Joseph Gordon-Levitt

Joseph Leonard Gordon-Levitt (/ˈlɛvɪt/; born February 17, 1981) is an American actor, filmmaker, singer, and entrepreneur.
As a child, Gordon-Levitt appeared in the films A River Runs Through It, Angels in the Outfield, Holy Matrimony and 10 Things I Hate About You, and as Tommy Solomon in the TV series 3rd Rock from the Sun. He took a break from acting to study at Columbia University, but dropped out in 2004 to pursue acting again. He has since starred in (500) Days of Summer, Inception, Hesher, 50/50, Premium Rush, Miracle at St. Anna, The Brothers Bloom, The Dark Knight Rises, Brick, Looper, The Lookout, Manic, Lincoln, Mysterious Skin, and G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra. He portrayed Philippe Petit in the Robert Zemeckis-directed film The Walk (2015),[1] and whistleblower Edward Snowden in the Oliver Stone film Snowden (2016).[2] For his leading performances in (500) Days of Summer and 50/50, he was nominated for the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy.
Gordon-Levitt also founded the online production company hitRECord in 2004 and has hosted his own TV series, HitRecord on TV, since January 2014, winning the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Creative Achievement in Interactive Media - Social TV Experience in the same year. In 2013, Gordon-Levitt made his feature film directing and screenwriting debut with Don Jon, in which he also stars. He previously directed and edited two short films, both of which were released in 2010: Morgan M. Morgansen's Date with Destiny and Morgan and Destiny's Eleventeenth Date: The Zeppelin Zoo.
== Early life ==
Joseph Leonard Gordon-Levitt[3] was born in Los Angeles, California[3] on February 17, 1981.[4][5][6] He was raised in the Sherman Oaks neighborhood of Los Angeles.[7] He is Jewish, from a family that is "not strictly religious";[8][9][10][11] his parents were among the founders of the Progressive Jewish Alliance.[12][13][14][15] Gordon-Levitt's father, Dennis Levitt, was once the news director for the Pacifica Radio station, KPFK-FM.[16][17] His mother, Jane Gordon, ran for the United States Congress in California during the 1970s for the Peace and Freedom Party; she met Dennis Levitt while she was working as the program guide editor for KPFK-FM.[16] His maternal grandfather, Michael Gordon(1909–1993), was a Hollywood film director.[16] Gordon-Levitt had an older brother, Dan,[18][19] a photographer and fire spinner who died in 2010 at the age of 36.[20] Gordon-Levitt attended Van Nuys High School and graduated in 1999.[21]
== Career ==
=== Early acting work ===
Gordon-Levitt joined a musical theater group at the age of four and played the Scarecrow in a production of The Wizard of Oz. Subsequently, he was approached by an agent and began appearing on television and in commercials for Sunny Jim peanut butter, Cocoa Puffs, Pop-Tarts, and Kinney Shoes.[16]
At age six, he starred in several made-for-television films. In 1991, he played both David Collins and Daniel Collins in the Dark Shadows 1991 television series, and appeared in the movie A River Runs Through It .[22] During 1992–93, he played in The Powers That Be, a sitcom starring John Forsythe, as a clever young boy named Pierce Van Horne. Also in 1992, he portrayed Gregory Kingsley in the made-for-TV film Switching Parents, based on Kingsley's real life case of "divorcing" his parents. In 1994, he starred in the Disney film Angels in the Outfield as an orphan who sees angels. In 1996, he began playing Tommy Solomon on the sitcom 3rd Rock from the Sun. The series ran for six seasons. The San Francisco Chronicle noted that Gordon-Levitt was a "Jewish kid playing an extraterrestrial pretending to be a Jewish kid".[23] During the 1990s, he was frequently featured in teenage magazines. He also made an appearance as Buddy, a gay teenager who assumes his friend Eric Forman is as well, in the episode "Eric's Buddy" on That '70s Show.
