Joseph Gordon–Levitt
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Joseph Leonard Gordon-Levitt (; born February 17, 1981) is an American actor. He has received various accolades, including nominations for the
Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy The Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy is a Golden Globe Award presented annually by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association. It is given in honor of an actor who has delivered an outstanding performance i ...
for his leading performances in ''
500 Days of Summer ''500 Days of Summer'' (stylized as ''(500) Days of Summer'') is a 2009 American romantic comedy-drama film directed by Marc Webb from a screenplay written by Scott Neustadter and Michael H. Weber, and produced by Mark Waters. The film stars ...
'' (2009) and '' 50/50'' (2011). He is the founder of the online media platform
HitRecord HitRecord (pronounced ; often stylized as HITREC●RD) is an online collaborative media platform founded and owned by actor and director Joseph Gordon-LevittGordon-Levitt. The company uses a variety of media to produce such projects as short film ...
whose projects such as '' HitRecord on TV'' (2014–15) and ''Create Together'' (2020) won him two
Primetime Emmy Award The Primetime Emmy Awards, or Primetime Emmys, are part of the extensive range of Emmy Awards for artistic and technical merit for the American television industry. Bestowed by the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (ATAS), the Primetime ...
s in the category of Outstanding Interactive Program. Born in Los Angeles to a Jewish family, Gordon-Levitt began his acting career as a child, appearing in the films '' A River Runs Through It'' (1992), '' Holy Matrimony'' (1994), and '' Angels in the Outfield'' (1994), which earned him a Young Artist Award and a
Saturn Award The Saturn Awards are American awards presented annually by the Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror Films. The awards were created to honor science fiction, fantasy, and horror in film, but have since grown to reward other films be ...
nomination. He played the role of
Tommy Solomon Tame Horomona Rehe, also known by the anglicised name Tommy Solomon, (7 May 1884 – 19 March 1933) is believed by most to have been the last Moriori of unmixed ancestry. Moriori are the indigenous people of the Chatham Islands. Early lif ...
in the TV series ''
3rd Rock from the Sun ''3rd Rock from the Sun'' is an American television sitcom created by Bonnie and Terry Turner, which originally aired from January 9, 1996, to May 22, 2001, on NBC. The show is about four Extraterrestrial life, extraterrestrials who are on an e ...
'' (1996–2001) for which he received three nominations at the
Screen Actors Guild Awards Screen Actors Guild Awards (also known as SAG Awards) are accolades given by the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA). The award was founded in 1952 to recognize outstanding performances in movie an ...
. He had a supporting role in ''
10 Things I Hate About You ''10 Things I Hate About You'' is a 1999 American teen romantic comedy film directed by Gil Junger and starring Julia Stiles, Heath Ledger, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, and Larisa Oleynik. The screenplay, written by Karen McCullah Lutz and Kirsten ...
'' (1999) and voiced Jim Hawkins in the Disney animated '' Treasure Planet'' (2002) before taking a break from acting to study at Columbia University, but dropped out in 2004 to resume his acting career. Since returning to acting, Gordon-Levitt has starred in '' Manic'' (2001), ''
Mysterious Skin ''Mysterious Skin'' is a 2004 coming-of-age film written and directed by Gregg Araki, adapted from Scott Heim's 1995 novel of the same name. The film tells the story of two pre-adolescent boys who both experienced sexual abuse as children, and h ...
'' (2004), ''
Brick A brick is a type of block used to build walls, pavements and other elements in masonry construction. Properly, the term ''brick'' denotes a block composed of dried clay, but is now also used informally to denote other chemically cured cons ...
'' (2005), '' The Lookout'' (2007), '' The Brothers Bloom'' (2008), ''
Miracle at St. Anna ''Miracle at St. Anna'' is a 2008 AmericanItalian epic war film directed by Spike Lee and written by James McBride, based on McBride's 2003 novel of the same name. The film stars Derek Luke, Michael Ealy, Laz Alonso, Omar Benson Miller, Pierfra ...
'' (2008), '' G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra'' (2009), '' Inception'' (2010), '' Hesher'' (2010), '' Premium Rush'' (2012), '' The Dark Knight Rises'' (2012), '' Looper'' (2012), and '' Lincoln'' (2012). He portrayed
Philippe Petit Philippe Petit (; born 13 August 1949) is a French high-wire artist who gained fame for his unauthorized high-wire walks between the towers of Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris in 1971 and of Sydney Harbour Bridge in 1973, as well as between the Twi ...
in the
Robert Zemeckis Robert Lee Zemeckis (born May 14, 1952) is an American filmmaker. He first came to public attention as the director of the action-adventure romantic comedy ''Romancing the Stone'' (1984), the science-fiction comedy ''Back to the Future'' film tr ...
-directed film '' The Walk'' (2015) and whistleblower
Edward Snowden Edward Joseph Snowden (born June 21, 1983) is an American and naturalized Russian former computer intelligence consultant who leaked highly classified information from the National Security Agency (NSA) in 2013, when he was an employee and su ...
in the
Oliver Stone William Oliver Stone (born September 15, 1946) is an American film director, producer, and screenwriter. Stone won an Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay as writer of '' Midnight Express'' (1978), and wrote the gangster film remake '' Sc ...
film ''
Snowden Snowden may refer to: * Snowden (surname), a given name and a family name People * Edward Snowden, former computer intelligence consultant who leaked highly classified information from the National Security Agency (NSA) in 2013 Music * Snowden ...
'' (2016). In 2020, he starred in the legal drama '' The Trial of the Chicago 7'', for which he won the Critics' Choice Movie Award for Best Acting Ensemble and the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture. In 2013, he wrote and directed ''
Don Jon ''Don Jon'' is a 2013 American romantic comedy-drama film written and directed by Joseph Gordon-Levitt in his feature directorial debut. The film stars Gordon-Levitt, Scarlett Johansson, and Julianne Moore, with Rob Brown, Glenne Headly, Bri ...
'', a comedy-drama film that was released to positive reviews and earned him an Independent Spirit Award nomination for Best First Screenplay. He previously directed and edited two short films, both of which were released in 2010: ''
Morgan M. Morgansen's Date with Destiny ''Morgan M. Morgansen's Date with Destiny'' is a 2010 short romantic silent film directed, edited by and starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt. It co-stars Lexy Hulme. It is Gordon-Levitt's directing debut. A sequel entitled '' Morgan and Destiny's Eleven ...
'' and '' Morgan and Destiny's Eleventeenth Date: The Zeppelin Zoo''. In 2021, he wrote, directed and starred in a comedy drama series ''
Mr. Corman ''Mr. Corman'' is an American comedy-drama television series created by, written by, directed by, and starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt. The series premiered on August 6, 2021, on Apple TV+. In October 2021, the series was canceled after one season. ...
'' on Apple TV+. In 2022, he voiced Jiminy Cricket in Disney's live-action remake of ''Pinocchio''. He lives in Wellington with his wife and two children.


