William Bradley Pitt (1963– ) was born on this day in Shawnee, Oklahoma, and raised in Springfield, Missouri. When the world labeled him a heartthrob, he brushed aside the attention with self-deprecating wit: “When I look into the mirror, I see pores and yellowing teeth.” His humor revealed someone grounded and clear-eyed, a small-town boy who came within a whisper of a journalism degree before packing his car and heading west to follow a Hollywood dream.

Before the red carpets, Pitt worked odd jobs, including dressing as a giant chicken to invite customers into a fast-food restaurant, and found early roles on television. Everything changed with his brief appearance in Thelma & Louise. He stepped into the frame with an ease and presence that jolted audiences, a flash of charm, beauty, and something grounded beneath it. The moment was small, yet unmistakable, opening the way for work with artists such as Robert Redford, Tom Cruise, and Bruce Willis, each role shaping his craft film by film.

Fame arrived quickly, and with it the labels he never quite believed. Twice named “Sexiest Man Alive” by People magazine, Pitt only laughed, once saying the title was meant for the “sexiest moron.” The joke landed because it was honest. He never led with the image others placed on him.

After Hurricane Katrina, Pitt spent time in New Orleans and helped launch a rebuilding effort in the city’s hard-hit neighborhoods. He spoke often about design and the shape of a home, sounding less like a movie star and more like someone learning to use his influence for good works.