For Brad Pitt, the elements of superstardom seem to have always been in place: a world-famous face; a highly-publicized love life; and a penchant for roles that have played into American myths or torn them down. Critics have wondered whether he will ever find the one great, career-defining role that eludes him. Pitt has nevertheless made his mark as an actor, especially in films that have struck a cultural nerve, such as Se7en (1995) and Fight Club (1999). William Bradley Pitt was born in 1963 in Shawnee, Oklahoma. He grew up in Springfield, Missouri. His parents, Bill and Jane Pitt, were devout Southern Baptists. Pitt was an active student at Kickapoo High School, participating in everything from sports to debating to musicals. He went to the University of Missouri to study journalism and eventually entered advertising. Somewhere along the line, however, he discovered an ambition to act. Just two credits short of a degree, Pitt packed up "Runaround Sue"—his Datsun—a...