How Jared Leto went from being an art-school dropout to playing the Joker in 'Suicide Squad' (2024)

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Melia Robinson

2015-10-09T14:09:00Z

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.

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Now the Academy Award-winning actor takes on the iconic role of the Joker in next summer's highly anticipated "Suicide Squad."

In honor of Leto's success, we're taking a look back at how he became a cultural icon.

How Jared Leto went from being an art-school dropout to playing the Joker in 'Suicide Squad' (1)

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Born December 26, 1971, Jared Leto grew up a nomad. His family lived in Haiti, a Colorado commune, his grandmother's house, and places in between.

How Jared Leto went from being an art-school dropout to playing the Joker in 'Suicide Squad' (2)

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 jokes.

How Jared Leto went from being an art-school dropout to playing the Joker in 'Suicide Squad' (3)

Source: Interview Magazine

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His mother's vagabond spirit was a product of the '70s, he says. She surrounded her boys with artistic influences — "people who made things to make them," Leto says.

How Jared Leto went from being an art-school dropout to playing the Joker in 'Suicide Squad' (4)

Source: Mr. Porter

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There were always instruments strewn about the house, including guitars, pianos, and bongo drums. As kids, the brothers made music with pots and pans.

Sometimes, air guitar just isn't enough. #AirBass #🎸 #🎶

A photo posted by MARS (@30secondstomars) on Jun 23, 2015 at 1:01pm PDTJun 23, 2015 at 1:01pm PDT

Source: NBC Latino

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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."

How Jared Leto went from being an art-school dropout to playing the Joker in 'Suicide Squad' (5)

Source: Twitter

Leto dropped out of high school, returned to get his diploma, and left three different art schools, where he studied painting and film, before pursuing a new career interest.

How Jared Leto went from being an art-school dropout to playing the Joker in 'Suicide Squad' (6)

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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.

How Jared Leto went from being an art-school dropout to playing the Joker in 'Suicide Squad' (7)

Source: Interview Magazine

"I ended up sleeping on the beach in Venice," Leto says, "and that was really the beginning for me."

How Jared Leto went from being an art-school dropout to playing the Joker in 'Suicide Squad' (8)

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."

How Jared Leto went from being an art-school dropout to playing the Joker in 'Suicide Squad' (9)

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.

How Jared Leto went from being an art-school dropout to playing the Joker in 'Suicide Squad' (10)

Source: Interview Magazine

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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 his first movie, 1995's "How to Make an American Quilt."

How Jared Leto went from being an art-school dropout to playing the Joker in 'Suicide Squad' (11)

Source: Interview Magazine

From 1995 to 1999, he appeared in no fewer than 10 movies, including "Fight Club."

How Jared Leto went from being an art-school dropout to playing the Joker in 'Suicide Squad' (12)

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In "Fight Club," he was beaten into an oblivionas Angel Face, a handsome and favored club regular. The movie brought him major blockbuster credibility.

How Jared Leto went from being an art-school dropout to playing the Joker in 'Suicide Squad' (13)

It also marked the beginning of a critical-acclaim streak for the actor, now approaching his 30s. He plays a selfish ex-boyfriend in 1999's "Girl, Interrupted."

How Jared Leto went from being an art-school dropout to playing the Joker in 'Suicide Squad' (14)

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He gets maimed, again, as the arrogant associate Paul Allen in "American Psycho." While Leto was passed up for the lead, he rattled critics in the supporting role.

How Jared Leto went from being an art-school dropout to playing the Joker in 'Suicide Squad' (15)

Source: The New York Times

His streak culminated in the leading role in Darren Aronofsky's "Requiem for a Dream," which at the time brought Leto the best reviews of his career.

How Jared Leto went from being an art-school dropout to playing the Joker in 'Suicide Squad' (16)

Source: The New York Times

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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."

How Jared Leto went from being an art-school dropout to playing the Joker in 'Suicide Squad' (17)

Source: Interview Magazine

"I think I had an opportunity to challenge myself and work with a talented group of people," Leto says. "We all felt like there was a possibility that we were doing something really special, and that's the best feeling in the world."

