debbie (April 1, 2002). "Jared Leto: From Hollywood To Mars". ChartAttack. Archived from the original on May 7, 2002. Retrieved July 22, 2011.
  32. ^ LaGambina 2002, p. 20.
  33. ^ Jump up to: a b "Back on the Market". People. 59 (25): 85. June 30, 2003.
  34. ^ Jump up to: a b Milling, Robin (September 26, 2000). "Jared Leto's Pains on 'Requiem'". Al Bawaba. Retrieved January 26, 2014.
  35. ^ Jump up to: a b Hensley, Dennis (April 1, 2002). "Jared Leto: Thriving in the Dark". Movieline. pp. 1–2. Retrieved December 7, 2013.
  36. ^ Kirkland, Bruce (September 14, 2000). "The starving artist". Jam!. Canoe.ca. Archived from the original on February 14, 2014. Retrieved January 26, 2014.
  37. ^ Travers, Peter (December 11, 2000). "Requiem for a Dream". Rolling Stone. Retrieved January 26, 2014.
  38. ^ Kit, Zorianna (January 13, 1999). "Cox to direct NL 'Afterworld". The Hollywood Reporter.
  39. ^ "30 Seconds to Mars: Awards". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved April 23, 2013.
  40. ^ O'Toole, Megan (September 26, 2002). "30 Seconds to Mars". The Gazette. 96 (17). Archived from the original on April 19, 2003. Retrieved May 29, 2014.
  41. ^ Evans 2011, p. 29.
  42. ^ "Panic Room (2002)". Rotten Tomatoes. Flixster. Retrieved December 7, 2013.
  43. ^ "Panic Room (2002)". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved July 15, 2010.
  44. ^ Goodridge, Mike (January 24, 2005). "Why Alexander won't meet Oscar". The Advocate. Retrieved December 7, 2013.
  45. ^ "Alexander (2004)". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved January 28, 2014.
  46. ^ Hamid 2006, p. 52.
  47. ^ Burr, Ty (September 16, 2005). "Provocative 'War' skillfully takes aim". The Boston Globe. Retrieved December 7, 2013.
  48. ^ Leahey, Andrew. "Thirty Seconds to Mars". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved May 18, 2013.
  49. ^ Huntington, Heather (April 13, 2007). "Lonely Hearts (2006)". Reelz. Archived from the original on December 16, 2013. Retrieved January 28, 2014.
  50. ^ Edwards, Gavin (January 12, 2014). "He was a she: Jared Leto is lured out of retirement". Irish Independent. Retrieved March 21, 2014.
  51. ^ Goodman, Justine. "30 Seconds From Fame". YRB Magazine. Archived from the original on January 27, 2007. Retrieved March 22, 2014.
  52. ^ Goldman, Andrew (June 7, 2013). "Jared Leto's Worst-Kept Secret". The New York Times. Retrieved March 23, 2014.
  53. ^ Lichtenstein, Julie (May 2, 2006). "30 Seconds To Mars' "A Beautiful Lie" Builds With Video and Tour Momentum". Marketwired. Retrieved March 21, 2014.
  54. ^ "30 Seconds To Mars Video 'The Kill' Wins Fan-Driven MTV2 Award at 2006 MTV Video Music Awards". PR Newswire. September 1, 2006. Archived from the original on December 27, 2012. Retrieved August 29, 2013.
  55. ^ Cohen, Jonathan (November 15, 2006). "30 Seconds To Mars Visits China For New Video". Billboard. Retrieved July 26, 2011.
  56. ^ Moss, Corey (January 8, 2007). "Is Time Running Out For 30 Seconds To Mars? Jared Leto Opens Up". MTV. Viacom Media Networks. Retrieved March 22, 2014.
  57. ^ Adams, Sam. "Jared Leto in 'Chapter 27'". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved January 29, 2014.
  58. ^ Reynolds, Simon (March 26, 2008). "Leto's weight gain forced him into wheelchair". Digital Spy. Retrieved January 29, 2014.
  59. ^ "Leto's Bizarre Ice-Cream And Soy Sauce Diet". Contactmusic.com. May 8, 2006. Retrieved January 29, 2014.
  60. ^ Selvin, Joel (April 18, 2008). "Chapter 27". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved September 30, 2011.
  61. ^ Gleiberman, Owen (April 10, 2008). "Chapter 27 (2008)". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved September 30, 2011.
  62. ^ Wippsson, Johan (March 6, 2008). "Jared Leto Is Back With A New Video And Global Cause". Melodic. Archived from the original on September 23, 2013. Retrieved April 21, 2013.
  63. ^ Paine, Andre (November 7, 2008). "American Acts Win Big At MTV EMAs". Billboard. Retrieved March 23, 2014.
  64. ^ "30 Seconds To Mars 'A Beautiful Lie'". Rock Sound. January 30, 2008. Retrieved July 26, 2011.
