Jared Joseph Leto (born December 26, 1971, in Bossier City, Louisiana) is an American actor, singer and producer, best known for his film work and for leading the rock band Thirty Seconds to Mars. Although his public profile rests on acting and music, his early training was in painting: he studied art at the University of the Arts in Philadelphia and specialized in painting before turning to acting. Over a career spanning three decades he has won an Academy Award and a Golden Globe.
He was born in Bossier City, and after his parents divorced he lived with his mother, Constance, his older brother Shannon and their grandfather. The family moved to Colorado, Virginia, Wyoming and Haiti for work, and his mother encouraged her sons to take up the arts. After several schools, he moved to New York to study film.
He moved to Los Angeles in 1992, and his first roles came in series such as Camp Wilder and Almost Home. His wider youth audience came with My So-Called Life, where he played Jordan Catalano opposite Claire Danes. He made his film debut in How to Make an American Quilt (1995) and had his first leading role in Prefontaine (1997), which earned strong notices. Further supporting parts followed in The Thin Red Line, Fight Club and Girl, Interrupted.
In 2000 he starred in Requiem for a Dream as a heroin addict, a role that required an extreme preparation, including losing 28 pounds. Later films included Panic Room, Alexander and Lord of War, and for Chapter 27 he gained around 30 pounds. His performance as a transgender woman in Dallas Buyers Club (2013) won him the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. He is best known as an actor for a method built on physical transformation and deep immersion in his characters.
Alongside his film career, he formed Thirty Seconds to Mars in 1998 with his brother Shannon. Their self-titled debut appeared in 2002, and the second album, A Beautiful Lie, brought the band wider attention. This Is War and Love, Lust, Faith and Dreams further established them, and the group has sold over 15 million albums worldwide. His legacy combines a committed physical approach to acting with a sustained presence in music, making him a recognizable figure in both film and rock.