How Jared Leto went from being an art-school dropout to playing the Joker in 'Suicide Squad' (18)

Source: Interview Magazine

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Meanwhile, Leto's brother, Shannon, moved to California. Reunited on the West Coast, they began to play music together again.

Brothers.

A photo posted by JARED LETO (@jaredleto) on Jul 21, 2014 at 8:05pm PDTJul 21, 2014 at 8:05pm PDT

In 1998, the pair formed the post-grunge rock band Boiled Hard, later adding a lead guitarist, Tomo Miličević.

How Jared Leto went from being an art-school dropout to playing the Joker in 'Suicide Squad' (19)

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The band changed its name to Thirty Seconds to Mars because "it's a metaphor for the future," Leto says, "the fact that we're so close to something that's not a tangible thing-idea."

How Jared Leto went from being an art-school dropout to playing the Joker in 'Suicide Squad' (20)

Source: Ink19

The group's namesake debut album drew modest success, causing the band to keep playing despite Leto's busy filming schedule.

How Jared Leto went from being an art-school dropout to playing the Joker in 'Suicide Squad' (21)

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The band's sophom*ore 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.

How Jared Leto went from being an art-school dropout to playing the Joker in 'Suicide Squad' (22)

As Thirty Seconds to Mars hit its stride, Leto shelved his acting career. After appearing in the cyberthriller "Mr. Nobody," Leto began a four-year hiatus from Hollywood.

How Jared Leto went from being an art-school dropout to playing the Joker in 'Suicide Squad' (23)

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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

A photo posted by JARED LETO (@jaredleto) on Jun 5, 2014 at 2:36pm PDTJun 5, 2014 at 2:36pm PDT

Source: Guinness World Records

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The band members also fought a bitter battle with their record label, which sued them for $30 million, accusing them of trying to bail on their contract.

#Carhaix, you were amazing. Full pic at thirtysecondstomars.com #lovelustfaithdreamstour #france

A photo posted by JARED LETO (@jaredleto) on Jul 30, 2014 at 12:57pm PDTJul 30, 2014 at 12:57pm PDT

Source: Vulture

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Leto even made a documentary, which he directed under the pseudonym Bartholomew Cubbins, about the lawsuit.

How Jared Leto went from being an art-school dropout to playing the Joker in 'Suicide Squad' (24)

Watch the documentary »

At last, he came across a script that gripped him by the throat. "I'd heard about ['Dallas Buyers Club'] before — and I'd even ignored a few emails about it," Leto says. "Eventually, I took a look at it, and I just fell in love with the opportunity and the role."

How Jared Leto went from being an art-school dropout to playing the Joker in 'Suicide Squad' (25)

Source: Interview Magazine

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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.

How Jared Leto went from being an art-school dropout to playing the Joker in 'Suicide Squad' (26)

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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.

A photo posted by JARED LETO (@jaredleto) on Nov 16, 2012 at 12:51pm PSTNov 16, 2012 at 12:51pm PST

Source: The New York Times

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"Dallas Buyers Club" gave Leto the Academy Award for best supporting actor, his first Oscar.

How Jared Leto went from being an art-school dropout to playing the Joker in 'Suicide Squad' (27)

He also (just barely) made it into host Ellen Degeneres' infamous Oscar selfie.

How Jared Leto went from being an art-school dropout to playing the Joker in 'Suicide Squad' (28)

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In 2014, Thirty Seconds to Mars went back on tour in a double-headliner run with Linkin Park.

How Jared Leto went from being an art-school dropout to playing the Joker in 'Suicide Squad' (29)

Source: Billboard

Now, Leto embarks on one of his most challenging roles yet ...

How Jared Leto went from being an art-school dropout to playing the Joker in 'Suicide Squad' (30)

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Leto did away with his long locks to become the fourth actor to portray the Joker on the big screen in next August's "Suicide Squad."

—David Ayer (@DavidAyerMovies) April 10, 2015

"Suicide Squad" is based on a comic book starring the most infamous supervillains in the DC Comics universe, including Margot Robbie as Harley Quinn, Will Smith as Deadshot, and Cara Delevingne as Enchantress.

How Jared Leto went from being an art-school dropout to playing the Joker in 'Suicide Squad' (31)

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When 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, 2015

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Once 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 on the Joker."