Gordon-Levitt starred in the 1999 film 10 Things I Hate About You, a modern-day adaptation of Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew and voiced Jim Hawkins in Treasure Planet (2002), a Disney adaptation of the novel Treasure Island.[24] In 2000, he began attending Columbia University School of General Studies.[16][25]He studied history, literature, and French poetry.[16] He became an avid Francophile and a French speaker.[16] He said that moving to New York City from his hometown forced him to grow as a person.[23] He dropped out in 2004 to concentrate on acting again.[16]
=== Later acting work ===
Gordon-Levitt has said that he made a conscious decision to "be in good movies" after returning to acting.[25] His films include 2001's drama Manic, which was set in a mental institution, Mysterious Skin (2004), in which he played a gay prostitute and child sexual abuse victim, and Brick (2005), a modern-day film noir set at a high school, in which he had the lead role of Brendan Frye, a teen who becomes involved in an underground drug ring while investigating a murder. Brick received positive reviews, with The Minnesota Daily's critic commenting that Gordon-Levitt played the character "beautifully", "true to film's style", "unfeeling but not disenchanted", and "sexy in the most ambiguous way."[25][26] Another reviewer described the performance as "astounding".[27] He also starred opposite Steve Sandvoss as a young judgmental missionary in Latter Days (2003), a film that centers on a sexually repressed Mormonmissionary (Sandvoss) who falls for his gay neighbor. He had roles in Havoc and Shadowboxer.[28]
His next role was in 2007's The Lookout, in which he played Chris Pratt, a janitor involved in a bank heist. In reviewing the film, The Philadelphia Inquirerdescribed Gordon-Levitt as a "surprisingly formidable, and formidably surprising, leading man",[29] while New York magazine stated that he is a "major tabula rasaactor ... a minimalist", and that his character worked because he "doesn't seize the space ... by what he takes away from the character."[30] The San Francisco Chronicle specified that he "embodies, more than performs, a character's inner life."[23] His 2008 and 2009 films include Stop-Loss, directed by Kimberly Peirceand revolving around American soldiers returning from the Iraq War, and Killshot, in which he played a hoodlum partnered with a hired killer played by Mickey Rourke.[25]
Gordon-Levitt played a lead role opposite to friend Zooey Deschanel in 500 Days of Summer, a well-received 2009 release about the deconstruction of a relationship.[28] His performance, described as "the real key" to what makes the film work, credits him with using "his usual spell in subtle gradations."[31]Variety's Todd McCarthy praised his performance, saying he "expressively alternates between enthusiasm and forlorn disappointment in the manner Jack Lemmon could".[32] Peter Travers of Rolling Stone said the movie "hits you like a blast of pure romantic oxygen" and credited both lead actors for playing "it for real, with a grasp of subtlety and feeling that goes beyond the call of breezy duty."[33] He was subsequently nominated for a Golden Globe Award.[34]
He later played villain Cobra Commander in G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra.[35] On November 21, 2009, he hosted Saturday Night Live.[36] In 2010, he replaced James Franco[37] to star alongside Leonardo DiCaprio in Christopher Nolan's science fiction thriller Inception, which received favorable reviews.[28]
In 2011, Gordon-Levitt began filming Christopher Nolan's The Dark Knight Rises, in which he played John Blake, a police officer who emerges as a key ally of Batman.[38] In Premium Rush, he played the starring role of fixie-riding, brash bicycle messenger; he portrayed the younger version of Bruce Willis' character, in a shared role for the time-travel thriller Looper,;[39] and the supporting role of Robert Todd Lincoln in Steven Spielberg's biopic Lincoln, all three released in 2012.[40]
Gordon-Levitt played a new character, Johnny, in the sequel Sin City: A Dame to Kill For (2014), described by the filmmakers as "a cocky gambler who disguises a darker mission to destroy his most foul enemy at his best game".[41] In October 2013, it was reported that he was one of the frontrunners to play the lead character for Marvel Studios's superhero film Ant-Man, which eventually went to Paul Rudd.[42]
In 2015, Gordon-Levitt starred as Philippe Petit in the biographical drama The Walk, directed by Academy Award-winning director Robert Zemeckis. Gordon-Levitt then played National Security Agency surveillance leaker Edward Snowden in Snowden, directed by Oliver Stone.[43] The film was released in North America on September 16, 2016, and co-starred Shailene Woodley, Melissa Leo, Zachary Quinto, Tom Wilkinson, and Nicolas Cage.