Early life

Joseph Leonard Gordon-Levitt was born on February 17, 1981, in Los Angeles, California,Sources include: * * and was raised in the Sherman Oaks neighborhood. He is
Ashkenazi Jewish Ashkenazi Jews ( ; he, יְהוּדֵי אַשְׁכְּנַז, translit=Yehudei Ashkenaz, ; yi, אַשכּנזישע ייִדן, Ashkenazishe Yidn), also known as Ashkenazic Jews or ''Ashkenazim'',, Ashkenazi Hebrew pronunciation: , singu ...
, from a family that is "not strictly religious"Various sources: * * Dovey, Rachel
"Joseph Gordon-Levitt: Hollywood's Boy Wonder Grows Up"
* , ''Paste magazine'', October 11, 2010. * *
and his parents were among the founders of the
Progressive Jewish Alliance Bend the Arc: A Jewish Partnership for Justice is a progressive Jewish political organization that blends advocacy, community organizing, and leadership training. The organization advocates for a more equal and just society, focusing strictly on do ...
.Various sources: * Roderick, Kevin
"Joseph Gordon-Levitt gives shout out to KPFK"
, ''LA Observed'', September 29, 2011. * * *
Gordon-Levitt's father, Dennis Levitt, was once the news director for the
Pacifica Radio Pacifica may refer to: Art * ''Pacifica'' (statue), a 1938 statue by Ralph Stackpole for the Golden Gate International Exposition Places * Pacifica, California, a city in the United States ** Pacifica Pier, a fishing pier * Pacifica, a conceiv ...
station, KPFK-FM. His mother, Jane Gordon, ran for the United States Congress in California during the 1970s for the
Peace and Freedom Party The Peace and Freedom Party (PFP) is a left-wing political party with affiliates and former members in more than a dozen American states, including California, Colorado, Florida, Hawaii, Indiana and Utah, but none now have ballot status besides C ...
; she met Dennis Levitt while she was working as the program guide editor for KPFK-FM. Gordon-Levitt's maternal grandfather, Michael Gordon (1909–1993), was a Hollywood film director. Gordon-Levitt had an older brother, Dan, a photographer and fire spinner who died in 2010 at the age of 36. Gordon-Levitt attended Van Nuys High School and graduated in 1999.


