Before Jared Leto broke hearts as a teenage dreamboat on "My So-Called Life," he was a serial college dropout who traveled the country and dreamed of being a painter.
Now the Academy Award-winning actor takes on the iconic role of the Joker in "Suicide Squad." His performance has been described as a "spectacular failure," which is fitting for an actor so dedicated.
We're taking a look back at how Leto became a cultural icon.
Born in 1971, Jared Leto grew up a nomad. His family lived in Haiti, a Colorado commune, his grandmother's house, and places in between.
Source: The New York Times
They didn't have much. "My mother crawled out of the muddy banks of the Mississippi with my brother and I in one hand and a fistful of food stamps in the other," Leto joked to Interview Magazine.
Source: Interview Magazine
There were always instruments around, including guitars, pianos, and bongo drums. Growing up, brothers Shannon and Jared made music with pots and pans.
Sometimes, air guitar just isn't enough. #AirBass #🎸 #🎶
Source: NBC Latino
At age 16, Leto came to a crossroads. "I thought I might be an artist or a painter. Or maybe a drug dealer," Leto says. "But I didn't know which path I would take. It's just fortunate that I chose one over the other."
Source: Twitter
Leto dropped out of high school, returned, and went on to leave three art schools, where he studied painting and film, before changing paths.
A 21-year-old Leto arrived in Los Angeles with just a backpack and a few hundred bucks in his pocket. He searched for acting jobs, figuring that was the gateway to directing.
Source: Interview Magazine
"I ended up sleeping on the beach in Venice," Leto says, "and that was really the beginning for me."
Source: Interview Magazine
After nabbing a handful of roles in made-for-TV movies and short-lived family sitcoms, Leto landed his big break as the mopey and effortlessly cool Jordan Catalano in "My So-Called Life."
Catalano was the love interest of Claire Danes' leading character, Angela. To this day, Leto reportedly asks reporters that they not ask him questions about the show.
Source: Interview Magazine
When the show was canceled, Leto's film career ramped up. He wanted to leave behind the teen-heartthrob archetype, so he went after small roles in serious projects, like 1995's "How to Make an American Quilt."
Source: Interview Magazine
From 1995 to 1999, he appeared in no fewer than 10 movies, including "Fight Club."
In "Fight Club," he was beaten into an oblivion as Angel Face, a handsome and favored club regular. The movie brought him major blockbuster credibility.
It also marked the beginning of a critical-acclaim streak for the actor. He played a selfish ex-boyfriend in 1999's "Girl, Interrupted."
He got maimed, again, as an arrogant associate in "American Psycho." While Leto was passed up for the lead, he rattled critics in the supporting role.
Source: The New York Times
His streak culminated with the leading role in Darren Aronofsky's "Requiem for a Dream," which brought Leto the best reviews of his career yet.
Source: The New York Times
He auditioned for the role of a disillusioned, heroin-addicted Brooklynite "about 6,000 times," Leto jokes. "'Requiem for a Dream' was an incredibly important film for me."
Source: Interview Magazine
Meanwhile, Leto's brother, Shannon, moved to California. Reunited on the west coast, they began to play music together again.
In 1998, the pair formed the post-grunge rock band Boiled Hard, later renamed Thirty Seconds to Mars.
The group's namesake debut album drew modest success, causing the band to keep playing despite Leto's busy filming schedule.
The band's sophomore album, "A Beautiful Lie," rocketed the band to stardom. After recording on four different continents to accommodate Leto, the band reached platinum status in America.
As Thirty Seconds to Mars hit its stride, Leto shelved his acting career. The premiere of cyberthriller "Mr. Nobody" began a four-year hiatus from Hollywood.
In those years, the band released its most successful album to date, "This Is War," and set a Guinness World Record for "Longest Concert Tour By A Rock Band."
Me. #ThisIsWar. The #MARShawk. #ThrowbackThursday #tbt
Source: Guinness World Records
At last, he came across a script that gripped him. "I'd heard about ['Dallas Buyers Club'] before — and I'd even ignored a few emails about it," Leto told Interview. "Eventually, I took a look at it, and I just fell in love with the opportunity and the role."
Source: Interview Magazine
Leto plays a transgender woman with AIDS who teams up with Matthew McConaughey's character to smuggle medication into the US and supply it to fellow patients.
In a preliminary Skype call with the director, Leto put on a wig, dress, and lipstick. He slipped into his character, Rayon, and remained in character for the duration of filming.
I'VE GOT A NEW WOMAN IN MY LIFE. MEET RAYON.
Source: The New York Times
"Dallas Buyers Club" gave Leto the Academy Award for best supporting actor, his first Oscar.
He also (just barely) made it into host Ellen Degeneres' famous Oscar selfie.
Now, Leto embarks on one of his most challenging roles yet ...
Leto did away with his long locks to become the latest actor to portray the Joker on the big screen in "Suicide Squad."
—David Ayer (@DavidAyerMovies) April 10, 2015When director David Ayer finally revealed Leto's Joker look online, fans went berserk. His tattoos, grill, and over-the-top insanity didn't look like any incarnation of the Joker we've seen before.
—David Ayer (@DavidAyerMovies) April 25, 2015Once again, Leto committed to method acting. "We worked together for six months and we've never exchanged a word [off-camera] outside of 'Action!' and 'Cut!'" Will Smith told Vanity Fair. "He was all in."
Getting psychedelic at #CampMars in #Malibu Come join the madness XO
Source: Vanity Fair
He even sent a rat to costar Margot Robbie and bullets to Will Smith, to get into character as the Crown Prince of Crime.
Harley's cake - thank you squad!
Source: Vanity Fair
For now, the 44-year-old actor keeps busy being a fashion icon ...
... and promoting VyRT, a web-streaming service he launched in 2013 to provide the "best online concert experience" for viewers.
It's almost time! Join me LIVE on VyRT - TODAY 12PM PT – #LinkInBio.
Source: Business News Daily
He's truly a jack — or Joker — of all trades.
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