=== Directing and producing ===
Gordon-Levitt's first film as director, the 24 minute-long Sparks, an adaptation of a short story by Elmore Leonard starring Carla Gugino and Eric Stoltz, was selected for the 2009 Sundance Film Festival as part of a new program for short films.[44] In 2010, he directed another short film, Morgan and Destiny's Eleventeenth Date: The Zeppelin Zoo.[45] It premiered at two houses during the South by Southwest festival in Austin, Texas.[45]
He was one of the many producers of the Broadway show Slava's Snowshow.[46]
In 2013, Gordon-Levitt wrote, directed, and starred in his screenwriting and directorial debut, Don Jon. The film also stars Scarlett Johansson, Julianne Moore, and Tony Danza, and premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in January 2013. Following the premiere, the film was acquired by Relativity Media and Gordon-Levitt stated: "I always intended this to be a movie for a mass popular audience. Everyone told me it was a long shot ... I couldn't possibly be more grateful."[47]
==== Hit Record ====
Main article: HitRecord
HitRecord (pronounced /ˈhɪt rɪˈkɔːrd/; often stylized as hitREC●rd) is an online collaborative production company founded and owned by Gordon-Levitt. The company uses a variety of media to produce such projects as short films, books, and DVDs.[48] HitRecord has produced such short films as Morgan M. Morgansen's Date with Destiny and its sequel Morgan and Destiny's Eleventeenth Date: The Zeppelin Zoo.
== Personal life ==
In October 2013, Gordon-Levitt identified himself as a feminist, giving credit to his mother: "My mom brought me up to be a feminist. She was active in the movement in the '60s and '70s. The Hollywood movie industry has come a long way since its past. It certainly has a bad history of sexism, but it ain't all the way yet."[49]
In December 2014, Gordon-Levitt married Tasha McCauley.[50][51] Their first child, a son, was born in August 2015.[52] Their second son was born in June 2017.[53]
== Filmography ==
=== Film ===
Year	Title 	Role 	Notes
1992	Beethoven 	Student No. 1 	
1992	A River Runs Through It 	Young Norman 	
1994	Holy Matrimony 	Zeke 	
1994	Roadflower 	Rich Lerolland 	
1994	Angels in the Outfield 	Roger Bomman 	Nominated — Saturn Award for Best Performance by a Younger Actor
1996	The Juror 	Oliver Laird 	
1998	Sweet Jane 	Tony 	
1998	Halloween H20: 20 Years Later 	James "Jimmy" Howell 	
1999	10 Things I Hate About You 	Cameron James 	Nominated — Teen Choice Award for Choice Hissy Fit
2000	Picking Up the Pieces 	Flaco 	
2000	Forever Lulu 	Martin Ellsworth 	
2001	Manic 	Lyle Jensen 	
2002	Treasure Planet 	Jim Hawkins 	Voice
2003	Latter Days 	Elder Paul Ryder 	
2004	Mysterious Skin 	Neil McCormick 	
2005	Brick 	Brendan Frye 	
2005	Havoc 	Sam 	
2005	Shadowboxer 	Dr. Don 	
2007	The Lookout 	Chris Pratt 	
2008	Stop-Loss 	Tommy Burgess 	
2008	Miracle at St. Anna 	Tim Boyle 	
2008	The Brothers Bloom 	Bar Patron 	Uncredited cameo[54]
2009	Killshot 	Richie Nix 	
2009	Big Breaks 	Todd Sterling 	Short film
2009	(500) Days of Summer 	Tom Hansen 	Nominated — Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy
Nominated — Detroit Film Critics Society Award for Best Actor
2009	Uncertainty 	Bobby 	
2009	Women in Trouble 	Bert Rodriguez 	
2009	G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra 	Rexford "Rex" Lewis / Cobra Commander	Nominated — Teen Choice Award for Choice Movie Villain
2010	Hesher 	Hesher 	
2010	Morgan M. Morgansen's Date with Destiny	Morgan M. Morgansen / Narrator 	Short film; also director and editor
2010	Elektra Luxx 	Bert Rodriguez 	
2010	Morgan and Destiny's Eleventeenth Date 	Morgan M. Morgansen / Narrator 	Short film; also director and editor
2010	Inception 	Arthur 	Nominated — MTV Movie Award for Best Kiss (shared with Ellen Page)
Nominated — MTV Movie Award for Best Fight