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 ''The Wonderful Wizard of Oz'' or ''The Wizard of Oz'' most commonly refers to: *'' The Wonderful Wizard of Oz'', a 1900 American novel by L. Frank Baum often reprinted as ''The Wizard of Oz'' ** Wizard of Oz (character), from the Baum novel serie ...
''. Subsequently, he was approached by an agent and began appearing on television and in commercials for
Sunny Jim "Sunny Jim" is the name of two completely unconnected characters used in advertising and product branding: (1) a cartoon character created to promote ''Force'' cereal, the first commercially successful wheat flake; (2) the name of a brand of pean ...
peanut butter,
Cocoa Puffs Cocoa Puffs is an American brand of chocolate-flavored puffed grain breakfast cereal, manufactured by General Mills. Introduced in 1956, the cereal consists of small orbs of corn and rice flavored with cocoa. Cocoa Puffs have the same shape as K ...
, Pop-Tarts, and
Kinney Shoes The G.R. Kinney Company was an American manufacturer and retailer of shoes from until . Its listing on the New York Stock Exchange, symbol KNN, began in March 1923. The shoe concern was started by George Romanta Kinney whose father ran a general ...
. At age six he starred in several made-for-television films. In 1991, he played both
David Collins David Collins may refer to: Persons * David Collins (Hampshire cricketer), 18th-century cricketer * David Collins (New Zealand cricketer) (1887–1967) * David Collins (Scottish footballer) (1912–?) * David Collins (Australian footballer) ( ...
and Daniel Collins in the '' Dark Shadows'' television series and appeared in the movie '' A River Runs Through It'' . In the same year, he made an appearance as a boy who witnesses a murder in an episode of Quantum Leap. During 1992–93, he played in ''
The Powers That Be In idiomatic English, "the powers that be" (sometimes initialized as TPTB) is a phrase used to refer to those individuals or groups who collectively hold authority over a particular domain. Within this phrase, the word ''be'' is an archaic vari ...
'', a sitcom starring John Forsythe as a clever young boy named Pierce Van Horne. Also in 1992, he portrayed
Gregory Kingsley Gregory Ralph Kingsley (born July 28, 1980) is the first American child, who, at the age of 12 years, legally severed ties with his mother. He changed his name to Shawn Russ after the juvenile court judge Thomas S. Kirk "ended the parental rights ...
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 got the role of
Tommy Solomon Tame Horomona Rehe, also known by the anglicised name Tommy Solomon, (7 May 1884 – 19 March 1933) is believed by most to have been the last Moriori of unmixed ancestry. Moriori are the indigenous people of the Chatham Islands. Early lif ...
on the sitcom ''
3rd Rock from the Sun ''3rd Rock from the Sun'' is an American television sitcom created by Bonnie and Terry Turner, which originally aired from January 9, 1996, to May 22, 2001, on NBC. The show is about four Extraterrestrial life, extraterrestrials who are on an e ...
''. The series ran for six seasons. The '' San Francisco Chronicle'' noted that Gordon-Levitt was a "Jewish kid playing an
extraterrestrial Extraterrestrial refers to any object or being beyond ( extra-) the planet Earth ( terrestrial). It is derived from the Latin words ''extra'' ("outside", "outwards") and ''terrestris'' ("earthly", "of or relating to the Earth"). It may be abbrevia ...
pretending to be a Jewish kid". During the 1990s, he was frequently featured in teenage magazines. He also made an appearance on '' That '70s Show'' in 1998 as Buddy, a gay teenager who assumes his friend (main character Eric Forman) is gay as well, in the episode " Eric's Buddy". Gordon-Levitt had a supporting role in 1998's '' Halloween H20: 20 Years Later'', the 1999 film ''
10 Things I Hate About You ''10 Things I Hate About You'' is a 1999 American teen romantic comedy film directed by Gil Junger and starring Julia Stiles, Heath Ledger, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, and Larisa Oleynik. The screenplay, written by Karen McCullah Lutz and Kirsten ...
'', 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''. In 2000, he began attending Columbia University. He studied history, literature, and French poetry. He became an avid Francophile and a French speaker. He also dated actress Julia Stiles and the two lived in John Jay Hall. He said that moving to New York City from his hometown forced him to grow as a person. He dropped out in 2004 to concentrate on acting again.


