Joseph Gordon-Levitt

Joseph Leonard Gordon-Levitt is an American actor, director, and producer. Born on February 17, 1981, he is known for his roles across television and film, as well as for founding the online collaborative media platform HitRecord. Over his career, he has earned multiple accolades, including two Primetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Interactive Program for HitRecord projects such as HitRecord on TV and Create Together. He also received Golden Globe Award nominations for Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy for his performances in 500 Days of Summer and 50/50.

Gordon-Levitt was born in Los Angeles, California, to a family of Ashkenazi Jewish descent, and was raised in the Sherman Oaks neighborhood. His father, Dennis Levitt, served as the news director for KPFK-FM, and his mother, Jane Gordon, ran for the United States Congress for the Peace and Freedom Party in 1970. His maternal grandfather, Michael Gordon, was a Hollywood film director. Gordon-Levitt had an older brother, Dan, who died in 2010. He attended Van Nuys High School, graduating in 1999.

Beginning his acting career at age four in a musical theater group, Gordon-Levitt quickly transitioned to television and commercials. By age six, he starred in several made-for-television films. In 1991, he appeared in the television series Dark Shadows and the film A River Runs Through It. His early film work also included Holy Matrimony and Angels in the Outfield, the latter earning him a Young Artist Award and a Saturn Award nomination. In 1996, he landed the role of Tommy Solomon on the sitcom 3rd Rock from the Sun, which ran for six seasons. During this period, he appeared in 10 Things I Hate About You and voiced Jim Hawkins in Disney's Treasure Planet before taking a break from acting in 2000 to study history, literature, and French poetry at Columbia University, dropping out in 2004 to resume his career.

Upon returning to acting, Gordon-Levitt took on roles in films such as Manic, Mysterious Skin, and the high school film noir Brick. His acclaimed performance in 500 Days of Summer (2009) brought him wider recognition and a Golden Globe nomination. In 2010, he starred alongside Leonardo DiCaprio in Christopher Nolan's science fiction thriller Inception. His subsequent film work included starring roles in 50/50, G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra, Premium Rush, and Looper, as well as playing John Blake in The Dark Knight Rises and Robert Todd Lincoln in Steven Spielberg's Lincoln.

Gordon-Levitt continued taking on prominent biographical and dramatic roles, portraying high-wire artist Philippe Petit in The Walk (2015) and whistleblower Edward Snowden in Snowden (2016). His later film credits include 7500, Project Power, the legal drama The Trial of the Chicago 7, and Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F. On television, he portrayed Uber CEO Travis Kalanick in the anthology series Super Pumped.

In addition to acting, Gordon-Levitt made his feature screenwriting and directorial debut with the comedy-drama film Don Jon (2013), following two 2010 short films. In 2021, he wrote, directed, and starred in the Apple TV+ series Mr. Corman. Outside of traditional filmmaking, he created and owns HitRecord, an online collaborative media platform established in 2010 that produces short films, books, and television projects.