1971-present
Who Is Jared Leto?
Jared Leto is an award-winning actor known for his extreme method acting. Leto landed his breakthrough role on the mid-1990s show My So-Called Life and film career soon followed. The actor achieved critical acclaim for his performances in movies like Requiem for a Dream (2000), Dallas Buyers Club (2013)—for which he received an Academy Award—and Suicide Squad (2016). Leto is also the lead singer of the band 30 Seconds to Mars, which he started with his brother, Shannon.
Quick Facts
FULL NAME: Jared Joseph Leto
BORN: December 26, 1971
BIRTHPLACE: Bossier City, Louisiana
ASTROLOGICAL SIGN: Capricorn
Early Life
Jared Joseph Leto was born on December 26, 1971, in Bossier City, Louisiana. His parents divorced shortly after he was born and his mother, a traveling artist, raised him. The family struggled financially, but creativity was emphasized and Jared and his older brother, Shannon, both developed a robust appreciation of the arts. Leto enrolled at Philadelphia's University of the Arts to study painting, but switched his focus to acting and transferred to the School of Visual Arts in New York City, where he majored in filmmaking.
Movies and TV Shows
My So-Called Life
In 1992, Leto moved to Los Angeles, California. His breakthrough acting role came when he was cast as Claire Danes' love interest, Jordan Catalano, in My So-Called Life (1994-95). Fans of the show were so rabid that Leto received a human ear and a box of pubic hair. Solidifying his heartthrob status, the actor was named to People magazine's "50 Most Beautiful People" list in both 1996 and 1997.
The Thin Red Line and Fight Club
Leto appeared in his first film role in 1995, in How to Make An American Quilt. He later landed roles in The Thin Red Line (1998), directed by Terrence Malick, and Fight Club (1999), directed by David Fincher and starring Brad Pitt, Edward Norton and Helena Bonham Carter.
American Psycho and Requiem for a Dream
In 2000, Leto starred in Mary Harron's American Psycho, alongside Christian Bale, as well as in Darren Aronofsky's Requiem for a Dream, with Ellen Burstyn, Marlon Wayans and Jennifer Connelly. To prepare for his role as heroin addict Harry Goldfarb in Requiem, Leto reportedly lived on New York City's streets and abstained from sex with then-fiancée Cameron Diaz (the couple broke up in 2003). The actor showed similar dedication for his portrayal of John Lennon's assassin in Chapter 27 (2007), gaining 60 pounds for the part. He then earned more acclaim for his co-starring role in the sci-fi drama Mr. Nobody (2009).
Oscar Win for Dallas Buyers Club
In 2014, Leto won the Academy Award for best supporting actor for his role as a transgender woman named Rayon in Dallas Buyers Club (2013). Leto lost 30 pounds for the role, which marked his return to acting after a six-year hiatus.
Suicide Squad and Blade Runner 2049
After another hiatus, Leto played the villainous Joker in the 2016 action-packed superhero release of Suicide Squad, alongside Will Smith and Margot Robbie. He later reprised his role in the 2021 film Zach Snyder’s Justice League. In 2017, Leto appeared in Blade Runner 2049 with Harrison Ford and Ryan Gosling, before taking on another starring role in the crime drama The Outsider (2018).
House of Gucci, Morbius, and WeCrashed
Leto’s next major film saw him portray Italian businessman Paolo Gucci, the grandson of Guccio Gucci, in Ridley Scott’s 2021 film House of Gucci, co-starring Lady Gaga and Adam Driver. The following year, he took on the titular role in Morbius, based on the Marvel Comics character Morbius, the Living Vampire, and portrayed WeWork co-founder Adam Neumann in WeCrashed with Anne Hathaway.
Tron: Ares and Masters of the Universe
After making an appearance in 2023’s Haunted Mansion, Leto starred in Tron: Ares (2025), the third installment in the Tron franchise. In summer 2026, the actor played the villain Skeletor in Masters of Universe, based on the He-Man comic book series.
30 Seconds to Mars
Leto co-founded the band 30 Seconds to Mars (also stylized as Thirty Seconds to Mars) with his brother Shannon in 1998. Jared serves as the group's lead singer alongside Shannon on drums, with other musicians rounding out the lineup over the years.
In 2011, the group set a Guinness World Record for longest concert tour by a rock band by performing 300 shows. The following year, they released a documentary, Artifact, about their feud and $30 million lawsuit with record label EMI. The film was directed by Leto under the pseudonym “Bartholomew Cubbins,” a Dr. Seuss character. Leto also uses that name while directing the band's videos.
In May 2013, 30 Seconds to Mars released their fourth album, Love, Lust, Faith and Dreams. Later that year, the group won the MTV Video Music Award for best rock video for the song “Up in the Air.” They returned with their fifth album, America, in 2018.
The band has a loyal following, especially in Europe. Leto calls 30 Seconds to Mars' supporters “the echelon” instead of “fans.”
Assault Allegations
Leto was accused of sexual misconduct and assault in the BBC documentary Jared Leto: Hollywood’s Darkest Secret, released in July 2026. The documentary covers alleged encounters with 10 women, four of whom have accused him of criminal sexual offenses. Leto has denied the allegations against him, telling The Associated Press: “I have never sexually assaulted anyone in my entire life. These claims are absolutely and categorically false.”
Net Worth
As of July 2026, Leto has an estimated net worth $14 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth.
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Catherine Caruso joined the Biography.com staff in August 2024, having previously worked as a freelance journalist for several years. She is a graduate of Syracuse University, where she studied English literature. When she’s not working on a new story, you can find her reading, hitting the gym, or watching too much TV.