Later acting work

Gordon-Levitt has said that he made a conscious decision to "be in good movies" after returning to acting. His films include 2001's drama '' Manic'' which was set in a mental institution, ''
Mysterious Skin ''Mysterious Skin'' is a 2004 coming-of-age film written and directed by Gregg Araki, adapted from Scott Heim's 1995 novel of the same name. The film tells the story of two pre-adolescent boys who both experienced sexual abuse as children, and h ...
'' (2004) in which he played a gay prostitute and child sexual abuse victim, and ''
Brick A brick is a type of block used to build walls, pavements and other elements in masonry construction. Properly, the term ''brick'' denotes a block composed of dried clay, but is now also used informally to denote other chemically cured cons ...
'' (2005), a modern-day
film noir Film noir (; ) is a cinematic term used primarily to describe stylish Hollywood crime dramas, particularly those that emphasize cynical attitudes and motivations. The 1940s and 1950s are generally regarded as the "classic period" of American ' ...
set at a high school. In ''Brick'' 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", saying the performance was "true to (the) film's style", "unfeeling but not disenchanted", and "sexy in the most ambiguous way." Another review describes the performance as "astounding". He starred opposite
Steve Sandvoss Stephen "Max" James Sandvoss (born Stephen James Sandvoss) is an American businessman, farmer, and former actor. Early life and education Sandvoss was born in New York City, New York. His mother, Joyce, is American-born, and his father, Rolf Herm ...
as a young judgmental missionary in ''
Latter Days ''Latter Days'' is a 2003 American romantic comedy-drama film about a gay relationship between a closeted Mormon missionary and his openly gay neighbor. The film was written and directed by C. Jay Cox and stars Steve Sandvoss as the missionary ...
'' (2003), a film that centers on a sexually repressed Mormon missionary (Sandvoss) who falls for his gay neighbor. He also had roles in '' Havoc'' and ''
Shadowboxer ''Shadowboxer'' is a 2005 crime thriller film directed by Lee Daniels and starring Cuba Gooding Jr., Helen Mirren, and Mo'Nique. It opened in limited release in six cities: New York, Los Angeles, Washington, D.C., Baltimore, Philadelphia, and ...
''. His next role was in 2007's '' The Lookout'' in which he played Chris Pratt, a janitor involved in a
bank heist Bank robbery is the criminal act of stealing from a bank, specifically while bank employees and customers are subjected to force, violence, or a threat of violence. This refers to robbery of a bank branch or teller, as opposed to other bank-o ...
. In reviewing the film, '' The Philadelphia Inquirer'' described Gordon-Levitt as a "surprisingly formidable, and formidably surprising, leading man", while ''New York'' magazine stated that he is a "major tabula rasa actor ... a minimalist", and his character is effective because he "doesn't seize the space ... by what he takes away from the character." The ''San Francisco Chronicle'' specified that he "embodies, more than performs, a character's inner life." His 2008 and 2009 films include '' Stop-Loss'', directed by Kimberly Peirce and 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. Gordon-Levitt played a lead role opposite to friend Zooey Deschanel in ''
500 Days of Summer ''500 Days of Summer'' (stylized as ''(500) Days of Summer'') is a 2009 American romantic comedy-drama film directed by Marc Webb from a screenplay written by Scott Neustadter and Michael H. Weber, and produced by Mark Waters. The film stars ...
'', a well-received 2009 release about the deconstruction of a relationship. His performance, described as "the real key" to what makes the film work, credits him with using "his usual spell in subtle gradations." '' Variety''s Todd McCarthy praised his performance, saying he "expressively alternates between enthusiasm and forlorn disappointment in the manner
Jack Lemmon John Uhler Lemmon III (February 8, 1925 – June 27, 2001) was an American actor. Considered equally proficient in both dramatic and comic roles, Lemmon was known for his anxious, middle-class everyman screen persona in dramedy pictures, leadin ...
could". 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." He was subsequently nominated for a
Golden Globe Award The Golden Globe Awards are accolades bestowed by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association beginning in January 1944, recognizing excellence in both American and international film and television. Beginning in 2022, there are 105 members of t ...
. He later played villain Cobra Commander in '' G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra''. On November 21, 2009, he hosted '' Saturday Night Live''. In 2010, he replaced James Franco and starred alongside Leonardo DiCaprio in Christopher Nolan's science fiction thriller '' Inception'', which received favorable reviews. 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. In '' Premium Rush'', he played the starring role of a fixie-riding, brash
