Actor Brad Pitt's Given First Name Likely To Astound Fans

Aug 07, 2021 by apost team

There are few movie stars as universally recognized as Brad Pitt. The man has been in countless iconic movies like “Fight Club” and “Ocean’s Eleven.” However, many people may be shocked to find out that Brad Pitt isn’t exactly the actor’s real name. Bradley is his middle name, and his first name is the same as his father's.

Pitt started acting in 1987 and went uncredited in a number of small film roles. He then began to appear on television, portraying characters on popular shows like “Dallas” and “21 Jump Street.” He first gained recognition for his performance as a hitchhiker in “Thelma & Louise.” In 1992, he got his first chance to act in a leading role in “A River Runs Through It.” Then he went on to star in both “Legends of the Fall” and “Interview with the Vampire” in 1994. 

Pitt has received many accolades and awards throughout his lengthy career, including an Academy Award in 2020 for Best Supporting Actor for his performance in “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.” The star also does extensive charity work, supporting organizations like One Campaign, which combats AIDS and poverty in the developing world. 

In his personal life, Pitt has gone through two very public divorces from actresses Jennifer Aniston and Angelina Jolie. He has six children with Jolie, three of which were adopted internationally. The family seems to be on good terms now, following his divorce from Jolie, and Pitt and his parents still get to see the children. Read on to learn more about Pitt, his real first name and what may be on the horizon for his love life.

The superstar known as Brad Pitt was born William Bradley Pitt on December 18, 1963 in Shawnee, Oklahoma. His parents are Jane Etta and William Alvin Pitt. The actor has fond memories of his childhood, growing up in the midwest. 

He told GQ magazine:

“Well, it was Springfield, Missouri, which is a big place now, but we grew up surrounded by cornfields — which is weird because we always had canned vegetables. I never could figure that one out! Anyway, ten minutes outside of town, you start getting into forests and rivers and the Ozark Mountains. Stunning country.”

Pitt found his love for acting at a young age, and it began with an interest in storytelling. The actor shared:

“As a kid, I was certainly drawn to stories — beyond the stories that we were living and knew, stories with different points of view. And I found those stories in film, especially. Different cultures and lives so foreign to mine. I think that was one of the draws that propelled me into film. I didn't know how to articulate stories. I'm certainly not a good orator, sitting here telling a story, but I could foster them in film.”

In the first year after splitting from his wife, Jolie, Pitt spent time staying at friends’ houses and turned inward. He started going to therapy and realized that he needed to stop drinking. Now he is clean and sober and sees that he learned a lot from that challenging period of time. Most of all he recognized the importance of creativity in his life — as an actor but also as an artist. He told GQ in 2017: 

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“I think everyone's creative in some way. If I'm not creating something, doing something, putting it out there, then I'll just be creating scenarios of fiery demise in my mind. You know, a horrible end. And so I've been going to a friend's sculpting studio, spending a lot of time over there. My friend is a serious sculptor. They've been kind. I've literally been squatting in there for a month now.”

At the 2020 Screen Actors Guild Awards, Pitt shocked everyone by grabbing Aniston‘s hand backstage. Fans were also interested in the pair’s relationship status after they performed together at a table read of “Fast Times at Ridgemont High” for charity. However, Aniston had something to say about her current relationship with Pitt.

“It was absolutely fun. Brad and I are buddies, we're friends,” Aniston shared via People. “And we speak, and there's no oddness at all, except for everyone that probably watched it and was wanting there to be, or assumed there to be. We had fun, and it was for a great cause, (Sean Penn's community relief nonprofit) CORE.”

Many would consider Pitt as a man who needs no introduction. His reputation as an A-list actor precedes him, and he is recognized everywhere he goes. In January 2020, Pitt attended the Oscars luncheon, where he walked around with a name tag that showed off his full name.

Apparently, the actor also uses his real name while flirting with women. A source claims she saw the man flirting outside of a coffee shop. Pitt, according to Page Six, “put out his hand and said, ‘Hi, I’m William.’ a mystery woman replied, ‘Oh, you look like a Bradley.’ And he responded, ‘Well, that’s my middle name’ and smiled and winked at her.”

Did you know Brad Pitt had a different first name? Do you think he will get back together with Aniston? Let us know, and be sure to pass this along to your friends and family.