Getting psychedelic at #CampMars in #Malibu Come join the madness XO

A photo posted by JARED LETO (@jaredleto) on Aug 23, 2015 at 12:35pm PDTAug 23, 2015 at 12:35pm PDT

Source: Vanity Fair

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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!

A photo posted by @margotrobbie on Jul 3, 2015 at 3:13pm PDTJul 3, 2015 at 3:13pm PDT

Source: Vanity Fair

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For now, the 43-year-old actor keeps busy being a fashion icon ...

Thanks for the love. Xo

A photo posted by JARED LETO (@jaredleto) on Jul 13, 2015 at 11:47pm PDTJul 13, 2015 at 11:47pm PDT

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... 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.

A photo posted by JARED LETO (@jaredleto) on Sep 2, 2015 at 10:33am PDTSep 2, 2015 at 10:33am PDT

Source: Business News Daily

He's truly a jack — or Joker — of all trades.

How Jared Leto went from being an art-school dropout to playing the Joker in 'Suicide Squad' (32)

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How Jared Leto went from being an art-school dropout to playing the Joker in 'Suicide Squad' (2024)

Born December 26, 1971, Jared Leto grew up a nomad. His family lived in Haiti, a Colorado commune, his grandmother's house, and places in between.

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 jokes.

His mother's vagabond spirit was a product of the '70s, he says. She surrounded her boys with artistic influences — "people who made things to make them," Leto says.

There were always instruments strewn about the house, including guitars, pianos, and bongo drums. As kids, the brothers made music with pots and pans.

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."

Leto dropped out of high school, returned to get his diploma, and left three different art schools, where he studied painting and film, before pursuing a new career interest.

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.

"I ended up sleeping on the beach in Venice," Leto says, "and that was really the beginning for me."

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.

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 his first movie, 1995's "How to Make an American Quilt."

From 1995 to 1999, he appeared in no fewer than 10 movies, including "Fight Club."

In "Fight Club," he was beaten into an oblivionas 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, now approaching his 30s. He plays a selfish ex-boyfriend in 1999's "Girl, Interrupted."

He gets maimed, again, as the arrogant associate Paul Allen in "American Psycho." While Leto was passed up for the lead, he rattled critics in the supporting role.

His streak culminated in the leading role in Darren Aronofsky's "Requiem for a Dream," which at the time brought Leto the best reviews of his career.

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."

"I think I had an opportunity to challenge myself and work with a talented group of people," Leto says. "We all felt like there was a possibility that we were doing something really special, and that's the best feeling in the world."

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 adding a lead guitarist, Tomo Miličević.

The band changed its name to Thirty Seconds to Mars because "it's a metaphor for the future," Leto says, "the fact that we're so close to something that's not a tangible thing-idea."

The group's namesake debut album drew modest success, causing the band to keep playing despite Leto's busy filming schedule.

The band's sophom*ore 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. After appearing in the cyberthriller "Mr. Nobody," Leto 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."

The band members also fought a bitter battle with their record label, which sued them for $30 million, accusing them of trying to bail on their contract.

Leto even made a documentary, which he directed under the pseudonym Bartholomew Cubbins, about the lawsuit.

At last, he came across a script that gripped him by the throat. "I'd heard about ['Dallas Buyers Club'] before — and I'd even ignored a few emails about it," Leto says. "Eventually, I took a look at it, and I just fell in love with the opportunity and the role."

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.

"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' infamous Oscar selfie.

In 2014, Thirty Seconds to Mars went back on tour in a double-headliner run with Linkin Park.

Now, Leto embarks on one of his most challenging roles yet ...

Leto did away with his long locks to become the fourth actor to portray the Joker on the big screen in next August's "Suicide Squad."

"Suicide Squad" is based on a comic book starring the most infamous supervillains in the DC Comics universe, including Margot Robbie as Harley Quinn, Will Smith as Deadshot, and Cara Delevingne as Enchantress.

When 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.

Once 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 on the Joker."

He even sent a rat to costar Margot Robbie and bullets to Will Smith, to get into character as the Crown Prince of Crime.

For now, the 43-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.

He's truly a jack — or Joker — of all trades.

What emotions did you feel while reading this article?

References