Practically everyone knows some story of how Brad Pitt got started in Hollywood. He did commercials early on in his career, appearing shirtless for Pringles before starring in a campaign for Levi’s a few years later.
While that was happening though, Pitt was also steadily pursuing television and film. Throughout his career, the Oscar winner would go on to be known for movies such as Legends of the Fall, Se7en, 12 Monkeys, Fight Club, Oceans’ Eleven, Mr. & Mrs. Smith, War Machine, and more recently, Ad Astra. But does anyone remember the very first movie role that Pitt ever booked?
Brad Pitt Only Booked Minor And Uncredited Roles In The Beginning
For Pitt, his early years in Hollywood consisted of small roles in both tv and film. For instance, he was just known as the “boy at the beach” in the 1987 fantasy comedy Hunk before appearing a couple of times as Chris in the Emmy-nominated series Another World.
That same year, Pitt also appeared as an extra in films such as No Man’s Land, No Way Out, and Less Than Zero before landing small roles in Dallas and 21 Jump Street. He also had a minor role in the TV movie A Stoning in Fulham County.
Back then, Pitt was getting jobs, but nothing stood out. “I was in acting class. I was still doing extra work,” the actor recalled. His people also thought that he would be perfect for TV comedy, but Pitt didn’t agree.
“You know, when I first started, they were trying to get me into sitcoms — I think because I had that kind of Wonder Bread look and my hair always went into place. I kept saying, ‘I’m not good at sitcoms. I don’t know how to do that.’”
In the end, Pitt didn’t have to go into sitcoms (although he later made a hit guest appearance on Friends), thanks to the starring role he booked next.
What Was Brad Pitt’s First Movie?
After landing several gigs as an extra and working on television for years, Pitt finally managed to land his first movie role in Bozidar 'Bota' Nikolic’s 1988 drama romance The Dark Side of the Sun. The film stars the actor as Rick, a man searching for a cure for his rare skin disease.
And while it was filmed in the 80s, Pitt’s first film was never shown in the US until several years later.
“Due to the war breaking out in the former Yugoslavia, Dark Side of the Sun, unfortunately, was never shown here, and had its US premiere was only in 1997. In fact, the Americans stole the film from me, because I am its co-owner, but they never gave me a penny, Nikolic once said.
“But today I can say that I regret almost nothing in my career.” Perhaps, it’s because the movie led to the discovery of Pitt.
When Pitt auditioned for Nikolic’s movie, he didn’t have many acting credits yet. But the director knew he was the one, nonetheless. “I was at the Metro Goldwyn Mayer, and out of 400 actors who were at the casting for this film, I chose him,” the director recalled.
He also declared, “I discovered Brad Pitt.”
As for Pitt, doing the movie was also an experience to remember. “It was my second time on a plane,” the actor explained.
“It was my first time out of the country. I had to get a passport. It was a great, great time for me. We started in Belgrade and shot mainly in Montenegro.”
Brad Pitt’s Breakout Role In Thelma & Louise Came Just A Few Years Later
Sure, Pitt had already booked his first lead role at this time, but he was still a relative unknown. And when Ridley Scott was casting for the part of J.D. in Thelma & Louise, the actor wasn’t even at the top of his casting list.
When Pitt first read the script for the movie, he knew he had to be in it. As the actor recalled, it was “incredibly well written, especially when compared to what I had access to at the time. And, most importantly, it was close to home (the actor is an Oklahoma native).”
So, auditioned “with high hopes,” only for Scott to give the role to Billy Baldwin.
Later on, Baldwin dropped out and Scott cast another actor to take his place, but it wasn’t Pitt. Interestingly, that second actor would end up exiting the project too and this time around, casting agent Lou DiGiamo asked Pitt to read one of the film’s main stars, Geena Davis. The actor left Davis flustered.
“I did fine with the first few guys but the last one was so cute,” Davis recalled. “I kept messing up my lines. I'm dying because I'm thinking, He's great, and I'm ruining his audition. I kept saying, ‘I'm so sorry!’ But he's so chill: ‘Hey, don't worry about it. It's all good.’”
Pitt got cast in the end and from then, the roles never stopped coming.
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