  65. ^ Adams, Bill (September 18, 2008). "Hypnagogic States". Ground Control. Archived from the original on November 4, 2010. Retrieved March 12, 2014.
  66. ^ Jump up to: a b Kreps, Daniel (August 18, 2008). "Virgin/EMI Sue 30 Seconds to Mars for $30 Million, Leto Fights Back". Rolling Stone. Retrieved July 29, 2011.
  67. ^ Brown, August (November 29, 2009). "30 Seconds to Mars soars". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved July 29, 2011.
  68. ^ Martens, Todd (April 28, 2009). "30 Seconds to Mars and EMI make nice, new album due this fall". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved July 29, 2011.
  69. ^ Jump up to: a b Schillaci, Sophie (October 17, 2011). "Thirty Seconds to Mars to Earn Guinness Records Title for Most Shows Performed During a Single Album Cycle". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved February 11, 2014.
  70. ^ Stovin, Jack (June 13, 2011). "Thirty Seconds To Mars Take Home Two 2011 Kerrang! Awards". AltSounds. Archived from the original on October 12, 2014. Retrieved October 7, 2014.
  71. ^ Radish, Christina (November 1, 2013). "Director Jaco Van Dormael Talks Mr. Nobody, the 10-Year Process of Making the Film, Working with Jared Leto, and More". Collider.com. Retrieved January 29, 2014.
  72. ^ Crousse, Nicolas (January 13, 2010). "L'extra (et) ordinaire Mister Nobody". Le Soir (in French). Archived from the original on December 20, 2013. Retrieved December 7, 2013.
  73. ^ Van Hoeij, Boyd (September 16, 2009). "Review: 'Mr. Nobody'". Variety. Retrieved January 29, 2014.
  74. ^ Kirkland, Bruce (July 15, 2010). "'Mr. Nobody' something special". Jam!. Canoe.ca. Archived from the original on July 11, 2012. Retrieved July 3, 2011.
  75. ^ Montgomery, James (October 13, 2009). "30 Seconds To Mars Go Epic With 'Kings And Queens' Video". MTV. Viacom Media Networks. Retrieved November 20, 2013.
  76. ^ Bosso, Joe (November 18, 2009). "30 Seconds To Mars debut Kings And Queens video". MusicRadar. Future plc. Retrieved November 20, 2013.
  77. ^ Dinh, James (September 12, 2010). "30 Seconds To Mars 'Amazed' By VMA Best Rock Video Win". MTV. Viacom Media Networks. Retrieved March 2, 2012.
  78. ^ Crowder, Ryan (March 10, 2011). "Study Reveals Hardest Working Music Acts". Business Wire. Retrieved August 30, 2013.
  79. ^ Montgomery, James (August 16, 2010). "30 Seconds To Mars Save Souls In 'Closer To The Edge' Video". MTV. Viacom Media Networks. Retrieved October 18, 2010.
  80. ^ Kaufman, Gil (November 29, 2010). "30 Seconds To Mars Unveil Epic 'Hurricane' Film". MTV. Viacom Media Networks. Retrieved March 28, 2014.
  81. ^ Montgomery, James (October 18, 2010). "30 Seconds To Mars Call 'Hurricane' Video 'Surrealistic Nightmare Dream-Fantasy'". MTV. Viacom Media Networks. Retrieved March 28, 2014.
  82. ^ Vick, Megan (November 30, 2010). "30 Seconds To Mars Video Banned By MTV". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved March 28, 2014.
  83. ^ Montgomery, James (July 12, 2011). "30 Seconds To Mars Call VMA Nominations 'Humbling'". MTV. Viacom Media Networks. Retrieved March 28, 2014.
  84. ^ Nelson, Rob (October 2, 2012). "Artifact". Variety. Retrieved January 13, 2014.
  85. ^ Bliss, Karen (September 18, 2012). "30 Seconds to Mars Documentary Wins People's Choice Award in Toronto". Rolling Stone. Retrieved January 8, 2014.
  86. ^ Lloyd, Kenji (September 16, 2012). "Silver Linings Playbook, Artifact & Seven Psychopaths Win TIFF Audience Awards". HeyUGuys. Retrieved January 8, 2014.
  87. ^ Sneider, Jeff (November 18, 2013). "Jared Leto's Thirty Seconds to Mars Documentary 'Artifact' Gets Distribution From FilmBuff". The Wrap. Retrieved November 18, 2013.
  88. ^ Maguire, Chris (May 21, 2013). "Thirty Seconds To Mars' Love Lust Faith + Dreams Out Today". AltSounds. Archived from the original on July 19, 2013. Retrieved September 10, 2013.
  89. ^ Cubarrubia, RJ (April 19, 2013). "Thirty Seconds to Mars Unveil Short Film for 'Up in the Air'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved March 31, 2014.