bicycle messenger Bicycle messengers (also known as bike or cycle couriers) are people who work for courier companies (also known as messenger companies) carrying and delivering items by bicycle. Bicycle messengers are most often found in the central business di ...
; he portrayed the younger version of Bruce Willis' character, in a shared role for the time-travel thriller '' Looper''; and the supporting role of Robert Todd Lincoln in
Steven Spielberg Steven Allan Spielberg (; born December 18, 1946) is an American director, writer, and producer. A major figure of the New Hollywood era and pioneer of the modern blockbuster, he is the most commercially successful director of all time. Spie ...
's biopic '' Lincoln''. All three movies were released in 2012. 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". In October 2013, it was reported that he was one of the frontrunners to play Scott Lang / Ant-Man II for
Marvel Studios Marvel Studios, LLC (originally known as Marvel Films from 1993 to 1996) is an American film and television production company that is a subsidiary of Walt Disney Studios, a division of the Walt Disney Company. Marvel Studios produces the Mar ...
' superhero film '' Ant-Man'' which eventually went to Paul Rudd. In 2015, Gordon-Levitt starred as
Philippe Petit Philippe Petit (; born 13 August 1949) is a French high-wire artist who gained fame for his unauthorized high-wire walks between the towers of Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris in 1971 and of Sydney Harbour Bridge in 1973, as well as between the Twi ...
in the biographical drama '' The Walk'', directed by Academy Award-winning director
Robert Zemeckis Robert Lee Zemeckis (born May 14, 1952) is an American filmmaker. He first came to public attention as the director of the action-adventure romantic comedy ''Romancing the Stone'' (1984), the science-fiction comedy ''Back to the Future'' film tr ...
. Gordon-Levitt then played National Security Agency surveillance leaker
Edward Snowden Edward Joseph Snowden (born June 21, 1983) is an American and naturalized Russian former computer intelligence consultant who leaked highly classified information from the National Security Agency (NSA) in 2013, when he was an employee and su ...
in ''
Snowden Snowden may refer to: * Snowden (surname), a given name and a family name People * Edward Snowden, former computer intelligence consultant who leaked highly classified information from the National Security Agency (NSA) in 2013 Music * Snowden ...
'', directed by
Oliver Stone William Oliver Stone (born September 15, 1946) is an American film director, producer, and screenwriter. Stone won an Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay as writer of '' Midnight Express'' (1978), and wrote the gangster film remake '' Sc ...
. The film was released in North America on September 16, 2016, and also starred Shailene Woodley, Melissa Leo, Zachary Quinto, Tom Wilkinson, and Nicolas Cage. In 2017, Gordon-Levitt had a voice cameo in '' Star Wars: The Last Jedi''. In 2019, Gordon-Levitt starred in '' 7500'' directed by Patrick Vollrath, which had its world premiere at the
Locarno Film Festival The Locarno Film Festival is an annual film festival, held every August in Locarno, Switzerland. Founded in 1946, the festival screens films in various competitive and non-competitive sections, including feature-length narrative, documentary, s ...
on August 9, 2019. It was released on June 19, 2020, by Amazon Studios. That same year, Gordon-Levitt had a voice cameo in '' Knives Out''. Gordon-Levitt starred in ''
Project Power ''Project Power'' is a 2020 American science fiction action film directed by Henry Joost and Ariel Schulman, produced by Eric Newman and Bryan Unkeless, and written by Mattson Tomlin. It stars Jamie Foxx, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, and Dominique Fis ...
'', directed by
Ariel Schulman Marek Ariel Schulman (born October 2, 1981) is an American filmmaker and actor. He starred in, produced, and directed the 2010 documentary ''Catfish'', and directed ''Paranormal Activity 3'', ''Paranormal Activity 4'', ''Nerve'' and ''Project Powe ...
and Henry Joost, opposite Jamie Foxx and
Dominique Fishback Dominique Fishback (born March 22, 1991) is an American actress and playwright who is best known for having played Billie Rowan on ''Show Me a Hero'', Darlene on '' The Deuce'', and Deborah Johnson in ''Judas and the Black Messiah'', the latte ...
; it was released on August 14, 2020, by Netflix. He next played lawyer Richard Schultz in the drama film '' The Trial of the Chicago 7''. The movie was written and directed by Aaron Sorkin; its release date was September 25, 2020. In March 2021, it was announced that Levitt would voice Jiminy Cricket in
Robert Zemeckis Robert Lee Zemeckis (born May 14, 1952) is an American filmmaker. He first came to public attention as the director of the action-adventure romantic comedy ''Romancing the Stone'' (1984), the science-fiction comedy ''Back to the Future'' film tr ...
' live-action film adaptation of '' Pinocchio''. In 2022, he starred as Travis Kalanick, former CEO of Uber, in Showtime's anthology series ''Super Pumped'', based on the bestselling book '' Super Pumped: The Battle for Uber'' by Mike Isaac.