Nominated — Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association Award for Best Ensemble
2011	50/50 	Adam Lerner 	Nominated — Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy
Nominated — MTV Movie Award for Best Actor in a Movie
2012	The Dark Knight Rises 	Robin John Blake 	Nominated — Teen Choice Award for Choice Movie Scene Stealer
Nominated — Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actor
2012	Premium Rush 	Wilee 	
2012	Looper 	Young Joe 	Also executive producer
Nominated — Saturn Award for Best Actor
2012	Lincoln 	Robert Todd Lincoln 	Nominated — Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture
2013	Don Jon 	Jon "Don Jon" Martello 	Also director and writer
Nominated — Chicago Film Critics Association Award for Most Promising Filmmaker
Nominated — MTV Movie Award for Best Kiss (shared with Scarlett Johansson)
2014	The Wind Rises 	Jiro Horikoshi 	English dub[55]
2014	Sin City: A Dame to Kill For 	Johnny 	
2014	The Interview 	Himself 	Uncredited cameo[56]
2015	The Walk 	Philippe Petit 	
2015	The Night Before 	Ethan 	
2016	Snowden 	Edward Snowden 	
2017	Star Wars: The Last Jedi 	Slowen Lo 	Voice cameo[57]
2019	7500 	Tobias Ellis 	Post-production[58]
2019	Untitled Schulman/Joost project 	 	Filming
2023	PJ Masks: The Movie 	Richard Leto 	Voice
=== Television ===
Year 	Title 	Role 	Notes
1988 	Stranger on My Land 	Rounder 	Television film
1988 	Family Ties 	Dougie 	2 episodes
1989 	Settle the Score 	Justin 	Television film
1990 	Murder, She Wrote 	Boy No. 1 	Episode: "Shear Madness"
1991 	Changes 	Matthew "Matt" Hallam 	Television film
1991 	Hi Honey – I'm Dead 	Josh Stadler 	Television film
1991 	Plymouth 	Simon 	Television film
1991 	Dark Shadows 	Daniel Collins / David Collins	11 episodes
1991 	China Beach 	Archie Winslow, age 9 	Episode: "Quest"
1991 	Quantum Leap 	Kyle 	Episode: "Permanent Wave" (season 4)
1991 	L.A. Law 	Rick Berg 	Episode: "Lose the Boss"
1992 	The Powers That Be 	Pierce Van Horne 	13 episodes
1993 	Gregory K 	Gregory Kingsley 	Television film
1993 	Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman 	Zack Lawson 	Episode: "The Secret"
1993–1995	Roseanne 	George 	4 episodes
1995 	The Great Elephant Escape 	Matthew 	Television film
1996–2001	3rd Rock from the Sun 	Tommy Solomon 	131 episodes
Nominated — Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series (1996–1998)
1998 	That '70s Show 	Buddy Morgan 	Episode: "Eric's Buddy"
2000 	The Outer Limits 	Zach 	Episode: "Something About Harry"
2005 	Numb3rs 	Scott Reynolds 	Episode: "Sacrifice"
2009
2012	Saturday Night Live 	Himself (host) 	2 episodes
2013 	Lady Gaga and the Muppets Holiday Spectacular	Himself 	Television special
2014–2015	HitRecord on TV 	Himself (host) 	Also executive producer
Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Creative Achievement in Interactive Media — Social TV Experience
2015 	Comedy Bang! Bang! 	Himself 	Episode: "Joseph Gordon-Levitt Wears a Heart T-Shirt and Blue Jeans"
2015 	The Mindy Project 	Matt Sherman 	Episode: "While I Was Sleeping"
2015 	The Muppets 	Himself 	Episode: "Going, Going, Gonzo"
2017 	Comrade Detective 	Iosif Baciu (voice) 	6 episodes
2018 	The Comedy Central Roast 	Himself 	Episode: “Bruce Willis”
== Awards and nominations ==
Category:1981 births
Category:Living people
Category:20th-century American male actors
Category:21st-century American male actors
Category:American male child actors
Category:American feminists
Category:American film directors
Category:American male television actors
Category:American male film actors
Category:American male musical theater actors
Category:American male soap opera actors
Category:American male screenwriters
Category:Film directors from California
Category:Jewish American male actors
Category:Jewish American writers
Category:Male actors from Los Angeles, California
Category:American activists
Category:American film producers