Jared Leto Biography

Jared Leto, actor/musician

Birthdate: December 26, 1971

Birthplace: Bossier City, Louisiana

Sign: Capricorn

Jared Leto, with his mother Constance and older brother Shannon, frequently moved living from city to city during his childhood. He enrolled at Philadelphia's University of the Arts to follow his interest in painting and subsequently transferred to School of Visual Arts in New York to pursue an interest in acting.

Leto moved to Los Angeles in 1992 to start his acting career. After two years, he landed his first big break on the teen TV drama "My So-Called Life," where he played the love interest of Claire Danes. Although critically acclaimed, the show was short-lived. But it was just what he needed to get known in the industry.

After the show ended in 1995, he appeared in several films, including "How to Make an American Quilt," "Urban Legend," and "The Thin Red Line." However, it was his role as heroin addict Harry Goldfarb in "Requiem for a Dream" that critics noticed his acting prowess. He starred in several films after that.

In the 2007 film "Chapter 27," Leto, who is a vegetarian, had to gain 60 pounds for his role as assassin Mark David Chapman.

Leto is the lead vocalist, rhythm guitarist and songwriter of the band 30 Seconds to Mars, which he started in 1998. His brother is also a member of their band. The band has already released two albums: 30 Seconds to Mars and A Beautiful Life.

He also dabbled into music video directing. He directed his band's "The Kill" and "From Yesterday" music videos under the pseudonym Bartholomew Cubbins and "A Beautiful Life" under the alias of Angakok Panipaq.

The actor/musician would be seen next in the Belgian sci-fi film "Mr. Nobody," which is scheduled to be released in 2009.