Directing and producing

Gordon-Levitt's first film as director, the 24-minute-long ''Sparks'' was an adaptation of a short story by
Elmore Leonard Elmore John Leonard Jr. (October 11, 1925August 20, 2013) was an American novelist, short story writer, and screenwriter. His earliest novels, published in the 1950s, were Westerns, but he went on to specialize in crime fiction and suspense thri ...
starring
Carla Gugino Carla Gugino (; born August 29, 1971) is an American actress. After appearing in ''Troop Beverly Hills'' (1989) and ''This Boy's Life'' (1993), she received recognition for her starring roles as Ingrid Cortez in the ''Spy Kids'' trilogy (2001 ...
and
Eric Stoltz Eric Cameron Stoltz (born September 30, 1961) is an American actor, director and producer. He played the role of Rocky Dennis in the biographical drama film ''Mask'', which earned him the nomination for the Golden Globe Award for Best Support ...
. ''Sparks'' was selected for the 2009
Sundance Film Festival The Sundance Film Festival (formerly Utah/US Film Festival, then US Film and Video Festival) is an annual film festival organized by the Sundance Institute. It is the largest independent film festival in the United States, with more than 46,66 ...
to be shown as part of a new program for short films. In 2010, he directed another short film, ''Morgan and Destiny's Eleventeenth Date: The Zeppelin Zoo''. It premiered at two houses during the
South by Southwest South by Southwest, abbreviated as SXSW and colloquially referred to as South By, is an annual conglomeration of parallel film, interactive media, and music festivals and Convention (meeting), conferences organized jointly that take place in m ...
festival in
Austin Austin is the capital city of the U.S. state of Texas, as well as the seat and largest city of Travis County, with portions extending into Hays and Williamson counties. Incorporated on December 27, 1839, it is the 11th-most-populous city ...
. He was one of the many producers of the Broadway show ''
Slava's Snowshow ''Slava's Snowshow'' is a stage show created and staged by Russian performance artist Slava Polunin. The show won the Drama Desk Award for Unique Theatrical Experience and was nominated for the Tony Award for Best Special Theatrical Event. Produc ...
''. In 2013, Gordon-Levitt wrote, directed, and starred in his screenwriting and directorial debut, ''
Don Jon ''Don Jon'' is a 2013 American romantic comedy-drama film written and directed by Joseph Gordon-Levitt in his feature directorial debut. The film stars Gordon-Levitt, Scarlett Johansson, and Julianne Moore, with Rob Brown, Glenne Headly, Bri ...
''. The film also stars Scarlett Johansson, Julianne Moore, and
Tony Danza Tony Danza (born Anthony Salvatore Iadanza; April 21, 1951) is an American actor. He is known for co-starring in the television series ''Taxi'' (1978–1983) and '' Who's the Boss?'' (1984–1992), for which he was nominated for an Emmy Award a ...
and it premiered at the
Sundance Film Festival The Sundance Film Festival (formerly Utah/US Film Festival, then US Film and Video Festival) is an annual film festival organized by the Sundance Institute. It is the largest independent film festival in the United States, with more than 46,66 ...
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." In September 2019, it was announced Gordon-Levitt would write, direct, star, and executive produce ''
Mr. Corman ''Mr. Corman'' is an American comedy-drama television series created by, written by, directed by, and starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt. The series premiered on August 6, 2021, on Apple TV+. In October 2021, the series was canceled after one season. ...
'', a comedy-drama series produced by A24 for Apple TV+.