  90. ^ Anitai, Tamar (April 19, 2013). "Thirty Seconds To Mars' 'Up In The Air' Short Film: Make Art, Not War". MTV Buzzworthy. Viacom Media Networks. Archived from the original on April 21, 2013. Retrieved April 21, 2013.
  91. ^ Montgomery, James (August 25, 2013). "Thirty Seconds To Mars Win Best Rock Video VMA". MTV. Viacom Media Networks. Retrieved September 10, 2013.
  92. ^ Montgomery, James (August 7, 2013). "How Jared Leto Spent His Summer Vacation: Making Mars' 'Do Or Die'". MTV. Viacom Media Networks. Retrieved August 28, 2013.
  93. ^ Grow, Kory (October 29, 2013). "Thirty Seconds to Mars Recruit Kanye West, Lindsay Lohan for 'Angels'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved October 29, 2013.
  94. ^ "Jared Leto Stars In & Directs Music Video With Michael Jackson & The Homeless". RumorFix. August 18, 2013. Retrieved April 2, 2014.
  95. ^ Jump up to: a b Hou, Kathleen (November 6, 2013). "Jared Leto Went Really Method With His Dallas Buyers Club Beauty Routine". New York. Retrieved February 13, 2014.
  96. ^ Anderson-Minshall, Diane (November 1, 2013). "Jared Leto Says Trans Kids Inspired His Role in Dallas Buyers Club". The Advocate. Retrieved February 13, 2014.
  97. ^ Wang, Andrea (March 2, 2014). "Oscars 2014: Jared Leto wins supporting actor Academy Award". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved October 5, 2014.
  98. ^ Montgomery, James (November 11, 2014). "Jared Leto Readies 'Unofficial Sequel' to Thirty Seconds to Mars' 'Artifact'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved December 16, 2014.
  99. ^ Sharp, Tyler (November 3, 2014). "Thirty Seconds To Mars announce documentary series, 'Into The Wild'". Alternative Press. Retrieved December 18, 2014.
  100. ^ Payne, Chris (November 3, 2015). "Jared Leto Teases New Thirty Seconds to Mars Music". Billboard. Retrieved November 3, 2015.
  101. ^ Kroll, Justin (December 2, 2014). "'Suicide Squad' Cast Revealed: Jared Leto to Play the Joker, Will Smith is Deadshot". Variety. Retrieved December 16, 2014.
  102. ^ "Suicide Squad (2016)". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved August 8, 2016.
  103. ^ Nashawaty, Cris (August 2, 2016). "Suicide Squad: EW review". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved August 8, 2016.
  104. ^ "Jared Leto To Star In Action Thriller 'The Outsider'". Deadline. April 5, 2016. Retrieved April 5, 2016.
  105. ^ "Jared Leto to Star in Crime Thriller 'The Outsider'". Billboard. Retrieved April 5, 2016.
  106. ^ Martin Zandvliet [@martinzandvliet] (September 23, 2017). "Rumor has it "The Outsider is premiering feb. 2018. #japan #jaredleto #kippeishiina #shiolikutsuna #tadanobuasano #emilehirsch #rorycochrane" – via Instagram.
  107. ^ Sharp, Tyler (August 1, 2016). "Thirty Seconds To Mars tease return with new video". Alternative Press. Retrieved August 11, 2016.
  108. ^ Kroll, Justin (August 18, 2016). "Jared Leto Joins 'Blade Runner' Sequel". Variety. Retrieved August 19, 2016.
  109. ^ "See Jared Leto in Tense 'Blade Runner' Short Film, 'Nexus: 2036'". Rolling Stone. August 31, 2017. Retrieved August 31, 2017.
  110. ^ Hartmann, Graham (February 6, 2017). "Muse + Thirty Seconds to Mars To Embark on 2017 North American Tour". Loudwire. Townsquare Media. Retrieved February 6, 2017.
  111. ^ Stedman, Alex (August 27, 2017). "Jared Leto Delivers Heartfelt Tribute to Chester Bennington, Chris Cornell at MTV Video Music Awards". Variety. Retrieved August 27, 2017.
  112. ^ Caulfield, Keith (April 15, 2018). "Cardi B's 'Invasion of Privacy' Debuts at No. 1 on Billboard 200 Chart". Billboard. Retrieved July 18, 2018.
  113. ^ Robinson, Jennifer (January 11, 2021). "Jared Leto's A Day in the Life of America to Make Public Television Debut on PBS's Independent Lens in January 2021". KPBS. Retrieved January 11, 2021.
  114. ^ SAG Awards Nominations: ‘Ma Rainey’, ‘Minari’ Lead Film List; ‘The Crown’, ‘Schitt’s Creek’ Top TV And ‘Bridgerton’ Arrives
  115. ^ "Jared Leto to play Andy Warhol in biopic". The Guardian. September 20, 2016. Retrieved September 20, 2016.
  116. ^ "JARED LETO on Instagram: "Yes it's true I will be playing Andy Warhol in an upcoming film. And so grateful and excited about the opportunity.