HitRecord

HitRecord (pronounced ; often stylized as hitREC●rd) Gordon-Levitt created the platform in 2010 after a period of stagnation in his acting career. "I wanted to be creative, and no one was letting me
o I said O, or o, is the fifteenth letter and the fourth vowel letter in the Latin alphabet, used in the modern English alphabet, the alphabets of other western European languages and others worldwide. Its name in English is ''o'' (pronounced ), plu ...
OK, I have to figure out something to do on my own." The company has $6.4 million in venture capital. On 6 November 2020, Gordon-Levitt released ''Hong Kong Never Sleeps'', a collaborative short film paying homage to Hong Kong created on hitRECord, on his Facebook page. It features photos and videos he collected from Hong Kongers since August 2020, which some themed around the Hong Kong protests starting in 2019, and voice by actors he recruited in October 2020.


Personal life

On October 4, 2010, Gordon-Levitt's older brother, Daniel Gordon-Levitt, was found dead in
Hollywood Hollywood usually refers to: * Hollywood, Los Angeles, a neighborhood in California * Hollywood, a metonym for the cinema of the United States Hollywood may also refer to: Places United States * Hollywood District (disambiguation) * Hollywood, ...
, California, at the age of 36. According to the Los Angeles County Coroner's Office, Daniel’s cause of death was " ketamine intoxication, with the injury occurring by intake of overdose". Joseph Gordon-Levitt has publicly disputed the claim that his brother's death was caused by a drug overdose. In October 2013, Gordon-Levitt identified himself as a
feminist Feminism is a range of socio-political movements and ideologies that aim to define and establish the political, economic, personal, and social equality of the sexes. Feminism incorporates the position that society prioritizes the male po ...
, giving credit to his mother: "My mom brought me up to be a feminist. She was active in the movement in the 1960s and 1970s. 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." In December 2014, Gordon-Levitt married Tasha McCauley, the founder and CEO of technology company Fellow Robots. Their first child, a son, was born in August 2015. Their second son was born in June 2017. He and McCauley do not want to reveal any details of their children to the media, including their first names. He has been living with his family in Wellington since October 2020, after moving his new TV production to New Zealand in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Gordon-Levitt has expressed support for the
effective altruism Effective altruism is a philosophical and social movement that advocates "using evidence and reason to figure out how to benefit others as much as possible, and taking action on that basis". People who pursue the goals of effective altruism, c ...
movement. In 2017, he spoke at the
Effective Altruism Global Effective Altruism Global, abbreviated EA Global or EAG, is a series of philanthropy conferences that focuses on the effective altruism movement. The conferences are run by the Centre for Effective Altruism. '' Huffington Post'' editor Nico Pit ...
conference in San Francisco.


Filmography


Film


Television


Video games


Discography


Albums


Singles


Awards and nominations


References


External links

* * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Gordon-Levitt, Joseph 1981 births Living people 20th-century American male actors 21st-century American male actors American male child actors American feminist writers Male feminists American male film actors American male musical theatre actors American male soap opera actors American male television actors American male screenwriters American people of Romanian-Jewish descent American people of Polish-Jewish descent American people of Russian-Jewish descent Columbia University School of General Studies alumni Jewish American male actors Jewish American writers Jewish feminists Male actors from Los Angeles Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture Screen Actors Guild Award winners People from Sherman Oaks, Los Angeles Van Nuys High School alumni Film directors from Los Angeles Screenwriters from California Feminist musicians Primetime Emmy Award winners 21st-century American Jews American expatriates in New Zealand